KARATE

Karate is a Japanese form of combat techniques. No weapons are used, only hands and feet.  It is an attack and defense method which relies exclusively on the natural abilities of the human body.

The origin of Karate The first traces of hand and feet techniques appeared in China in the 6th century.   Later, these techniques were found especially in Okinawa, an Island south of Japan.

Okinawa was the meeting place of Japanese and Chinese influences. The Chinese developed what is called Okinawa-Te. The two masters of that period were: Ankoh Itosu (Shorin Ryu) and Kanruo Higaonna (Shorei Ryu)

In the 17^th century, all forms of weapons were banned in the region of Okinawa.

To defend themselves, the inhabitants used self-defense techniques called “te” which come from Chinese Martial-Arts. Later the masters of this new style called it “Karate” which means: “empty hands “or “Chinese hands.”

The word karate is a combination of two kanji (Chinese characters): kara, meaning empty, and te, meaning hand; thus, karate means “empty hand.” Adding the suffix “-dō” (pronounced “daw”), meaning “the way/path,” karate-dō, implies karate as a total way of life that goes well beyond the self-defense applications. In traditional karate-dō, one is supposed to compete and strive to excel against him/herself.

Master Gishin Funakoshi (1868-1957) Created his own style: Shoto Kan in 1916 In 1922, Master Funakoshi impressed the Japanese with his art, recognizing him as The founding father of Karate, He was the first to teach Karate in Japan after 1920.

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