Karate evolved in East Asia over a period of centuries, becoming systematized in Okinawa in the 17th century, probably by people forbidden to carry weapons. It was imported into Japan in the 1920s. Several schools and systems developed, each favoring somewhat different techniques and training methods.

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Shotokan karate is one of the most popular of modern styles. It is the most powerful and dynamic of the Japanese systems, and is generally considered to be the most comprehensive, both in the range of its techniques and the number and diversity of its kata.

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Shotokan Karate-do International Federation (SKIF) was established in 1978 by Late Soke Hirokazu Kanazawa who had studied directly under Grand Master Gichin Funakoshi, and was the Director and General Manager for Foreign Affair Division of Japan Karate Association before he founded SKIF. SKIF, a Specified Nonprofit Organization in Japan has been expanding its activities since its founding and now has affiliated groups in over 130 countries worldwide.