Karate

Introduction

Karate is a form of full contact martial art that dates back to the 17th Century. It was developed in the Okinawa Prefecture of Japan.

The sport is evolved from the native martial arts of the Ryukyu Islands under the leadership of Chinese martial arts, especially Fujian White Crane. In its initial stages, karate was an original form of closed-fist fighting; Kara means ‘empty,' and te means ’hand’. Karate not only grooms the body but the mind of the practitioner as well where people as young as four years of age can learn and participate in karate competitions in different age, weight, and experience categories.

The sport is widely practiced by people of all ages all around the world. The global governing body of the sport is World Karate Federation that organizes various World Championships and will also be a recognized Summer Olympics Sport from 2020 onwards.

In Kumite competitions the core objective is to score ippon (1 point), nihon (2 points), or sanbon (3 points) by performing various techniques according to the said criteria. The participant with the higher no. of scores wins.

History of Karate

Karate, the Japanese word for "bare hands," was conceived in the Okinawan Islands as a type of fighting style purposed for self-protection, when weapons were restricted by invading Japanese forces. It started as te (hand), a battling technique utilised by the locals of the Ryukyu Islands, and was later impacted by Chinese kenpō, introduced through the Chinese families that settled on Okinawa after exchange and trades among China and the islands were built up.

From three Okinawan urban areas, Shuri, Naha, and Tomari, three separate styles rose:

• Shuri-te

• Naha-te

• Tomari-te

Aggregately, these styles were called Okinawa-te or tode (Chinese hand), and after some time, the styles combined somewhat to turn out to be only two: Shōrin-ryū, developed close to Shuri and Tomari, and Shōrei-ryū, near Naha.

Because of expanding Japanese impact, the name of te was in the long run stretched to karate-jutsu (Chinese hand art). It at that point changed to karate-do after an Okinawan master adjusted the significance of the word kara (likewise articulated tode) to signify "empty" as opposed to "Chinese hand." karate-do converts into "the method of the empty hand."

The Common Beliefs of Where Karate Started

Next to no is known about the definite roots of karate before it showed up in Okinawa. However, one famous hypothesis expresses that it originated from India over a thousand years back, conveyed to China by a Buddhist priest called Bodhidharma ("Daruma" in Japanese). As legend depicts it, Bodhidharma came in Shaolinsi and started encouraging Zen Buddhism too, a style of temple boxing dependent on activities intended to reinforce the brain and body. The chronicled exactness of this legend is as yet a hot issue of discussion today.

Important Dates in the History of Karate

Year 1905

Karate is incorporated into Okinawa's physical training programs at the intermediate level.

Year 1917

Funakoshi performs the first open show of karate-do.

Year 1922

Funakoshi is welcomed by Dr Jano Kano to do an open show at the Kodokan Dojo, conveying karate-do to Japan.

Year 1924

The first college karate club is built up in Japan, at Keio University.

Year 1930s

Karate advances toward Canada.

Year 1936

Okinawan masters meet to talk about karate in Okinawa, a gathering supported by the paper Ryukyu Shimpo.

Year 1939

Japan opens Shoto-Kan, its first formal training school.

Year 1945

The first dojo is opened in the United States.

Year 1949

The Japan Karate Association is founded.

Year 1950s

Karate arrives in the United Kingdom.

Year 1960s

Karate advances toward the Soviet Union and is restricted and unbanned a few times throughout the following three decades.

Year 1964

France Shotokan Karate is made in France.

Year 1989

Karate is authorised and legalised once again the Soviet Union.

Events

Kata

Both men and women participate seperately either as individuals or/and in a team

Kumite

Both men and women participate seperately in individual weight category.

Participants

Kumite

Under Kumite competition, the World Karate Championships are held under the weight class system that is different for both men and women. The classes are given as under:-

For Men	For Women
-60 kg	-50 kg
-67 kg	-55 kg
-75 kg	-61 kg
-84 kg	-68 kg
+84 kg	+68 kg

Kata

These competitions are judged on the basis of power and speed of the athletes’ techniques. One contender is assigned with a blue belt and the other one a red belt and are allowed to showcase ther kata at their ake their respective turns. The result of competition is displayed by a flag system, where five judges each of whom has a red and a blue flag, raise either of the flag to show which competitor has won according to them. The more the no. of flags of the same color are raised, the athlete wearing the same color belt wins.

Equipment

Karate-Obi

Karatekas wear a colored belt that indicates the level of proficiency they have reached.

Karate-gi

The Karate-gi refers to the traditional Japanese uniform used while practising and during competition. 

Playing Area

The competition area is a matted square with a length of 8 meters on each side. The area may be raised up to 1 metre above the floor. If elevated it should measure 12 meters each side, while the outer 2 meters being the safety area.

Two parallel lines each measuring 1 metre in length are positioned at a distance of 1.5meters from the center area. The contestants are positioned on these lines. A warning line is drawn at a distance of 1 meter from the inside edges an all sides of the mat.

Techniques

Arm Techniques

• Tsuki/Punch- A punch is striking a bow with a tight fist.
• Uchi/Strike- A strike is defined as a directed physical attack with any part of the body or with an inanimate object with a clear intention to cause blunt trauma or penetrating trauma upon the opponent
• Age Zuki/Rising Punch
• Kagi Zuki/Hook Punch

Foot Movements

• Suri Ashi/ Sliding Step
• Tsugi Ashi/ Shuffling Step
• Yori Ashi/ Dragging Step
• Ayumi Ashi/Natural Stepping
• Keri Ashi/Kicking Foot

Officials

The professional competition of karate comprises of the following officials to officiate a match:-

• Referee

• Judge

• Arbitrator

• Scorekeeper

• Timekeeper​

• Caller