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| Karate (martial art) | |
|---|---|
| Name | Karate |
| Focus | Striking |
| Country | Okinawa, Japan |
| Creator | Unknown (Okinawan masters) |
| Parenthood | Ryukyu Kingdom martial traditions, Kung Fu, Te (Okinawa) |
| Descendant art | Kyokushin, Shotokan, Goju-ryu, Shito-ryu, Wado-ryu |
Karate (martial art) Karate is a striking-based martial art originating in the Ryukyu Islands with historical links to Okinawan Te (Okinawa), Chinese Kung Fu, and Japanese martial traditions such as Judo and Kendo. Practiced worldwide in dojos affiliated with organizations like the Japan Karate Association, International Olympic Committee, and national federations including the United States Karate Federation and World Karate Federation, karate encompasses forms, sparring, and weapon practice integrated into cultural, sporting, and self-defense contexts.
Karate's development traces to cultural exchange among the Ryukyu Kingdom, Miyako Islands, Amami Islands, and traders from Fujian province, with influences from masters such as Sokon "Bushi" Matsumura, Anko Itosu, Gichin Funakoshi, and Chojun Miyagi. During the Meiji era and the Taishō period interactions with Tokyo Imperial University, Keio University, and military figures promoted karate's transition into mainland Japan, where institutions like the Shotokan school and the Japan Karate Association standardized kata and kumite. Post-World War II dissemination occurred through figures including Masatoshi Nakayama, Hirokazu Kanazawa, Shigeru Egami, and returnees associated with the U.S. occupation of Japan, leading to global spread via organizations in Brazil, France, United Kingdom, United States of America, and Australia.
Karate's ethics draw upon Okinawan cultural values and connections to teachers like Anko Asato and philosophical works influenced by Bushido aesthetics and practitioners such as Morihei Ueshiba (in cross-training contexts). Core principles include kihon, kata, and kumite, emphasized by masters including Gichin Funakoshi and Chojun Miyagi, and reflected in dojos governed by federations like the All Japan Karate Federation. Concepts such as zanshin, mushin, and kata as a pedagogical method align with teachings across lineages such as Goju-ryu and Shito-ryu and are often contrasted with pedagogues from Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Taekwondo communities.
Training regimes integrate kihon (basic techniques), kata (forms), and kumite (sparring) taught in dojos affiliated with authorities such as Japan Karate Association, World Karate Federation, and independent schools led by masters like Kenwa Mabuni and Hironori Otsuka. Techniques include tsuki (punches), geri (kicks), uke (blocks), and atemi (striking), practiced solo and with partners in curricula developed by founders like Gichin Funakoshi, Chojun Miyagi, and Kenwa Mabuni. Conditioning, breathing methods influenced by Chinese Qigong sources, and weapon work with implements such as the bo and sai appear in traditions linked to families from Okinawa and training centers in Kyoto, Tokyo, Osaka, and military academies.
Major traditional styles include Shotokan, Goju-ryu, Shito-ryu, and Wado-ryu, each tracing lineages to founders—Gichin Funakoshi, Chojun Miyagi, Kenwa Mabuni, and Hironori Otsuka respectively—and institutional bodies such as the Japan Karate Association and International Traditional Karate Federation. Other influential schools and full-contact movements include Kyokushin founded by Masutatsu Oyama, sport-oriented branches associated with the World Karate Federation, and regional Okinawan lineages tied to families like the Mabuni and Matsumura lines. Contemporary hybrid systems and cross-training approaches intersect with Judo, Aikido, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and mixed martial arts camps in cities like Rio de Janeiro, Los Angeles, London, and Tokyo.
Sport karate formats governed by the World Karate Federation include kata and kumite divisions contested at events such as the World Karate Championships and the Olympic Games (Tokyo 2020). Competitive rule sets contrast with knockdown and full-contact tournaments organized by bodies like the International Karate Organization (IKO) and promoters linked to Kyokushin and professional circuits. Notable competitors and coaches from national federations include athletes representing Japan, France, Italy, Spain, United States of America, and Egypt in continental championships under continental unions like the European Karate Federation.
Ranking commonly employs kyu and dan grades codified by organizations such as the Japan Karate Association, World Karate Federation, and national bodies including the All Japan Karate Federation and the United States Karate Federation. Titles like sensei, shihan, and sempai derive from Japanese pedagogical tradition and are used in dojos affiliated with founders' lineages including Gichin Funakoshi and Kenwa Mabuni. Promotion examinations, syllabus content, and instructor certification are administered by federations, university clubs (e.g., Waseda University), and commercial associations in metropolitan centers such as Osaka and Tokyo.
Traditional uniforms (gi) and belts reflect standards set by organizations including the Japan Karate Association and competition regulations from the World Karate Federation; protective gear for sport kumite includes gloves, shin guards, and mouthguards meeting specifications for events like the World Games and the Olympic Games. Training implements such as makiwara, bo, sai, and tonfa are used in schools tracing lineage to Okinawan families and masters like Sokon Matsumura and Choki Motobu. Dojo infrastructure and safety protocols often reference standards from national sports authorities in countries such as Japan, France, and United States of America.
Karate's cultural reach is visible in films starring figures like Bruce Lee, Chuck Norris, Jean-Claude Van Damme, and in cinema and television industries of Japan and United States of America. Its globalization was accelerated by practitioners exporting systems to nations including United Kingdom, Brazil, Australia, Canada, and France and by inclusion in multi-sport events under the aegis of the International Olympic Committee and World Karate Federation. Karate has influenced performing arts, law enforcement training programs in municipalities, and academic studies at institutions like University of Tokyo and University of California, Los Angeles.
Category:Martial arts