| Karate, or Karate-do, loosely translates | | | | not until the 20th century that t'ang became |
| empty hand ("kara" means empty and "te" means | | | | known as Karate-do. The suffix do was added |
| hand). This art is indeed predominantly | | | | by Gichin Funakoshi's son Yoshitaka |
| concerned with fighting with bare hands and | | | | Funakoshi, in friendly opposition to his |
| feet. The basic principle is to turn the body | | | | father's Okinawa-te style. Practice and |
| into an effective weapon to defend and attack | | | | demonstrations until that time had been |
| when and where it is appropriate. | | | | extremely violent. Punches were not pulled |
| | | | and full contact was an integral part of the |
| History: Karate is one of the most widely | | | | Okinawa-te style. Yoshitaka Funakoshi |
| practised of the oriental martial arts. It | | | | transformed the techniques of Okinawa-te into |
| evolved during one of the Japanese | | | | a gentler system, seeking not to deliver |
| occupations of the island of Okinawa, part of | | | | blows fully, but to focus strikes at skin |
| the Ryukyu chain of islands, in the 15th | | | | level. The do suffix expressed the move away |
| century. Its roots, however, can be traced | | | | from the aim of the warrior and towards |
| back much further than this - all the way | | | | physical and spiritual development. |
| back to ancient India. Many people hold the | | | | |
| view that what we regard today as the | | | | Styles: There are numerous styles of karate |
| oriental martial arts have their roots in | | | | practised. Wado Ryu and Shotokan are just 2 |
| India. In fact, when we look at such | | | | of them. Other popular systems include Shinto |
| disciplines as yoga and the breathing | | | | Ryu, developed in 1948, and now one of the |
| techniques that originated in India, there | | | | main systems in the world. It is also |
| does seem to be a great similarity between | | | | important to realise that the various styles |
| those and many of the modern martial arts | | | | of Karate are the results of the personal |
| systems. | | | | ideas of many individuals about how each |
| | | | basic technique should be carried out or |
| Zen Buddhist monks took the Indian fighting | | | | applied. The different techniques within the |
| techniques to China from as early as the 5th | | | | styles of Karate also dictate whether |
| century BC. Bodhidharma, an Indian monk, | | | | strength, speed, hand or leg techniques are |
| travelled at the end of the 5th century AD | | | | emphasised. |
| from India to China, where he became an | | | | |
| instructor at the Shaolin monastery. He | | | | Competitive Karate: Karate has been a self |
| taught a combination of empty hand fighting | | | | defense system and a form of physical |
| systems and yoga. This became the well-known | | | | exercise. The competitive and sporting |
| Shaolin Kong Fu - the system on which many | | | | elements have a further part to play in the |
| Chinese martial arts systems are based. | | | | individual's enjoyment of this activity. It |
| | | | is because of the possibility of |
| In 1470, the Japanese had occupied the island | | | | participation in competition that many people |
| of Okinawa. The law of the land dictated that | | | | take up this art. |
| anybody found carrying weapons would be put | | | | |
| to death. In order to protect themselves from | | | | Competition is not the only reason for |
| local bandits, who largely ignored the | | | | engaging in this art. It is possible to learn |
| prohibition on weapons, Zen Buddhist monks | | | | Karate without participating in competitions, |
| developed the empty hand system known as | | | | however for some people, competition provides |
| "te", importing new techniques from China. | | | | motivation and stimulation for training. The |
| Eventually the new art was translated as | | | | sense of achievement that comes from just |
| "t'ang" (China hand), but was familiarly | | | | taking part can be carried over into everyday |
| known as "Okinawa-te" (Okinawa hand). It was | | | | life. |