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