What is Karate

A very brief explanation

Karate is a Japanese Martial Art. The word karate means (kara) Empty(Te) Hand. What this implies is that the practitioner is proficient in his or hers ability to fight without weapons. Its origins are from an island off of japan called Okinawa where weapons were prohibited to all but the warrior class (Samurai). Unable to protect themselves using the conventional weapons of the day, the inhabitants developed the ability to defend themselves using farming implements that are now know as nun-chakus, bo & sai's as well as the art of karate itself. Maintaining the traditions from it place of origin, karate practitioners will wear a Gi (suit) with a belt (obi) and also learn the technical names of karate techniques. Traditional karate is split into three sections: Kihan (basics), kata (forms) and Kumite (fighting). Each element in itself has its own nature and a true karate student will aim for proficiency, if not perfection in each.

Kyokushin Karate was created by Masutatsu Oyama (pictured). Oyama was a student of the founder of Modern Karate Gichin Funakoshi, but decided he wanted to create a style with more emphasis on the power and spirit of the exponent. After some time, Kyokushin was then born in the 1950's. As well as founding kyokushinkai, Oyama is famed for fighting bulls, Breaking rocks with his bare hands, living in the mountains of japan whilst studying ancient text on the Martial Arts in isolation and also for his fighting prowess.

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