The Language Of The History Of Karate Is Spoken Through Discipline
Karate is a new addition to the martial arts family as compared to some of them. Developed in the Ryukyu kingdom which is now called Okinawa, this practice incorporated local movement with the strong Chinese kenpo practice and developed an exciting history of karate.
Karate is a made up of strike movements. The punching, kicking, knee strikes are very effective and powerful. The karate chop is an open hand strike quick and to the pressure points. A person who practices this art is given the name of karateka.
There are three main styles of the original karate of shuri-te, naha-te and tomari-te all based on the cities on Okinawa they came from, the teachers that taught there, and the kata that defined them.
Kata is the movements and forms that karate does. It is a set sequence of movements that can be offensive or defensive. One needs to practice them often to get the movements correct. And the spiritual and philosophical mental process is to let go and be humble. While doing the kata you free your mind and clear out any anger or evil to open up the ability to practice.
Those of the higher income level traveled to China to study, shop and practice of Chinese martial arts. Like tourists that bring home trinkets they brought the Chinese practice home and incorporated with their own. This combination worked well and a new type of karate began to emerge.
The Chinese also visited and lived on the island of Okinawa. Like cultural ambassadors they brought their art, song, academics and martial art practice to the karate of the island. This exchange grew art and it became a new and exciting part of two cultures.
The teacher Gichin Funakoshi was the ambassador of karate to the mainland Japan. During the twenties the Japanese wanted to have a demonstration of karate believing that it would be the perfect hand to hand combat they needed for their military. Seeing this new art many studios opened up to teach the Japanese this exciting martial art.
They changed some aspects to fit the Japanese needs and new things were added. The kimono was introduced. The white kimono or dojo as it is called was a uniform for wearing when practicing karate. The concept of dan or belts was used. They had each level be a color which created the hierarchy of expertise.
After the end of World War II the American forces ended up on Okinawa. This meant that the men stationed there learned the practice of karate. Further introduction to the west was through the martial art movies of the sixties and seventies. With these movies people started taking up the practice and schools popped up in the many other countries.
Performing the art of karate is more than just physical. The practice is to use dedication to the practice and a lack of fear to perfect the kata necessary at the heart of karate. Being a leader is to be an example to others in your practice. It is not simply the physical but the spiritual that flourishes in this art.
With an assimilation of so many cultures the history of karate is tied to many other countries history. What you do in karate transfers to you day to day life. The practice and the mind set give you a powerful edge in the world.
The Language Of The History Of Karate Is Spoken Through Discipline ,
