What is Karate?

Karate is one of the various forms of martial arts; which owes its heritage from within the small village of Okinawa, Japan. An Okinawan by the name of Gichin Funakoshin traveled to Japan to spread the art of Karate-Do and thus this saw the birth of the style of Shotokan. The word ‘Shotokan’ was merely a name given to the place where Funakoshi’s Karate was practiced and hence the definition “place of Shoto.” It was in 1916 that Gichin Funakoshin gave a demonstration to the Japanese public therefore allowing the growth of Karate-Do and it’s wide spread popularity.

What does Karate-Do mean?

Basically, Karate-Do is the way of the empty fist or hand.

Do- The way Kara- Empty Te- Fist or Hand

The original meaning of Karate was “Chinese hand” and not “empty hand”. This was because the art saw its root from the Chinese chaunfa (Gong Fu), which later fused with the Okinawan art of Te, to the form what we know now as Karate. Because of reasons of spreading the art the meaning of Kara was changed, due to anti-Chinese sentiments.

The Values of Karate

Karate is both effective and practical. It is not about kicking in the air or breaking boards or bricks; which are admirable. It is a self-defense and, if done properly, does work against an unprovoked attack. Through constant training, it builds self-confidence for people with low self-esteem.