china
Legend says that about 1,400 years ago a monk named Daruma came to China from India and taught Buddhism. He also taught his disciples a weaponless combat technique for physical fitness and self-defense.
Typical characteristics of Chinese fighting styles are body shifting, circular or elliptical hand movement blocking, and low kicking. From these points one can sense the Chinese principle of harmony: "Do not fight directly with power against power;" rather, use "softness against hardness." These circular movements and low kicks tend to be practical and economical in terms of fighting.
The Chinese also utilized and adapted these arts for physical fitness. One of these styles, Tai-Chi-Chuan, attracts people who love harmony and tranquility. In Tai-Chi-Chuan, the same technique is practiced over and over again until it becomes second nature. Many Chinese styles emphasize "chi or ki (in Japanese) development for internal and external power.
Typical characteristics of Chinese fighting styles are body shifting, circular or elliptical hand movement blocking, and low kicking. From these points one can sense the Chinese principle of harmony: "Do not fight directly with power against power;" rather, use "softness against hardness." These circular movements and low kicks tend to be practical and economical in terms of fighting.
The Chinese also utilized and adapted these arts for physical fitness. One of these styles, Tai-Chi-Chuan, attracts people who love harmony and tranquility. In Tai-Chi-Chuan, the same technique is practiced over and over again until it becomes second nature. Many Chinese styles emphasize "chi or ki (in Japanese) development for internal and external power.
okinawa
The idealist and visionary King Shohashi united Okinawa around 400 years ago, he ordered the destruction of all weapons. This encouraged peaceful control of the population and prevented armed uprisings. Two hundred years later, the Satsuma clan from the southern Japanese main island of Kyushu, under Lord Shimazu, conquered Okinawa; once again possession of weapons was strictly prohibited. As a result of theses consecutive weapon prohibitions, the Okinawan populace developed combat techniques which utilized
agricultural implements.
Also during this time Karate began its development there, getting its technical roots from the Chinese mainland. From the beginning of its history, and largely because of its location, Okinawa has been influenced by Chinese culture.
These bare-hand and kicking arts became known as Naha-te, Shuri-te, and Tomari-te based on their place of town of origin. Because of their Chinese roots, these arts were sometimes refered to as "to-de" or "kara-te" (to or kara means Chinese and de and te mean hand). Sometimes they were referred as Okinawa-te. These styles evolved out of a need to fight against armed opponents. In contrast to Chinese techniques, Okinawa-te tended to use more first techniques than open hand techniques. Furthermore, it tended to utilize
more linear movements.
An important principle in these Okinawan martial arts involves also the development of large muscle and strongly callused hands and feet, in order to develop kicks and punches that can finish an opponent with one blow. But practitioners did not do much free sparring, believing that if they free sparring, their strong focus would be weakened by trying to win. They mainly practiced hitting makiwara (a punching board strapped with straw rope) and kata (forms; movements in a set sequence). The use of kata to study and practice probably derived from the Chinese martial arts, which used them extensively.
agricultural implements.
Also during this time Karate began its development there, getting its technical roots from the Chinese mainland. From the beginning of its history, and largely because of its location, Okinawa has been influenced by Chinese culture.
These bare-hand and kicking arts became known as Naha-te, Shuri-te, and Tomari-te based on their place of town of origin. Because of their Chinese roots, these arts were sometimes refered to as "to-de" or "kara-te" (to or kara means Chinese and de and te mean hand). Sometimes they were referred as Okinawa-te. These styles evolved out of a need to fight against armed opponents. In contrast to Chinese techniques, Okinawa-te tended to use more first techniques than open hand techniques. Furthermore, it tended to utilize
more linear movements.
An important principle in these Okinawan martial arts involves also the development of large muscle and strongly callused hands and feet, in order to develop kicks and punches that can finish an opponent with one blow. But practitioners did not do much free sparring, believing that if they free sparring, their strong focus would be weakened by trying to win. They mainly practiced hitting makiwara (a punching board strapped with straw rope) and kata (forms; movements in a set sequence). The use of kata to study and practice probably derived from the Chinese martial arts, which used them extensively.
japan
Gichin Funakoshi, founder of Shotokan karate, is generally credited with having introduced and popularized karate on the main islands of Japan. In truth many Okinawans were actively teaching, and are thus equally responsible for the development of karate. During this time period, many prominent teachers also influenced the spread of karate in Japan.
Japan was invading China at the time, and it was known that the art of could not be accepted; thus the chance of the art's name from "China hand" to "empty hand." The "do" suffix implies that karate-do is a path to self knowledge and perfection of character, not just the study of the technical aspects of fighting. Like most martial arts practiced in Japan, karate made its transition from "jutsu" to "do" around the beginning of the 20th century. The "do" in "karate-d0" sets it apart from karate "jutsu", as aikido is distinguished from
aikijutsu, judo from jujutsu, kendo from kenjutsu and iaido from iaijutsu.
The name od the art itself (at least on mainland Japan) was changed, doing so to get karate accepted by the Japanese budo organization Dai Nippon Butoku Kai. The modernization and systematization of karate in Japan also included the adoption of the white uniform than consisted of the dogi or keikog, mostly called just karategi and colored belt ranks. Both of these innovations were originated and popularized by Jogoro Kano, the founder of Judo and of the men who were consulted in the efforts to modernize karate.
Japan was invading China at the time, and it was known that the art of could not be accepted; thus the chance of the art's name from "China hand" to "empty hand." The "do" suffix implies that karate-do is a path to self knowledge and perfection of character, not just the study of the technical aspects of fighting. Like most martial arts practiced in Japan, karate made its transition from "jutsu" to "do" around the beginning of the 20th century. The "do" in "karate-d0" sets it apart from karate "jutsu", as aikido is distinguished from
aikijutsu, judo from jujutsu, kendo from kenjutsu and iaido from iaijutsu.
The name od the art itself (at least on mainland Japan) was changed, doing so to get karate accepted by the Japanese budo organization Dai Nippon Butoku Kai. The modernization and systematization of karate in Japan also included the adoption of the white uniform than consisted of the dogi or keikog, mostly called just karategi and colored belt ranks. Both of these innovations were originated and popularized by Jogoro Kano, the founder of Judo and of the men who were consulted in the efforts to modernize karate.