A striking martial art originating in Okinawa that emphasizes punches, kicks, knee strikes, and open-hand techniques, combined with blocking and evasive movements. Practitioners develop power through proper body mechanics and conditioning.
From Japanese 'karate,' meaning 'empty hand,' originally written as 'China hand' in reference to Chinese martial arts influence. The name was changed in the 1930s to emphasize fighting without weapons and to distance the art from its foreign origins during Japan's nationalist period.
Karate made history as the first Asian martial art to gain widespread Western popularity, largely due to post-WWII American servicemen bringing it back from Okinawa and Japan. The art's emphasis on character development through training led to the famous motto 'karate begins and ends with respect,' making it as much about personal growth as fighting ability.
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