History of Karate
Karate or Karatedo is one of the best known styles of martial arts in history, and is considered to be great competition sport and is featured in the Olympics. It first became popular in the United States in the 1960’s, but Karate dates back centuries. Created with Chinese help on the island of Okinawa traditional Karate is brutal form of combat that employs vicious strikes with the hands and feet as and depending on the style throws, grappling, and joint manipulations. Though known as the “empty hand” in Japan weapons training is apart of traditional Karate training. Prior to World War II Karate was all about full contact and self defense, but now only a handful practice real combat Karate.
The idea for Karate came from Chine where Okinawan nobles would regularly travel to study Kung Fu and other martial arts, and then returned home began working their own ideas and techniques for combat survival. The system would soon be tested when the samurai invaded and occupied the island in the 1609. Though Okinawa’s weren’t able to defeat the samurai of the Satsuma clan as time pasted Japan would embrace Karate and combine it with their own martial arts.
Though many more exist there are four official styles recognized by the Japanese Karate Federation, and they’re Shotokan-ryu, Shito-ryu, Goju-ryu, and Wado-ryu. Though there are many other styles these four were all designed with combat in mind. Wado-ryu is a mixture of Karate and Japanese Jujutsu, and uses body movement to avoid attacks. Goju-ryu uses a variety of techniques and uses many other exercises to strengthen a student’s mind and body. Shito-Ryu uses square-on stances and linear strikes as well as teaches weapons training. Shotokan-ryu is probably the most popular of the four, and uses deep stances and linear movements.
Most schools you see today are teaching combat sport Karate while others focus on the self defense aspect. Still others try to do both and often do them badly. Historical Karate is a system meant for self defense, but much of its lethal techniques have been stripped away, and replaced with moves and techniques for sport. Though there are some instructors out there teaching real combat karate they are few so do your research and know that just because you’re learning Karate doesn’t mean you can protect yourself as many have unfortunately found out in a street fight.
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