Karate
In 1392, a group of professional people known as the Thirty-six families from Min migrated to Kume Village in Naha from Fujian Province. They brought advanced learning and skills to Ryukyu, including Chinese kenpō which became the origin of karate. The ancient martial dance called mēkata existed in Okinawa with martial elements that developed into te, meaning hand. King Shō Shin reigned from 1476 to 1526 when weapons were collected from all over the country and strictly controlled by the royal government. After the invasion of Ryukyu by the Satsuma Domain in 1609, groups of young aristocrats created unarmed combat methods as resistance. Training emphasized self-discipline while combining Chinese and local styles of martial arts. This blend became known as kara-te, translating to Chinese hand. Early styles included Motobu Udundī handed down through the Motobu family branch of the former Ryukyu royal family. In the 18th century, Chōken Makabe earned the nickname Makabe Chān-gwā for his jumping ability like a fighting cock. His kicking foot marked the ceiling of his house according to historical records.
In 1933, the Japanese character for karate was altered to replace Tang dynasty with empty hand, both pronounced karate in Japanese. This change occurred during escalating Japanese militarism when the name karate (Tang hand) became undesirable due to rising tensions between China and Japan. On the 25th of October 1936, a roundtable meeting of karate masters held in Naha officially resolved to use the name karate (empty hand). Attendees included Chōmo Hanashiro, Chōki Motobu, Chōtoku Kyan, Jūhatsu Kyoda, Chōjun Miyagi, Shinpan Gusukuma, and Chōshin Chibana. The Okinawa Prefectural Assembly passed a resolution in 2005 designating the 25th of October as Karate Day to commemorate this decision. Before this transition, Gichin Funakoshi used karate-jutsu along with karate when first teaching mainland Japan in the 1920s. Many practitioners such as Chōjun Miyagi continued using te in everyday conversation until World War II ended. In 1929, the Karate Study Group of Keio University used the term referencing emptiness from the Heart Sutra, later popularized especially in Tokyo.
In 1905, Ankō Itosu helped get karate introduced into Okinawa's public schools where forms were taught to children at elementary school level. Itosu created Pin'an forms which are simplified kata for beginning students common across nearly all styles of karate. His students became some of the most well-known karate masters including Gichin Funakoshi and Kenwa Mabuni. In 1924, Gichin Funakoshi adopted the Dan system from judo founder Jigoro Kano using belt colors limited to specific ranks. Both white uniforms called dogi or keikogi and colored belt ranks originated and were popularized by Jigoro Kano who was one of the men Funakoshi consulted regarding modernizing karate. At that time there was almost no kumite training with kata being the main focus before Western-style competitions arrived in Japan. Pre-arranged sparring was introduced in the early 1930s while free sparring finally permitted for Shotokan students a few years later. Young people such as Hironori Otsuka and Yasuhiro Konishi devised their own kumite matches serving as prototypes of today's kumite after complaints from leading judo practitioners.
In 1945, Robert Trias opened the first dōjō in the United States in Phoenix, Arizona establishing Shuri-ryū karate. Members of the United States military learned karate in Okinawa or Japan then opened schools across America during the post-war period. In 1957, Tsutomu Ohshima received his godan black belt from Gichin Funakoshi before founding the first university karate club at California Institute of Technology. The Japan Karate Association sent four instructors to Europe in 1965 including Taiji Kase to France, Keinosuke Enoeda to England, and Hiroshi Shirai to Italy. By 1970, Shotokan karate became the most spread martial art in Italy apart from Judo. In 1956, Vernon Bell began teaching karate in tennis courts of his parents' back garden in Ilford, Essex forming what would become the British Karate Federation. The Australian Karate Federation under World Karate Federation was introduced in 1970 with Frank Novak arriving as first fully qualified instructor in 1972. Kyokushin formally founded in 1957 by Masutatsu Oyama synthesized Shotokan and Goju-ryū emphasizing full contact sparring.
In August 2016, International Olympic Committee approved karate as Olympic sport beginning at 2020 Summer Olympics after debuting at 2018 Summer Youth Olympics. During this debut, sixty competitors worldwide competed in Kumite competition while twenty participated in Kata competition. On the 3rd of August 2016, all five sports including baseball and softball were approved for inclusion in 2020 Olympic program. Karate was not included in 2024 Olympic Games though it made shortlist alongside nine others for 2028 Summer Olympics. The World Karate Federation developed common rules governing all styles recognized by IOC responsible for karate competition in Olympic Games. WKF karate competition has two disciplines: sparring kumite and forms kata where competitors enter individually or as team members. Sparring matches typically divided by weight, age, gender, and experience judged by head referee usually with assistant referees at side of sparring area. Light contact rules used by WKF while full contact karate rules employed by Kyokushinkai and other organizations.
In 1959, Ian Fleming's book Goldfinger described Korean Oddjob achieving Black Belt in Karate assuming Western audiences knew nothing about the art. Martial arts films especially kung fu flicks from Hong Kong formed mainstream genre launching kung fu craze which propelled karate into mass popularity during 1970s. In 1984, Karate Champ popularized one-on-one fighting game genre in arcades before Capcom released Street Fighter featuring multiple Karateka characters in 1987. The Karate Kid film series including Part II (1986), Part III (1989) and Next Karate Kid (1994) further popularized karate in mainstream American culture alongside television sequel Cobra Kai starting 2018. Dragon Ball anime franchise began 1984 using hybrid east Asian martial arts styles including Karate inspired by Journey to West novel combined with Jackie Chan and Bruce Lee influences. Many film stars practiced various karate styles: Bruce Lee trained Chuck Norris for many years while Jean-Claude Van Damme studied Shotokan. Keanu Reeves undertook four months martial arts training preparing for Matrix movie downloaded combat abilities equivalent to decades of experience.
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Common questions
When did the Thirty-six families from Min migrate to Kume Village in Naha?
The migration occurred in 1392 when professional people known as the Thirty-six families moved from Fujian Province. They brought advanced learning and skills including Chinese kenpō which became the origin of karate.
Who created Pin'an forms for beginning students in Okinawa's public schools?
Ankō Itosu created Pin'an forms which are simplified kata for beginning students common across nearly all styles of karate. He helped get karate introduced into Okinawa's public schools where forms were taught to children at elementary school level in 1905.
What date was designated as Karate Day by the Okinawa Prefectural Assembly?
The Okinawa Prefectural Assembly passed a resolution in 2005 designating the 25th of October as Karate Day. This decision commemorates the roundtable meeting held on the 25th of October 1936 where masters resolved to use the name karate meaning empty hand.
Which martial art became the most spread in Italy by 1970 apart from Judo?
Shotokan karate became the most spread martial art in Italy apart from Judo by 1970. The Japan Karate Association sent four instructors to Europe in 1965 including Taiji Kase to France and Keinosuke Enoeda to England.
When did the International Olympic Committee approve karate as an Olympic sport?
The International Olympic Committee approved karate as an Olympic sport in August 2016 beginning at the 2020 Summer Olympics. On the 3rd of August 2016 all five sports including baseball and softball were approved for inclusion in the 2020 Olympic program.