SSK HISTORY

Origins of Karate


Karate is a martial art that originated in Okinawa and comprises a large number of different styles, divided into several schools.

Studying at the two biggest karate schools in the archipelago, Master Gichin FUNAKOSHI developed a brand-new style that he would spread throughout Japan: SHOTOKAN - literally "House under the trees".

Shotokan karate aims to teach not only the art of combat, but also values such as loyalty, self-confidence, respect and politeness.

These values are illustrated by the 5 principles written by Master FUNAKOSHI:

•  striving for perfection.
•  be loyal and protect the path of truth.
•  maintain a spirit of effort.
•  respect others.
•  refrain from violent behavior.

Karate allows you to develop both physically and mentally.

Gichin FUNAKOSHI

Master Tsutomu OHSHIMA - Internationalization of SHOTOKAN



«Use your mental attitude to look your opponent in the face and understand his intentions.»

OHSHIMA Sensei

Master OHSHIMA was born on August 6, 1930.
He began learning Sumo at the age of five.
He then took up Kendo and Judo.
As a student at Waseda University, he began Karate lessons in 1948 with Master FUNAKOSHI.
In 1955, he moved to the United States, where the following year he founded Shotokan Karate of America.
It is the oldest Karate organization in the United States.
As "Shihan", Master OHSHIMA directly supervised numerous Karate Associations throughout the world.

He has recently appointed several Shihan to succeed him in charge of these Associations.
The current Shihan for SUISSE SHOTOKAN is Patrick MOTTET (see below).


Bernard CHERIX

1957
Student of Master OHSHIMA. Created the first Karate Dojo in Switzerland, in Sion.
1959
March 8: Member of the Swiss Commission of the Budo Federation, responsible for Karate.
1960
October 22: member of the technical commission of the Swiss Judo Federation, responsible for Karate, which was later integrated.
1963
September 22: Founder of the Karate section of the Swiss Judo Federation, section president.
1966
November 19: the statutes of the Swiss Judo and Budo Federation are approved by the General Meeting in Lucerne. They come into force on January 1, 1967. Bernard Cherix takes over responsibility for the Karate section.
1970
January: the Swiss Judo and Budo Federation accepts the creation of the Swiss Karate Federation.
1970
August 29: first general meeting of the Swiss Karate Federation in Sion. Bernard Cherix attends as a founding member.
1977
Swiss Shotokan Karate Association founded in Berne on May 7, 1977.

Patrick MOTTET

1982-2009
(Vice)President of the Black Belt Council
1982-1997
Trainer and coach of the Swiss Shotokan Karate team (SSK)
2008-2011
Karate and Self-Defense" book & DVD (with B. Cherix)
2009 / 2011
Honorary member of SSK
Honorary Chairman of SSK
2017
Appointed by Master OHSHIMA Shihan of Switzerland Shotokan, Germany Shotokan, Greece Shotokan and Spain Shotokan

Bernard CHERIX - The beginnings of SHOTOKAN Karate in Switzerland



«The karateka must take into consideration what this non-standard way of fighting sports can bring him: very little, if his aim is to dominate others or impress them, but a great deal if he tries to be useful to his fellow human beings thanks to his self-control and dedication by showing himself to be friendly and respectful.»

Bernard CHERIX

Bernard CHERIX (July 6, 1927 - December 17, 2009) was the precursor of Karate in Switzerland.
After learning wrestling, judo, aikido and jiu jitsu from various experts, he finally discovered karate in Paris.

Bernard CHERIX has combined various techniques to create a unique and particularly effective method of self-defense.
He documented its principles in his book "Karate and Self-Defense", published in 2008.


For many years Bernard CHERIX has supported the development of Karate in Switzerland.
Among other positions, he was technical manager, trainer, national trainer and national coach of the Karate section of the Swiss Judo and Budo Federation.
From 1965 to 1976 he was also Vice-President of the European Karate Union.
In 1966, he met Master OHSHIMA, an encounter that profoundly changed his approach and understanding of karate.

Bernard CHERIX was a founding member of the European Karate Union, a founding member and Honorary President of the Swiss Karate Federation, and a founding member and Honorary President of SUISSE SHOTOKAN KARATE.
 

Patrick MOTTET - The Shihan "Guardian of Tradition" of SUISSE SHOTOKAN KARATE



Patrick MOTTET

Patrick MOTTET was born on October 27, 1957 in Saint-Maurice (VS).
He began Karate lessons at the age of eleven, in 1968, under the guidance of Bernard CHERIX at the Sion Dojo, then still called the "Institut des sports de combat Sion".
This meeting led to a friendship that lasted for forty years, until Bernard Cherix's dea

Patrick passed his Shodan (1.DAN) exam in 1975, before obtaining the Nidan (2.DAN) grade in 1977, Sandan (3.DAN) in 1982, Yodan (4.DAN) in 1988, then receiving his Godan (5.DAN) diploma from Master OHSHIMA in August 2000.

He has run the Geneva Dojo since it was founded in 1982.

We'd like to mention just a few of his many functions, missions and projects at SUISSE SHOTOKAN.
He was Vice-President of the Black Belt Council (1982-2004), then President of the Black Belt Council from 2004 to 2009, trainer and coach of the SSK team (1982-1997), Bernard CHERIX's permanent partner for self-defense training from 2002 to 2009, whose key elements he collected in Bernard CHERIX's book entitled "Karaté et Self-défense" (2008), to be followed by a DVD in 2011.
In 1993, together with his brother Gilbert MOTTET, he organized the international meeting of Shotokan Associations in Leukerbad, which was preceded by a book he had written on the history of Swiss Shotokan.

He also created SSK's first website in 1996, with the help of Mohamed FANI.
In 2007, with the help of Paul MOTTIEZ, he revised the SSK by-laws, and in 2012 he successfully developed and introduced the principle of special courses for members over 50.
He was appointed Honorary Member of Suisse Shotokan on June 14, 2009, then Honorary President of Suisse Shotokan on June 4, 2011.

In 2017, Master OHSHIMA appointed him Shihan of Switzerland Shotokan, Germany Shotokan, Greece Shotokan and Spain Shotokan.

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