MODERN KARATE AND THE SCAP BAN

by Phillip Starr

This is for the karateka out there who (under their breaths) curse whoever is responsible for the Japanese forms featuring deep and long stances, such as we see in contemporary Shotokan, Wado-ryu, and a host of other similar styles. Well, the individual who's ultimately responsible is Gen. Douglas MacArthur!! Surprised? Well, here's the story behind it....

After Japan's surrender in 1945 at the end of WWII, MacArthur was appointed Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers (SCAP) during the subsequent U.S. occupation of the island nation. Fearing a resurgence of patriotism and re-emergence of bushido (“the way/code of the warrior”), one of the general's first actions was to examine the various “patriotic” activities, especially those that promoted bushido. If they were viewed as potentially dangerous (to the troops occupying the island), they were banned. This became known as the “SCAP ban.”

Judo, all forms of jujutsu, and kendo were among the first to be outlawed. All others forms of budo (martial ways) were gradually banned as well.

Now, karate was a relative newcomer to Japan, having been introduced by Gichin Funakoshi (from Okinawa) in 1923. The forms of old Okinawan karate were heavily influenced by southern forms of gong-fu, so their stances were relatively short and high. This particularly suited the Okinawans, who practiced outside. Okinawa isn't known (by the Marines) as “The Rock” because the ground is flat and even. On the contrary, the ground is quite rocky, so using short, high stances and footwork is almost essential. And Gichin's karate (later named after his pen-name, “Shoto”, which he used when writing poetry...his school and style became known as Shotokan...”Shoto's School”) featured short high stances. Old film footage of him in his later years demonstrating kata shows this.

He had three sons, one of whom was named Gigo (said to be a “karate genius”) who had trained since the age of 12 to improve his health (he developed tuberculosis at the age of 7). Gigo (who would die of TB during 1945) saw what was happening with the SCAP ban and knew that karate would be on their list. He thereupon set out to deepen and lengthen karate's stances and after his famous father would correct a student's posture, Gigo would come up behind him and tell him that it was perfectly okay to lengthen his stance... I can just imagine the confusion in the classes!

When the military examiners stopped by the dojo (in one of Japan's foremost universities), Gigo informed them that this “karate” was not a form of fighting; it was a form of dancing!!! THAT'S why he wanted the stances lengthened – so the participants would look more graceful – like dancers. And the examiners bought his story! And so it was that the most lethal martial art was left alone and the people could continue to practice it!

And that's the rest of the story.