| Karate is a martial art developed in the Japanese | | | | of cultural and political interchanges. Further influence |
| territory known as the Ryukyu Islands. It includes | | | | came from Southeast Asia from the regions of |
| punching, kicking, knee and elbow strikes and | | | | Sumatra, Java, and Melaka. Many Okinawan weapons |
| open-handed techniques. Karate students may also | | | | such as the sai, tonfa, and nunchaku likely originated in |
| learn grappling techniques, arm locks, throws, and point | | | | and around Southeast Asia. |
| strikes depending on the schools or style they study. | | | | Sakukawa Kanga had studied staff fighting in China. In |
| Karate began as a fighting system referred to as | | | | 1806 he started teaching a fighting art in Shuri that he |
| "ti.After trading contacts were established with the | | | | called "Tudi Sakukawa." This was the first known |
| Ming dynasty of China by King Satto of | | | | written reference to the art of "Tudi." Around the |
| Chūzan;in late 14th century, various forms of | | | | 1820s Sakukawa's most significant student Matsumura |
| Chinese martial arts were slowly introduced to the | | | | Sōkon who lived till the end of the 19th century |
| Ryukyu Islands by the visitors from China. | | | | taught a synthesis of te and Shaolin styles. |
| A group of Chinese families moved to Okinawa near | | | | Matsumura's style and techniques would eventually |
| the end of the 14th century where they established the | | | | develop into the Shōrin;-ryū karate style. |
| Kumemura community and shared their knowledge of | | | | Gichin Funakoshi, founder of Shotokan karate, is |
| a wide variety of Chinese arts and sciences, including | | | | generally credited with having popularized karate on |
| the Chinese martial arts. | | | | the Japanese mainland though the spread is more |
| The centralization of governance and authority in | | | | likely through many Okinawans who were actively |
| Okinawa by King ShōHashi in the first half of the | | | | teaching, and are thus equally responsible for the |
| 15th century and the banning of weapons enforced in | | | | popularization of karate. |
| Okinawa after the invasion of the Shimazu clan, were | | | | Funakoshi was a student of both Asato Ankō |
| also factors that furthered the development of | | | | and Itosu Ankō who had worked to introduce |
| unarmed combat systems in Okinawa. | | | | karate to the Okinawa Prefectural School System. |
| Each teachers taught a particular kata as well as | | | | During this time period, prominent teachers who also |
| differing techniques and principles that distinguished | | | | influenced the spread of karate in Japan included |
| their local version from that of others. | | | | Kenwa Mabuni, Chōjun Miyagi, Motobu |
| The adoption of empty-handed Chinese Wu Shu into | | | | Chōki, Kanken Tōyama, and Kanbun Uechi. |
| Okinawan fighting arts most likely transpired because | | | | |