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What is
Karate?
"True karate is this: that in
daily life one's mind and body be trained and developed
in a spirit of humility, and that in critical times, one
be devoted utterly to the cause of justice."
--
Gichin Funakoshi
 Karate translated either
means "Chinese hand" or "Empty hand" depending on which
Japanese or Chinese characters you use to write
it.
Okinawan Karate styles tend to be hard and
external. In defense they tend to be circular, and in
offense linear.  Okinawan Karate
styles tend to place more emphasis on rigorous physical
conditioning than the Japanese styles. Japanese styles
tend to have longer, more stylistic movements and to be
higher commitment. They also tend to be linear in
movement, offense, and defense.
Both tend to be
high commitment, and tend to emphasize kicks and
punches, blocks, strikes, evasions, throws, joint
manipulations and a strong offense as a good defense.
Karate techniques consist basically of hand and foot
techniques. Hand techniques are divided into defensive
or offensive moves. Foot techniques are divided into
kicking techniques; snap and thrust kicks. Other
important elements of Karate include stances, posture,
body shifting, hip rotation, and breathing.
Training
differs widely but most of the Karate styles emphasize a
fairly equal measure of basic technique training
(kihon), sparring (kumite), and forms (kata). Forms are
stylized patterns of attacks and defenses done in
sequence for training purposes.
An art of
self-defense as well as a sport, Karate has in recent
decades proliferated worldwide. It is one of the most
widely practiced of the Asian martial arts, with a large
following in the U.S., Japan and Europe.
The History of
Karate
According to legend, the evolution
of Karate began over a thousand years ago, possibly as
early as the 5th century B.C. when Bodhidharma, a
Buddhist Monk arrived in Shaolin-si, China from India
and taught Zen Buddhism. He also introduced a set of
exercises designed to strengthen the mind and body.
Bodhidharma's teachings later became the basis for the
majority of Chinese martial arts. In truth, the origins
of Karate appear to be somewhat obscure and little is
known about the early development of Karate until it
appeared in Okinawa. Sometime between the years 1784 and
1903, the term karate replaced that of Te. This new name
reflected the synthesis of the native Okinawan martial
arts of Te with the influence of the Chinese Martial
Arts the Okinawans had been exposed to.
Karate-do
Karate-do was
modified and transformed into a way of life by Master
Gichin Funakoshi in 1905. Before this, it was just a
group of techniques that permitted self-defense without
weapons. Weapons bans, imposed on the Okinawans at
various points thoughout their history, encouraged the
refinement of empty-hand techniques and, for this
reason, was trained in secret until modern times.
Further refinement came with the influence of other
martial arts brought by nobles and trade merchants to
the island. Born in 1868, Funakoshi began to study
karate at the age of 11, and was a student of the two
greatest masters of the time, Yasutsune Itosu and
Yasutsune Azato.
The first public demonstration
of karate in Japan was in 1917 by Funakoshi, at the
Butoku-den in Kyoto. This, and subsequent
demonstrations, greatly impressed many Japanese,
including the Crown-Prince Hirohito, who was very
enthusiastic about the Okinawan art. In 1922, having
mastered two major styles of Karate, Funakoshi, then
President of the Okinawa association of the Spirit of
Martial Arts, was chosen to demonstrate Karate at the
first National Athletic Exhibition in Tokyo. This led to
the introduction of the ancient martial art to the rest
of Japan. 
Other
masters then helped spread Karate throughout the country
and the rest of the world. A general Federation of
Karate Organizations was established in 1964 after
Karate achieved a following abroad. This federation's
main concern has been to establish unified forms,
rankings, and rules of competition, and to keep contact
with overseas Karate associations. Over the years,
numerous schools and styles have emerged, some
emphasizing the strengthening of the body, while others
focused on quick movement.
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