"Karate"
literally means "empty hand" and denotes the classical art
of unarmed self-defense. Unlike other Asian arts, Okinawa Karate was
not intended as sport, but rather as a vehicle for self improvement,
discipline and above all, self-defense.
Chinese folklore credits a 6th century Buddhist monk, Bodhidharma,
with the development of martial arts training. It is said that Bodhidarma
trekked from India to the Shaolin temple in South Central China and
founded what was to become Zen Buddhism. As tradition tells it, the
development of martial arts began as a means for Bodhidharma's followers
to withstand the religious training and ruthless marauders. As Zen
Buddhism found its way into Japan late in the l2th century, so came
different forms of self-defense and various styles began to develop.
It was in Okinawa that modern Karate began its development. Japanese
society has a long history of not only assimilating the arts and sciences
from other cultures, but also refining and evolving them. The Okinawan
word "ti" (hand), pronounced "te" in Japanese
denotes the traditional teachings of unarmed combat, later to be called
"Karate" (empty hand) on the Japanese "mainland"
where it evolved into the sport known around the world today.
Karate began to spread into "mainland" Japan from about
1895 after Okinawa becomes a prefecture of Japan. Karate's ethics
and morality reflect Okinawa's rich and colorful past.
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