While most people make the mistake of considering karate to be a Japanese martial arts form, it in fact originates on the island of Okinawa and draws inspiration and stylistic elements from southern Chinese fighting techniques. Introduced in Japan only in 1921, karate was initially known as ‘te’—or hand, as the original practitioners in Okinawa called it. The word karate shows the Chinese influence in the sport—the word literally translates into Tang hand, or Chinese hand.

Initially, there were a number of karates, each known by the city of its origin—Shuri-te, Tomari-te and Naha-te. Each of these forms was distinctive in theory, principles, and practice. Funakoshi, an Okinawan master, is often referred to as the ‘father of modern karate’, and it was he who unified the disparate fighting systems into what we call today karate.

Japan started providing karate training as a part of school syllabus and standard military training before the Second World War. But karate really exploded in its popularity after the Second World War, with America’s military occupation of Japan and Okinawa, and the substantial size of the Japanese immigrant community in America.

Karate is a heavy contact sport, and as part of its vast repertoire, allows punches, kicks, knees, elbows and open hand strikes. Grapples and holds also form an important part of karate technique.

Training for karate is broadly in three parts. The Kihon is a basic introduction to moves and technique. Kata is the routine of fixed moves, in which the various individual fighting moves is strung together with a unified combat principle. The next level, Kumite, involves sparring with a partner and is an extension from the fixed kata to the open fighting, attack, and defense.

The karate uniform is simple and comfortable. It was designed by judo master Jigoro Kano. It consists of a white kimono (shirt), a white dogi (pants) and a white or colored belt. The color of the belt is indicative of seniority and expertise, though by understanding white is for beginners and black for experts. Those in between vary from school to school, and each color may have further sub-divisions.

While there is a wide variety in the forms of karate practiced around the world, there are two basic categories—traditional karate and full-body karate.

The traditional styles were developed in the early 20th century and this category includes such forms as Shotokan, Wado-ryu, Kushin-ryu, Shindo Jinen Ryu, and Goju-ryu. Styles like Kyokushin-kaikan and Kansuiryu are considered part of the full-body karate canon.

As one can see, there are many variations of karate, and each form in turn, engenders distinct new expressions that add to the wealth of karate knowledge. Underneath all the heterogeneity, however, one can notice a unifying strain of theory and concepts that is universal, though it finds its manifestation in many forms.