Karate

From MartialTalk Online Martial Arts Encyclopedia Project

Karate is a system of Martial Arts originating in Okinawa and later brought to Japan. The Okinawans combined their local art of te with Chinese Chuan Fa or Kung Fu to create tote, meaning "China Hand". Later this was renamed to "Karate" meaning "Empty Hand" to disassociate it from China with which Japanese relations were in bad shape at the time.

Karate is characterized by its use of Kata as its central teaching method and is often taught alongside Ryukyu Kobudo, which is an Okinawan method of weaponry.