Bennington College Shotokan Karate

Since the beginning of time, mankind has practiced fighting arts to enable himself to survive. Initially unarmed, later moving towards armed (weapons) defense that has continued to be refined over time to the point that today, we can virtually destroy planet earth many times over with the push of a single button. The development of specific martial arts has. Tor the most part, been a process of combining the indigenous martial art of a specific country with more advanced arts as practiced in other countries. This assimilation often took place during conflicts, however, it also took place through business trade as well as cultural interactions. In Japans history, their society was embroiled in conflict regularly up into the 1600's. The samurai class was at the top of the societal ladder and practiced many different martial arts such as Kyu-jutsu (archery), Ken-jutsu (swordsmanship), ju-jutsu (unarmed combat), etc.'The term "jutsu" could best be described as simply technique. Upon the beginning of the Tokagawa Shogunate era in the eariy 1600's Uirough the start of theMeiji restoration period of 1865, the term "jutsu" was replaced by the term "do".

Karate was formally introduced into Japan in the early twentieth century (1922) by Okinawan Karate master Gichin Funakoshi after the Crown Prince (who later became Emperor Hirohito) saw one of Funakoshis demonstrations in Okinawa the previous year. He was befriended by a number of martial arts experts (Jigoro Kano - father of Judo and Hakudo Nakayama - father of Kendo). Funakoshi "Japanized" his Okinawan art of Te or Tode. Artist and the intelligentsia were his first students and he soon moved on to a number of different universities. Karate continued its growth up to World War II, suffered another ban by the occupying forces after the war for a short time, but then surged again and was brought back to many western countries through the occupying servicemen. Around this same time Japan began sending various top instructors abroad, often at the request of ex-servicemen and many schools and styles continued to spread.

The classes taught here at Bennington College are specifically that of the Shotokan style of Karate that Master Funakoshi introduced into Japan. One of his most senior students, Masatoshi Nakayama, has been instrumental in the spread of and continued refinement of the art worldwide. Master Nakayama was one of several instructors Sensei Schoenig was privileged to study under for a number of decades and all classes are consistent with that training. Each class is comprised of an even balance of basic techniques (Kihon) "non-contact" sparring (Kumte). The benefits of training, among others, are the development of an enhanced flexibility, muscle tone and strength, stamina, balance, concentration and self-control. The developed attributes are not only of value to the individual during class, but more importantly, are very significant to the student in their everyday life.