Unarmed combat reaches back to before recorded history but ancient origins of the art are obscure, often couched in folklore of a variety of cultures of the world.
Various forms of unarmed combat were practiced in India and China, in Formosa and Okinawa, an island south of Japan.
On Okinawa, empty hand fighting developed in secret for a time, because of the influence of Japanese feudal lords who had conquered the island and prohibited their subjects from carrying weapons.
This banning of weapons caused many of the people to begin practising unarmed forms of combat in secret.
Karate is a Japanese word meaning "empty hand". It is a highly scientific art making the most effective use of all the parts of the body for defensive purposes. The ultimate aim of karate is perfection of character through arduous training and strict disciplining of mind and body. It has subsequently spread all over the world, mostly in slightly modified Japanese forms.
Karate as we know it today is largely the product of a synthesis that took place between 'Okinawa Te' and the Chinese arts of Shaolin Temple boxing (and other Southern Styles) that were practised at that time in the Fukien province of China.
Modern karate dates from the time when Gichin Funakoshi was requested by the Education Ministry of Japan in May 1922 to conduct performances of karate in Tokyo.
The new art was enthusiastically recieved and was introduced into a number of universities where it took root and began to flourish.
Trodai Karate is a modern style from traditional South Chinese and Okinawan styles.
Trodai also incorporates techniques from the Muay Thai (Thai boxing), kickboxing and self defense systems.
Ryukyu Kobudo (training weapons) are also taught to senior students.
The word Trodai is an ancient Celtic name meaning "Warrior" or "Fighter".
The style was founded in 1982 by Sensei Robert James Burke - 4th Dan.
Sensei Burke practised various forms of Martial arts before developing the Trodai style, these included boxing, traditional karate, kung fu, kickboxing and tai chi chuan.
Trodai Karate (under the British Contact Karate Organisation) is a member of the AMA (Amateur Martial Association) which is a governing body of Martial arts in Britain and Ireland (under the English Karate Governing Body) recognised by the Sports Council.