Karate translated either means "Chinese hand" or "Empty hand" depending on which Japanese or Chinese characters you use to write it.
Okinawan Karate styles tend to be hard and external. In defense, they tend to be circular, and in offense linear. Okinawan Karate styles tend to place more emphasis on rigorous physical conditioning than the Japanese styles. Japanese styles tend to have longer, more stylistic movements and to be higher commitment. They also tend to be linear in movement, offense, and defense.
Both tend to be high commitment, and tend to emphasize kicks and punches, blocks, strikes, evasions, throws, joint manipulations, and a strong offense as well as a good defense. Karate techniques consist basically of hand and foot techniques. Hand techniques that are divided into defensive or offensive moves and foot techniques divided into snapping and thrusting kicking techniques. Other important elements of Karate include; stances, posture, body shifting, hip rotation, and breathing.
Okinawan Karate styles tend to be hard and external. In defense, they tend to be circular, and in offense linear. Okinawan Karate styles tend to place more emphasis on rigorous physical conditioning than the Japanese styles. Japanese styles tend to have longer, more stylistic movements and to be higher commitment. They also tend to be linear in movement, offense, and defense.
Both tend to be high commitment, and tend to emphasize kicks and punches, blocks, strikes, evasions, throws, joint manipulations, and a strong offense as well as a good defense. Karate techniques consist basically of hand and foot techniques. Hand techniques that are divided into defensive or offensive moves and foot techniques divided into snapping and thrusting kicking techniques. Other important elements of Karate include; stances, posture, body shifting, hip rotation, and breathing.
Training differs widely, but most of the Karate styles emphasize a fairly equal measure of basic technique training (kihon), sparring (kumite), and forms (kata). Forms are stylized patterns of attacks and defenses done in sequence for training purposes.
An art of self-defense, as well as a sport, Karate has in recent decades proliferated worldwide. It is one of the most widely practiced of the Asian martial arts, with a large following in the U.S., Japan, and Europe.
An art of self-defense, as well as a sport, Karate has in recent decades proliferated worldwide. It is one of the most widely practiced of the Asian martial arts, with a large following in the U.S., Japan, and Europe.