| Karate is a Japanese word meaning "empty hands" | | | | Gradually, karate was divided into two main groups: |
| which indicates that Karate is a kind of martial art | | | | Shorin-ryu which developed around Shuri and Tomari |
| that does not require weapons other than the parts | | | | and Shorei-ryu which came from the Naha area. It is |
| of the body. Originally, it was a method of unarmed | | | | important to note, however, that the towns of Shuri, |
| self-defense developed in the Okinawan Islands from | | | | Tomari, and Naha are only a few miles apart, and |
| various techniques introduced from mainland China, as | | | | that the differences between their arts were |
| well as local innovations. In truth, the origins of karate | | | | essentially ones of emphasis, not of kind. Beneath |
| appear to be somewhat obscure and little is known | | | | these surface differences, both the methods and |
| about the early development of karate until it | | | | aims of all Okinawan karate are the same .Shorin-ryu |
| appeared in Okinawa.Although its origin is obscure, a | | | | was quick and linear with natural breathing while |
| popular legend prevails that the evolution of karate | | | | Shorei-ryu emphasized steady, rooted movements |
| began over a thousand years ago, possibly as early | | | | with breathing in synchrony with each movement.The |
| as the 5th BC when Bodhidharma arrived in Shaolin-si | | | | Chinese character Tode could also be pronounced |
| in China from India and taught Zen Buddhism. He also | | | | 'kara', thus the name Te was replaced with kara te - |
| introduced a systematized set of exercises designed | | | | jutsu or 'Chinese hand art'' by the Okinawan Masters. |
| to strengthen the mind and body. This set of | | | | This was later changed to karate-do by Gichin |
| exercises allegedly marked the beginning of the | | | | Funakoshi who adopted an alternate meaning for the |
| Shaolin style of temple boxing. Bodhidharma's | | | | Chinese character for kara, 'empty'. From this point |
| teachings later became the basis for the majority of | | | | on the term karate came to mean 'empty hand'. The |
| Chinese martial arts. However, the question of his | | | | Do in karate-do means 'way' or 'path', and is indicative |
| contributions to the martial arts and to Zen Buddhism | | | | of the discipline and philosophy of karate with moral |
| and even of his very existence has been a matter of | | | | and spiritual connotations |
| controversy among historians and martial arts | | | | In the last seven decades, the techniques have been |
| scholars for many years. | | | | modified into distinct Japanese styles. Today there |
| Karate was originally known as 'Kenpo', meaning 'First | | | | are four main styles of karate-do in Japan: Goju-ryu, |
| Law'. From China it crossed over to Okinawa, where | | | | Shito-ryu, Shotokan, and Wado-ryu:Many. These |
| known as 'Te', which consisted mostly of hand | | | | styles are currently taught in the world and are often |
| movements. In 1923 the Okinawans altered the | | | | modified into styles more suitable to their own |
| Chinese character to a Japanese character. Thus, the | | | | methods of self defense. Thus the art of karate is |
| meaning changed from 'hands of China' to 'empty | | | | constantly undergoing improvement and revision. |
| hand'. This transition assuredly lea to a deeper | | | | In its course of development, Karate has gradually |
| meaning to the art in which the spiritual overcame | | | | come into prominence as a sport. In 1916, two |
| the physical. | | | | experts form Okinawa, Kenwa Mabuni and Gigen |
| Te continued to develop over the years, primarily in | | | | Funakoshi introduced their techniques to Japan aiming |
| three Okinawan cities: Shuri, Naha and Tomari. Each | | | | at promoting Karate as a sport throughout Japan. As |
| of these towns was a center to a different sect of | | | | a sport, Karate offers many different levels and |
| society: kings and nobles, merchants and business | | | | types of competition. A typical tournament would |
| people, and farmers and fishermen, respectively. For | | | | include demonstrations of breaking, weapons use, |
| this reason, different forms of self-defense | | | | self defense techniques, tradition and open forms |
| developed within each city and subsequently became | | | | and the most exciting competition, sparring. |
| known as Shuri-te, Naha-te and Tomari-te. Collectively | | | | Competitive tournaments bring together many |
| they were called Okinawa-Te or Tode, 'Chinese hand'. | | | | different styles of Karate. |