The development and cultural jargon of ‘authentic’ Shotokan Karate in 1940s-1980s Britain: An Adornoian sociological analysis

In this article sociological theory is utilised to generate a critical interpretation of the process, politics and practice of Shotokan karate's development in Britain. Multiple histories of Shotokan's development were analysed thematically. Adornoian sociological concepts were used to interrogate secondary historical documents. A negative dialectical perspective that sought to understand the lack of synthesis and continued contradiction between British Shotokan organisations was applied. The continued pursuit of 'authentic' validation and how this resulted in a 'McDonaldised' production of Shotokan is explored. How authenticity was commodified by different organisations such as the Japanese Karate Association is elaborated upon. It is concluded that although the fetishisation of authentic origin and technicality could be productive, perhaps other factors such as community building and creative pedagogy could be centralised.