Karate is a type of martial art that uses the hands and legs as weapons in self-defense. Intense, coordinated sequences of kicking, punching, shifting and lunging, as well as speed and agility, are all aspects of karate. However, karate is also the art of controlling the mind and overcoming emotional obstacles such as anger, fear and excitement. The evolution of karate, the sport and the name, are heavily influenced by Asian culture and history.
Karate's Meaning
Karate, pronounced kuh-rah-tee, is the English homophone or writing for the Japanese kanji characters kara, for "empty" or "void"; and te, which signifies "hand." Translations include "empty hand" or "bare hand." Karate is also referred to as karate-do, with the suffix -do meaning "path" or "way."
Evolution of the Name
The original character that appeared in the place of kara was a different character that symbolized China or "tang," which could also be pronounced "kara." Karate master Gichin Funakoshi, an influential leader in early karate, felt that a change in the first character was necessary to show karate as a Japanese original, as opposed to a sport inspired by China. He proposed to use the character for "empty," which was also pronounced "kara." The end result, "empty hand," is the term still used today.
Early History
Karate was originally developed by monks, with roots in India, China and Tibet. Their purpose was to help monks not only to have healthy minds and bodies, but the self-discipline, skills, physical strength and endurance to be able to defend themselves against humans and animals who posed a danger to them. In the early 1900s, this hand fighting, or "te," was introduced to the people of Okinawa, Japan, where it continued to develop.
In 1921, Funakoshi, who received training at an early age from one of the founding fathers of "te," and who taught many karate classes himself, demonstrated the karate art to the crown prince, Hirohito, hoping to portray karate as a legitimate sport. Hirohito, who expressed interest in the sport, influenced others who wanted to learn more, resulting in the creation of many karate schools and clubs throughout Japan.
Karate Throughout the World
In the late 1940s, Japanese karate began receiving international attention. American soldiers who had been stationed in Japan and observed first-hand the sport of karate returned home at the end of World War II with new skills and interest in the sport. Japanese students who began to travel and study abroad also took with them the knowledge and skills of karate to their new places of residence.
Today, karate has evolved into a competitive sport and includes varying degrees of skill and advancement. Tournaments can include events such as board-breaking demonstrations, self-defense technique and sparring competitions. Unlike the karate of old, modern karate involves standardized judging, scoring and official rules and regulations, under the direction of associations like the Japan Karate Association and International Sport Karate Association.
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