Karate – The Art of Empty Hand Fighting

karate

Karate is a martial art that uses unarmed combat to develop strength, power, agility and endurance. It is often referred to as “the art of empty-hand fighting” or “self-defense without weapons”. It also stresses mental and ethical values, including courage, perseverance, and virtue, and is practiced as both an art and as a sport. It is practiced by people of all ages and from all walks of life.

Gichin Funakoshi, a prominent founder of modern karate, introduced it to Japan in 1917. His demonstration impressed the public and Crown Prince Hirohito, who expressed enthusiasm for the art. The art was further developed in Okinawa by students of his who incorporated elements of other martial arts such as wrestling, boxing and Judo. They created a number of different styles of karate, which are generally differentiated by their techniques and training methods. Training in the arts is divided into kihon (basic technique), kata, and kumite (sparring).

A significant development occurred after World War II when karate became popular with American soldiers stationed in Japan who took it back to their homes. In particular, Robert Trias is widely considered the “Father of American Karate”. He spread the style he developed called Shotokan – named after the dojo of Funakoshi.

Other notable styles include the Naha-te of Higaonna Kanryo, the Goju-ryu of Chojun Miyagi, and the Wado-ryu. Wado focuses on evading strikes by using body movement and countering with punches and kicks. It is a very powerful style and demands balance, control, and discipline of the practitioner. Many karate styles have their own governing bodies that regulate the training and rank of their practitioners. They may compete in tournaments that are open to all styles or only members of their own organization.