| History: | | | | and elbow strikes, and open hand methods. |
| | | | Grappling, joint manipulations, locks, |
| Though Karate is often associated with | | | | restraints, throwing, and vital point |
| Japanese martial arts, its true origin dwells | | | | striking are also parts of this discipline. |
| in Okinawan combat techniques and Southern | | | | |
| Chinese martial arts. It is basically a | | | | Karate training is divided into three main |
| fusion of both arts and was introduced to | | | | sections - |
| Japan only in 1921. During this period, | | | | |
| Karate was simply known as "Te", or hand, as | | | | - Kihon refers to the study of basic |
| called by the Okinawans. Chinese influence is | | | | techniques, movements and components |
| evident in the original symbol for Karate - | | | | |
| the "Tang Hand" or "Chinese Hand". | | | | - Kata or 'form', a fixed sequence of moves, |
| | | | is a series of movements and techniques |
| There were no specified or concrete Karate | | | | linked together by the combatative principles |
| styles in the early days and simply | | | | that the kata expresses. |
| generalized as Shuri-te, Naha-te and | | | | |
| Tomari-te, named after the three cities in | | | | - Kumite or 'sparring' evovles from |
| which they were formed. Each city had its own | | | | well-defined kata to open attack and defense. |
| methods, principles, system and traditions of | | | | |
| Karate. | | | | The Uniform - Color of the Belt and Ranks: |
| | | | |
| The introduction, popularization and | | | | The Karate uniform is white and comprised of |
| modernization of Karate to Japan are mainly | | | | the Kimono (shirt), Dogi or Keikogi (pants) |
| credited to Funakoshi, an Okinawan master, | | | | and a belt (white or colored), a combination |
| venerably regarded by many practitioners as | | | | introduced by Jigoro Kano, the founder of |
| "The Father of Modern Karate". Other | | | | Judo. The color of the belt is dependant on |
| prominent Karate experts in his time include | | | | the rank and expertise of a practitioner. In |
| Kenwa Mabuni, Miyagi Chojun, Choshin Chibana, | | | | accordance with commonly held standards, |
| and Motobu Choki. | | | | white belts are for beginners, and black for |
| | | | the highest rank. This, howver, may differ |
| Japan began introducing Karate as a subject | | | | from one organization to another. Each rank |
| in schools before the Second World War and | | | | may also have subdivions of its own even if |
| soldiers in the army were often trained in | | | | the color of the belt is similar. Styles and |
| the discipline. Competitions and different | | | | Variations: |
| styles also started emerging as several | | | | |
| universities started karate club programs | | | | Karate styles can be broadly classified into |
| during this period. | | | | Traditional and Full Body Karate. Traditional |
| | | | styles are those that developed in the early |
| The popularization of Karate in the West has | | | | period of the 20th century and include |
| its roots in the American military occupation | | | | variants such as Shotokan, Goju-ryu, |
| of Japan and Okinawa after the Second World | | | | Wado-ryu, Shito-ryu, Kushin-ryu, and Shindo |
| War, and Japanese immigration to the United | | | | Jinen Ryu. Full contact karate includes |
| States. | | | | styles such as Kyokushin-kaikan and |
| | | | Kansuiryu. Many of the styles have offshoots |
| Fundamentals of Karate: | | | | that developed into styles of their own. |
| | | | Although the concepts remain universal, each |
| Karate mainly stresses on volatile combat | | | | representation differ from one another. |
| techniques such as punching, kicking, knee | | | | |