What is Karate?
Karate, perviously called “karatedo” is known in the martial arts as “empty hand way”. This martial art uses powerful strikes with the hands, feet, knees and elbows to vital areas of the body in defending against attackers. The art began in Okinawa, during a period of time when the Japanese occupied the tiny country and weapons were banned. Karate became known in 1922 when Gichin Funakoshi, an Okinawan karate master, performed a demonstration for the emperor of Japan. Today, there are many different styles of karate, and it is practiced all over the world.
