What is karate? What is the difference between karate and karate-do?
Karate is one of of the “martial” or fighting arts from southeast asia. It originated in Okinawa as a system of self-defense based on the native Okinawan fighting art called “Te” combined with fighting techniques learned from China. Before 1880, karate was a secret art. Once it became public, the excellent physical condition and character of karate students led to karate being included in the physical education clases of Okinawan schools. While karate is known for punching, kicking and striking techniques, it also includes grappling and throwing techniques. Around 1920 karate spread to Japan. In Japan, it was greatly influenced by the Japanese philosophy of Bushido (“the code of the warrior”), which stressed the need for proper character to be a good leader. Karate became known as karate-do, “the way of karate”. This is what we usually mean when we say karate.
