Making a Shotokai Karate Budo Mural at Universidad de Concepción
The step-by-step creation of the Shotokai Karate Budo promotional mural at Universidad de Concepción (second semester 1997) by students and sempai of the university dojo
Archival Document • The Shotokai Encyclopedia Archive
Making a Shotokai Karate Budo Mural • Universidad de Concepción
Shibu Universidad de Concepción • Second Semester 1997 • Cultural Record
Each semester, as a promotional tradition at the start of academic classes, the university Shotokai group creates a large mural on campus. This tradition helps connect the Shotokai name with authentic, traditional martial arts activities within the university community.
Presented here is the creation of our unsophisticated :-) second-semester mural, step by step, preserved with the original archival photographs.
The Mural Creation • Step by Step
Preparing the Surface
First of all, we painted white over the previous mural (not ours, though we had permission to do so). In previous years we had painted Mount Fuji, karateka figures, etc. But this year, due to time constraints and a shortage of professional artists, we decided to keep things simple and concentrate on the main goal: creating something genuine.
The Backward Kanji!
"Hey friends! How are things working out? Hmm... hey, isn't that kanji on backward?! :-)"
Yes, the kanji was accidentally mirrored! That was corrected immediately, and the work continued with shared laughter.
Love & Shotokai
"Ahhh! Love, what can I say, and then mixed with Shotokai, an explosive combination." Practitioners painting side by side in the courtyard of Universidad de Concepción.
The Dedicated Few
"Very few of us left by now, but the finish line is in sight!" From left to right: Luis Salgado (shodan), Alvaro Jorquera (1st kyu), and José Luis Sandoval (1st kyu).
Final Lettering & Detail
"Now only the letters are missing, though that ended up being quite a task too." Carefully outlining the Universidad de Concepción and Shotokai emblems.
The Finished Mural
"The finished mural, soon to be replaced by another one next semester, but that's life, no?" Completed in the spring of 1997, continuing the effort to ensure all university students and faculty identify Shotokai with traditional, non-sport Budo.