LYCOS RETRIEVER 
Karate
built 190 days ago
Karate is a centuries old martial art, formally introduced in Japan by Master Gichin Funakoshi. Since the 1950s, karate has been practiced throughout the United States and other parts of the world. Karate is an excellent exercise, utilizing 90% of the body muscles. The mental aspects are as important as the physical. The main objective of karate training is development of character, although karate is ... a practical and effective self-defense system.
Source:
Karate is a rigorous activity. Students of karate must do constant exercises and stretching routines to limber up and strengthen the muscles of the body. Deep-breathing exercises are ... useful because exhalation and sudden shouts accompany the directed blows, particularly the final or so-called killing blows. Such breathing and cries help the rhythm of the karate attack, focus more force in each blow or block, and psychologically invigorate a person while disconcerting the opponent. Some karate students have been known to toughen their hands and feet by driving them into containers of sand, rice, or gravel, or by striking sandbags and special punching boards.
Source:
Karate competition has three disciplines: sparring (kumite), empty-handed forms (kata), and weapons forms (kobudō kata). Competitors may enter either as individuals or as part of a team. Evaluation for kata and kobudo is performed by a panel of judges, whereas sparring is judged by a head referee, usually with assistant referees at the side of the sparring area. Sparring matches are typically divided by weight, age, gender, and experience.
Source:
Karate literally means ‘empty hand’, although the correct term is karate-do, or ‘way of the empty hand’. Karate comes from Okinawa, one of the Ryukyu Islands that form a chain stepping stones between Japan and China. Because of their geographical position, it was there that the cultures of Japan and China met and fermented. In 1609, the island of Okinawa was invaded by Japanese troops. To prevent insurrection, the ruler of the island was taken back to Japan as a hostage and the Japanese quickly set up a police force in the capital, Naha to super military class and confiscate all arms. The Japanese were confident that , without weapons, the Ryukyu islanders could not rebel.
Source:
(AP, 11/25/05) LOS ANGELES - Actor Pat Morita, best known for helping teach a boy martial-arts mastery through household chores as the wise Mr. Miyagi in "The Karate Kid," has died. He was 73.
Source:
The "kara" of Karate-do was ... interpreted by Gichin Funakoshi to mean "to purge [oneself] of selfish and evil thoughts, for only with a clear mind and conscience can [the practitioner] understand that [knowledge] which he receives." Funakoshi also believed that one should be "inwardly humble and outwardly gentle." Only through humility could one be open to Karate's many lessons, by listening and being receptive to criticism. He considered courtesy of prime importance. He believed that "Karate is properly applied only in those rare situations in which one really must either down another or be downed by him." To Funakoshi, it was not unusual for a practitioner to use Karate for real perhaps once in a lifetime, as Karate practitioners should "never be easily drawn into a fight."
Source:
MORE ABOUT
Karate