Ashihara Karate
From MartialTalk Online Martial Arts Encyclopedia Project
Ashihara Karate is a Japanese martial art that was founded by Hideyuki Ashihara (December 5, 1944-April 24, 1995) in 1980 based on his studies of Kyokushin Karate. Often referred to as Fighting Karate by its practitioners, it is known for its emphasis on praciticality, its technique of always trying to circle to the outside of the opponenet's attack, and its use of sabaki (moving off the line of attack and combining defense and offense into one).
The system teaches the following kata: Shoshinsha no Kata (Number 1-3), the beginners' forms;, Kihon no Kata (Number 1-3), the basic techniques forms; Kumite no Kata (Number 1-5), the sparring forms; Nage no Kata (Number 1-3), the throwing forms; and Jissen no Kata (Number 1), the "real fight" form. These forms were created by the style's founder; classical kata may be learned optionally.
Following the founder's death in 1995 of ALS, his son Hidenori Ashihara became the next head of the system, under the NIKO organization. (The head of the style is referred to by the title Kancho.) Splinter groups inevitably formed. Variants of Ashihara Karate include Enshin and Seido Kaikan Karate.
