A Brief History of Ai-Mute Shotokan
I took Traditional Shotokan as my Phys. Ed. credit in Community College. I really enjoyed it. My sensei was a good teacher and talked a lot about aspects of karate that had nothing to do with fighting.
For instance, he taught me that a gi is traditionally all white to remind students to let go of their egos when they train. He also taught me never to trust a dojo run by someone who couldn't trace the lineage of their master back to the founder of the art. In that spirit, here goes.
The founder of Shotokan is Gichin Funakoshi. He brought Shotokan from Okinawa to Japan. The art is called Shotokan because Funakoshi's pen name was Shoto. I've read that Shoto literally translates as "the sound the wind makes as it passes through the tress", but I don't know if that's true or not. Kan translates as "house". This can mean either "clan" or the actual place in which Funakoshi trained his students. They trained at Shoto's house. Shotokan.
Sante Josol was ranked in Korean and Chinese martial arts. He began the process of moving away from the traditional Japanese style. He taught Shotokan to Larry Berkley. Larry Berkley is credited with the original development of Ai Mute Shotokan.
Bobby Peeler was Sensei Berkleys's top student. He continued to develop Ai Mute Shotokan in Detroit after Sensei Berkley moved away. I've met and learned from Sensei Peeler. He's a 7th degree black belt and an excellent teacher.
My teacher is Sensei Jaye Spiro, a Sixth degree black belt who has been teaching karate longer than I've been alive. She is Sensei Peeler's top student and has also earned a 5th degree black belt in Modern Arnis.
Martial Arts Home Page
History of Ai-Mute Shotokan
Belt levels
Meaning of the word "Sensei"
Kata
How
To Be A Homicidal Schoolgirl