Karate Styles
Karatedo or karate which means “empty hand,” and is known by many people and is a popular competition sport though it was originally developed for self-defense. Known as a hard style Karate employs hand and leg strikes, throws, blocks and grappling. It also includes an arsenal of lethal weapons like the sickle, pitch fork, and staff. Karate traces its origins back to Okinawa prior to being taken over by Japan, and aspect of both Chinese and Japanese martial arts. Thought Japanese Karate Federation only recognizes four traditional styles of Karate; there are many more styles, and Karate has been influenced by many nationalities.
The four recognizes styles of karate are Shotokan-ryu, Shito-ryu, Goju-ryu, and Wado-ryu. Shotokan-ryu is described as dynamic power, and emphasizes constant movement, and is probably the best known style since it was brought to Japan. In addition, martial arts action film star Jean-Claude Van Damme practices this style and uses it in his films. The Shito-ryu style of Karate is similar to Shotokan and has both physical strength and breathing exercises, and is the style used in the motion picture Karate Kid. Goju-ryu combines hard striking attacks, and soft techniques like those found in Judo. Wado-ryu goes beyond brute strength, and has been compared with Japanese Jujutsu.
Karate’s influence hasn’t been limited to Japan though, and currently there are many different styles being practiced around the world. Once only practiced by military personnel who had been stationed overseas Karate can now be found in almost every town in the United States being taught as a combat sport. In Russia Shotokan was very popular until the state prohibited all martial arts except for the state created Sambo style, but since the fall of the Soviet Union the sport has come back. Also Korea’s Tae Kwon Do borrows many techniques from Karate.
The only down side to Karate’s prominence around the world is that it is not the form of self defense it once was centuries ago. Once used by peasant and noblemen alike to protect their home and property Karate is now mostly a competition sport. Combat sports are a lot of fun, but their techniques don’t necessarily work in the real world. Traditional Karate was designed to be a hard hitting style, but few practice that pre-World War II style today. Karate’s founders didn’t intend for their styles to just be used in the dojo.
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