What did early karate look like?

[omnifinite]

From what I've been told, back when the Okinawans sent people to Japan to teach the Japanese some of their arts, they intentionally added some defects, like making the stances too deep, in case they ever went to war again. I couldn't give you better details than that though.

[Taikudo-ka]

Hehe I heard something similar once. That when Americans came to Okinawa to learn karate, the Okinawans taught them extra tricks they hadn't told the Japanese, just so the Americans would beat the Japanese in competition.

 

Never underestimate the attitude of people you have conquered with military might.

[ramymensa]

I've seen some videos with championships in the 70's (Shotokan championships.) Their guard was VERY low and sensei explained us that in those times they didn't use too many kiks at the jodan lever. Picture a contemporary championship with karateka using these low guards ;D ouchhh

 

Nowadays mawashi geri jodan is the "mother and father" of many karatekas and the result was the guards in a higher place