Shotokan Karate was founded by a man named Gichin Funakoshi, in 1922. The word Shotokan translates roughly to pine waves building. Shoto means 'pine waves' and is the pen name that Funakoshi used. Kan is the word for 'building'.

In 1936 when Funakoshi's students built his first dojo. They named it 'The Shotokan' in recognition of Funakoshi. It was to symbolize 'Shoto's House'