Karate is a Japanese martial art of Okinawan origin. Okinawa – a Japanese island group. While in Chinese martial arts, Shaolin is supposed to be the beginning, in karate everything started in Okinawa. In its early days, karate was a mixture of Wushu-Shaolin-Quan and the own techniques of Okinawan martial artists. Karate practitioners practice Kihon (Basics), Katas (Forms), and Kumites (Sparring).
History of Karate and Japan – Summary: Karate History
Hundreds of years ago, soldiers from the Chinese army were sent to Japan to explore the islands. They never returned and later even brought their families and Chinese culture to this beautiful island.
In the 18th century, the official development of karate began in Okinawa. The first recorded reference to karate in a modern form was taught around 1722 by "Tode Sakugawa" in Shuri. The base for his techniques was Shaolin-Quan, but karate was also influenced by many other styles from Asia. (Shaolin-Quan is still the most similar martial art style to karate.) But the Japanese changed a lot, so that finally there was a totally new martial art, made in Okinawa – Japan.
However, Okinawa was not always part of Japan, and karate was developed before Okinawa and Japan came together. So some Okinawan Japanese still don’t like it when foreigners talk about Japanese Karate. What they want to hear is "Okinawan Karate."
In the early 20th century, karate became one of the most popular martial arts. At the same time, China didn’t do much to make Wushu (Chinese martial arts) popular.
The word Karate: Karate History
The word karate consists of the characters empty (kara) and te (fist or hand). Before 1933, the character behind the pronunciation "kara" actually meant "Chinese." At times like this, Japanese Budo associations could not accept their martial art being called "Chinese fist." That’s why Funakoshi took the responsibility to change the original character behind "kara – Chinese" into "kara – empty." Same sound, but different character and meaning.
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