It is common in areas with long and rich history such as Shotokan to place an extensive history review somewhere for everyone to see. We as J.K.S Greece Shotokan Association however, find no meaning in a simple reference of dates and events of the past. Surely the past can give valuable lessons which can shape the present and determine the future. The key point though, is to find how to identify and utilize these lessons in a way that can aid you in your personal quest for self-knowledge. Do not forget that this is the main objective of Shotokan.
The history of Shotokan is as complex as the techniques it teaches. Perhaps this is one of the main reasons why we try to understand it using our own powers and resources and not based on interpretations which from time to time, many tried to establish. After all, let us not forget that every interpretation carries (to a lesser or greater extent) the subjectivity of its author. It is an undeniable fact that the monolithic era of Shotokan is long gone. Today's participants think and act in great speeds and have similar demands from the art of Κarate in order to go faster and further in the future. For this reason sterile references to dates and events of the past or "canned" quotations cannot meet the individual needs and desires deriving from each one's unique personality.
So which is the path that we recommend? The creator Gichin Funakoshi is indeed a milestone and a diachronic reference regarding this topic. In the beginning there are always "words" which turn into actions which in turn leave room for philosophy. Everything always starts from "words" and ends in philosophical thought. It is no coincidence that all the great masters created their own federations. They defined and continue to define the form of Shotokan. This is also the reason behind the diversity existing today. As we have many variations when explaining a technique, so we have many philosophies behind each line of thinking, which each individual chooses to follow or not based on his own criteria. We as J.K.S Greece Shotokan Association cannot accept that a choice can have any criteria other than the "freedom of thought" which is the reason behind the creation of Κarate-do.
Thus we remain completely detached from the complicated forms and rules which from time to time defined the various approaches to the topic of the "whole Shotokan". The ideals of Shuseki Shihan Tetsuhiko Asai, the "freedom of thought" of Shihan Masao Kagava and the guidance of Shihan Yutaka Katsumata helped us to answer any questions we had and allowed us through their diachronic teachings to understand a little bit more of ourselves. Like any technique dealing with opposing forces, the relation with the philosophy of J.K.S is for us a meeting point of many (sometimes opposing) directions. The creation of Karate-do, assisted by the "freedom of thought" is for us the essence of Κarate, which by having these elements help us improve our way of thinking and behavior. To summarize, the history of Shotokan is not a collection of past dates and numbers but the everyday training of thought that creates the "living Karate". For this very important reason we stress that "Karate is a way of life" which the more faithfully we follow, the more physical and (especially) spiritual progress we attain.