Karate – A Martial Art That Focuses on Unarmed Combat

A martial art that focuses on unarmed combat, karate was first introduced outside of Japan after World War II. Western fascination with the art began with the fact that it is a distinctly Japanese development but was also overlaid with mysticism and stories of secret cults. Despite these legends, real-life karate masters are humble and disciplined people.

The karate that we practice today is the result of an Okinawa-based fighting style that evolved from two distinct martial arts systems. The first of these was a simple but incredibly effective combat technique that was drawn from mainland China during the centuries before Okinawa became Japanese. The other was a disciplined and rigorous philosophy that imbues the fighting techniques with spiritual elements.

Many karate practitioners find that the philosophy and spiritual development of the martial arts is more important than learning specific punches, kicks or blocks. This is because the true art of karate is the ability to control your body and mind. This enables you to develop grace, power and precision rather than just brute strength. This is why smaller framed people can sometimes break boards and bricks with much less force than larger sized individuals who are not trained in martial arts.

Today, karate is a popular martial art around the world. It is divided into different “styles” and competed in tournaments at local, national and international levels. It is also a great way to stay physically fit and develop self-discipline. The karate rank (or belt) system provides students with an objective method of measuring their progress and allows them to set goals that challenge and inspire them as they train.