I Introduction
" Karate (Japanese, 'empty hand'),
martial art of unarmed self-defense in which directed or focused blows of the hands and feet, accompanied by special breathing and shouts, are dealt from poised positions. More than a method of combat, karate emphasizes self-discipline, positive attitude, and high moral purpose. It is taught professionally at different levels, and under a variety of Asian names, as a self-defense skill, a competitive sport, and a free-style exercise. "
II History
The art of karate (pronounced kah RA tee) is more than 1,000 years old and originated in eastern Asia, first as monastic training and later as a defense method used by Chinese peasants against armed bandits. By the 17th century it had become a highly developed art on the Japanese island of Okinawa. In 1917 an Okinawan schoolteacher, Funakoshi Gichin, gave the first public demonstration of karate on the Japanese mainland. Funakoshi moved to Tokyo to teach the martial art in 1922.
In 1939 Funakoshi opened Shotokan, his first dojo (training center). The karate style he taught there came to be known as Shotokan-ryû. At the same time other leading karate instructors were developing different styles throughout Japan, including Goju-ryû, Shito-ryû, Wado-ryû, and Kushin-ryû. Over the years, karate teachers and students have created many branches from these styles. Karate was introduced into the United States after World War II (1939-1945). It has since spread all over the world and is one of the most popular of all martial arts.
III Technique and Training
Karate is related to judo and jujutsu, but stresses techniques for striking, with lethal kicks and punches, rather than wrestling or throwing an opponent. The three elements of speed, strength, and technique are vital to karate expertise. Constant alertness and a keen sense of timing and surprise are also requisites.
Karate training can be broken into three parts: kihon (pronounced kee hon), kata (kaa taa), and kumite (koo me tay). Kihon teaches the foundation of the art. Students learn stances and simple movements. Complex movements are broken down into individual elements such as blocks, kicks, and punches. Moves are practiced and perfected in this way. Kata are a set of predetermined moves practiced against imaginary opponents. Practicing kata is likened to shadow boxing.
Kumite is sparring, or practice fighting. In kumite, specific attention is given to the most vulnerable areas of the human body, which may be attacked by the hands, elbows, knees, or feet. These areas include the face, neck, solar plexus, spinal column, groin, and kidneys. In ordinary karate competitions or exhibitions, only the area of the body above the waist is allowed as a target, and all blows are to be pulled (limited in force). The most common blows used are chops or knife hands, knuckle punches, hammerblows, finger jabs, and front, side, back, round, jump, and stamping kicks. In actual fighting, any of these blows can be fatal. The ability of a karate master to break boards or bricks with a chop of the bare hand is proverbial.
Karate is a rigorous activity. Students of karate must do constant exercises and stretching routines to limber up and strengthen the muscles of the body. Deep-breathing exercises are also useful because exhalation and sudden shouts accompany the directed blows, particularly the final or so-called killing blows. Such breathing and cries help the rhythm of the karate attack, focus more force in each blow or block, and psychologically invigorate a person while disconcerting the opponent. Some karate students have been known to toughen their hands and feet by driving them into containers of sand, rice, or gravel, or by striking sandbags and special punching boards.
IV Instruction and Achievement
Karate schools and classes can be found all over the world, particularly in the United States, where karate has become popular as a sport and a method for self-protection. Karate has also been incorporated into training programs for police, soldiers, college athletes, and other groups. The language of karate is chiefly Japanese. A karate training hall or gym is called a dojo, and the white, pajama-like garment worn during training is called the gi (pronounced ghee). More than 200 specific Japanese terms are used for the various blows and moves that are employed in kata. A top karate instructor is known as a sensei (sen say).
Most sensei must train for years to reach this level. Degrees of achievement are formally recognized in karate training, each represented by a cloth belt of a particular color worn around the gi. The usual colors awarded are, in ascending order, white, green, brown, and black. Qualifications for belts as well as belt colors awarded differ from school to school, depending upon the style and standard of karate taught. The black belt, or dan (pronounced dahn), signifies the highest proficiency in karate. Like the other belts, the black belt can be further qualified by degrees of honor or skill, with the tenth being the highest dan. The sensei or program leader typically determines a student’s level of expertise.
V Organization and Competition
The Japan Karate Association, established by Funakoshi in 1949, held the first all-Japan karate championships in 1957. Since then the association has become an international organization, with affiliated karate clubs around the world.
Today there are a number of international karate organizations. The World Karate Federation is the international governing body for the sport and is recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). In the United States the USA National Karate-do Federation (USA-NKF) is the national governing body and is responsible for selecting the national karate teams that compete worldwide. There are several U.S. organizations that conduct national competitions, and hundreds of regional, state, and local tournaments are held each year throughout the country.
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