Karate is a martial art developed in the Ryukyu Islands in what is now Okinawa, Japan. It developed from the indigenous martial arts of Ryukyu Islands under the influence of Chinese martial arts, particularly to that of the Fujian White Crane.
Karate is a striking art using punching, kicking, knee strikes, elbow strikes and open hand techniques. In some styles, grappling, throws, joint locks, and vital point strikes are also taught. It was brought to the Japanese mainland in the early 20th. It was taught in Japan after the Taisho era. In 1922 the Japanese invited Gichin Funakoshi to Tokyo to give a karate demonstration. In 1924 Keio University established the first university karate club in Japan and by 1932; major Japanese universities had karate clubs.
In this era of escalating Japanese militarism, the name was changed from “Chinese hand” to ”Empty hand”, both of which are pronounced Karate, to indicate that the Japanese wished to develop the combat form in Japanese style. After World War II, Okinawa became an important United States military site and karate became popular among servicemen stationed there.
The martial arts movies of the 1960s and 1970s served to greatly increase the popularity of martial arts around the world, and in English the word Karate began to be used in a generic way to refer to all striking-based Oriental martial arts. Karate schools began appearing across the world, catering to those with casual interest as well as those seeking a deeper study of the art.
In 2009, in the 121st International Olympic Committee voting, karate did not receive the necessary two-thirds majority vote to become an Olympic sport. Karate was being considered for the 2020 Olympics, however at a meeting of the IOC’s executive board, held in Russia on May 29, 2013, it was decided that karate (along with Wushu and several other non-martial arts) would not be considered for inclusion in 2020 at the IOC’s 125th session in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in September 2013. Web Japan (sponsored by the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs) claims there are 50 million karate practitioners worldwide, while the World Karate Federation claims there are 100 million practitioners around the world.
History
Okinawa
Karate began as a common fighting system known as “Te” among the Pechin class of the Ryukyuans. After trade relationships were established with the Ming dynasty of China by King Satto of Chūzan in 1372, some forms of Chinese martial arts were introduced to the Ryukyu Islands by the visitors from China. A large group of Chinese families moved to Okinawa around 1392 for the purpose of cultural exchange, where they shared their knowledge of the Chinese martial arts. The political centralization of Okinawa by King Shō Hashi in 1429 and the policy of banning weapons, are also factors that furthered the development of unarmed combat techniques in Okinawa. Early styles of karate are often generalized as Shuri-te, Naha-te, and Tomari-te, named after the three cities from which they emerged. Each area and its teachers had particular Kata, techniques, and principles that distinguished their local version from the others.
Members of the Okinawan upper classes were sent to China to study various political and practical disciplines. The incorporation of Chinese Kung-Fu into Okinawan martial arts occurred partly because of these exchanges. Traditional Kata bear a strong resemblance to the forms found in Fujian martial arts. Many Okinawan weapons such as the Sai, Tonfa, and Nunchaku may have originated around Southeast Asia.
Sakukawa Kanga (1782–1838) had studied staff (Bo) fighting in China. In 1806 he started teaching a fighting art in the city of Shuri that he called “Tudi Sakukawa,” which meant “Sakukawa of China Hand.” This was the first known recorded reference to the art of “Tudi”. Around the 1820s Sakukawa’s most significant student Matsumura Sōkon (1809–1899) taught a synthesis of “Te” and Shaolin styles. Matsumura’s style later became the Shōrin-ryū style.Matsumura taught his art to Itosu Ankō among others. Itosu adapted two forms he had learned from Matsumara and created the Ping’an forms which are simplified Kata for beginning students.These forms were taught to children at the elementary school level. The forms he created are common across all styles of Karate. His students became some of the most well known karate masters, including Gichin Funakoshi and Motobu Chōki.
In 1881 Higaonna Kanryō returned from China and founded Naha-te. One of his students was the founder of Gojū-ryū, Chōjun Miyagi.
In addition to the three early “Te” styles of Karate a fourth Okinawan influence is that of Kanbun Uechi (1877–1948). At the age of 20 he went to Fuzhou in Fujian Province, China, to escape Japanese military conscription. While there he studied under Shushiwa. He was a leading figure of Chinese Nanpa Shorin-ken style. He later developed his own style of Uechi-ryū Karate.
Japan
Gichin Funakoshi, founder of Shotokan karate, is generally credited with having introduced and popularized karate on the main islands of Japan. Funakoshi was a student of both Asato Ankō and Itosu Ankō. This was a turbulent period in the history of the region. It the First Sino-Japanese War and the rise of Japanese militarism.
