Karate – A Japanese Martial Arts Style

Karate is a popular Japanese martial arts that was originally developed on the islands of Okinawa, Japan. It focuses on katapuncheselbow strikesknee strikes and kicks. Many Karate schools also conduct Kobudo weapons training (i.e. Bo). There are many sub-styles of Karate. Some of the major Karate styles include Goju-RyuKyokushinShito-RyuShorin-RyuShotokan and Wado-Ryu. In addition, during the summer of 2020, Karate will be an Olympic sport for the first time. This Black Belt Wiki section on Karate provides written instructions and/or videos for Karate kata, kumite, kicks, terminology and much more.

Karate Kata – Written instructions and/or videos for a wide number of different Karate kata.

Main Elements of Karate – Techniques listed below include videos & written instructions.

Karate Terminology

Other Elements of Karate

Katas by Karate Style


History of Karate

According to Shotokan Karate of America, “Karate history can be traced back some 1400 years, to Daruma, founder of Zen Buddhism in Western India. Daruma is said to have introduced Buddhism into China, incorporating spiritual and physical teaching methods that were so demanding that many of his disciples would drop in exhaustion. In order to give them greater strength and endurance, he developed a more progressive training system, which he recorded in a book, Ekkin-Kyo, which can be considered the first book on karate of all time.

The physical training, heavily imbued with Daruma’s philosophical principles, was taught in the Shaolin Temple in the year 500 A.D. Shaolin (Shorin) kung-fu, from northern China, was characterized by very colorful, rapid, and dynamic movements; the Shokei school of southern China was known for more powerful and sober techniques. These two kinds of styles found their way to Okinawa, and had their influence on Okinawa’s own original fighting method, called Okinawa-te (Okinawan hand) or simply te. A ban on weapons in Okinawa for two long periods in its history is also partly responsible for the high degree of development of unarmed fighting techniques on the island.

In summary, karate in Okinawa developed from the synthesis of two fighting techniques. The first one, used by the inhabitants of Okinawa, was very simple but terribly effective and, above all, very close to reality since it was used throughout many centuries in real combat. The second one, much more elaborate and impregnated with philosophical teachings, was a product of the ancient culture of China. These two origins explain the double character of Karate–extremely violent and efficient but at the same time a strict and austere discipline and philosophy with a nonviolent emphasis.”

Description of Karate Classes

Before every class, you will participate in a Karate warm-up and stretching routine in order to prepare you for the regular martial arts training. During class, Karate students learn a wide variety of Karate punchesKarate hand strikes and Karate elbow strikes. Students will also learn a range of powerful Karate kicks such as the Mae Geri (front kick) and Mawashi Geri (roundhouse kick).

Karate students will also learn kata. Katas are ritualized patterns were students combine various strikes, kicks, stances and blocks. Moreover, instructors use kata to build endurance, practice combinations of kicks and strikes, improve student memorization of techniques, etc. Knowledge of and solid execution of katas is essential part of most belt tests.

If you become a student of Karate, you will have to learn Japanese words and commands (i.e. Karate terminology) in order to count during stretching, greet your instructor, understand commands and technique names, etc.

A number of Karate schools focus on classic techniques and thus utilize many traditional training tools such as Jari Bako (bowls filled with sand used to condition the fingers and hands), Makiwara (striking post), Nigiri Game(gripping jars) and Tetsu Geta (iron clogs). Moreover, many schools use kobudo training that focuses on traditional weapons such as the BoSaiNunchaku, etc.

Major Schools or Sub-Styles of Karate

Karate consists of a number of schools or sub-styles (i.e. Shotokan, Kyokushin and Wado-Ryu). Each of these sub-styles teach many common Karate techniques. However, each Karate sub-style also has a number of differences versus other sub-styles (i.e. different Katas or greater emphasis on “hard” or “soft” techniques). Visit the sections below to learn more about each sub-style of Karate.

The following are the main Karate schools and sub-styles:

Karate Kata Demonstration

References

  1. Shotokan Karate of America, History of Karate, http://ska.org/about/history-of-karate/, Added – 7/2/13
  2. International Shuri-Ryu Association, http://www.shuri-ryu.com/, Added – 01/27/14
  3. United States Kyokushin Karate, http://www.uskyokushin.com/, Added – 01/27/14
  4. Isshin-Ryu World Karate Association, Kata, http://www.isshinryukarate.com/, Added – 03/10/14