Japan was invading China at the time, and Funakoshi knew that the art of China hand would not be accepted; thus he change the name to “Way of The Empty Hand.” The Dō suffix implies that Karate-Dō is a path to self-knowledge. Funakoshi changed the names of many Kata and the name of the art itself to get Karate accepted by the Japanese Budō organization Dai Nippon Butoku Kai. Funakoshi also gave Japanese names to many of the Kata. These were mostly political changes, rather than changes to the content of the forms, although Funakoshi did introduce some such changes. In Japan he was influenced by kendo, incorporating some ideas about distancing and timing into his style. He always referred to what he taught as simply karate, but in 1936 he built a Dojo in Tokyo and the style he left behind is usually called Shotokan. The modernization and systemization of karate in Japan also included the adoption of the white uniform that consisted of the Kimono, the Karate-Gi and the colored belt ranks.
A new form of karate called Kyokushin was formally founded in 1957 by Masutatsu Oyama. Kyokushin is largely a synthesis of Shotokan and Gōjū-ryū. It teaches a curriculum that emphasizes aliveness,toughness and full contact sparring.
Practice
Karate can be practiced as an art, as a sport or as self-defense training. Traditional karate places emphasis on self-development. Modern Japanese style training emphasizes the psychological elements incorporated into a proper Attitude such as perseverance,fearlessness,virtue, and leadership skills. Sport karate places emphasis on exercise and competition.
Karate training is commonly divided into Kihon (basics ), Kata (forms), and Kumite (sparring).
Rank
In the Kyū or Dan system the beginner grades start with a higher numbered kyū (e.g.,white belt=10th Kyū) and progress toward a lower numbered kyū.Kyū-grade are referred to as “color belt”.Dan-grade are referred to as Black belts. Normally, the first five to six Dans are given by examination by superior Dan holders, while the subsequent are honorary, given for special merits and/or age reached. Kyū ranks stress stance, balance, and coordination. Speed and power are added at higher grades. Testing consists of demonstration of techniques before a panel of examiners. This will vary by school, but testing may include everything learned at that point, or just new information.
Kihon
Karate styles place varying importance on kihon. Typically this is performance of techniques or even pre-arranged drills.
Kata
Kata literally means “shape”. Kata is a sequence of movements which represent various offensive and defensive postures. These postures are based on combat applications. The applications demonstration with real opponents is referred to as a Bunkai. Bunkai is a useful tool to understand a Kata.
To attain a formal rank the student must demonstrate required Kata for that level.
Kumite
Sparring in Karate is called Kumite. Full contact karate has several variants. Knockdown karate uses full power techniques to bring an opponent to the ground. Sport Kumite is free fight with Light contact, points are awarded by a referee.
In free sparring, the two participants have a free choice of scoring techniques, it’s performed in a marked area, and is given 2 to 3 minutes. Points are awarded based on the criteria: good form, sporting attitude, awareness and timing.
Sport
Karate is divided into style organizations. These organizations sometimes co-operate in non-style specific sport karate organizations or federations. Organizations hold competitions from local to international level. Tournaments are designed to match members of opposing schools or styles against one another in Kata, sparring and weapons demonstration. They are often separated by age, rank and sex with potentially different rules or standards based on these factors. The tournament may be exclusively for members of a particular style or one in which any martial artist from any style may participate within the rules of the tournament.
The World Karate Federation (WKF) is the largest sport karate organization and is recognized by the International Olympic Committee as being responsible for karate competition in the Olympic games. The WKF has developed common rules governing all styles.
WKF karate competition has two disciplines: Kumite and Kata. Competitors may enter either as individuals or as part of a team. Evaluation for Kata and Kobudō (weapon) is performed by a panel of judges, whereas sparring is judged by a head referee, usually with assistant referees at the side of the sparring area. Sparring matches are typically divided by weight, age, gender, and experience.
WKF only allows membership through one national organization or federation per country to which clubs may join. The World Union of Karate-do Federations (WUKF) offers different styles and federations a world body they may join, without having to compromise their style or size. The WUKF accepts more than one federation or association per country.
Be Aware of Dishonest practice
Due to the popularity of martial arts, some fraudulent, or misguided teachers and schools have arisen. Commonly referred to as a “McDojo” a “Black Belt Mill, Farm, or Factory,” these schools are commonly headed by martial artists of either dubious skill or business ethics.
