What Is... Karate?

Karate is a complex martial art, that is the product of indigenous Okinawan
fighting methods, Southern Chinese Kung Fu, and Japanese cultural
psychology and domination.

Karate can be traced back to about 400 hundred years ago, when Chinese
refugees landed on the island chain of Okinawa. Situated halfway between
Japan and Taiwan, Okinawan history is quite distinct from Japan, although
Japanese cultural psychology and domination were present from an early time.

In the 17th century, many Chinese fled the turmoil of their homeland, and
found refuge on the remote island chain. These refugees, from simple sailors
to generals, brought with them their Southern Chinese Kung fu.

From this Kung Fu, the Okinawan fishermen and farmers created their
own martial art, which was to become known as Karate. Karate means
"empty hand", but can also be translated as "Chinese hand".
 
When Japanese rule became more entrenched, Japanese values were
imposed as well. Only the warrior class, the Samurai were allowed to
carry long swords. As a result, the Okinawans turned their farm implements
into deadly weapons. The sai, tonfa and nunchaku are all farm tools,
and even the boat oar and weight and chain were included in the arsenals
of Karate and Kobudo.
 
The Okinawan environment of small islands inhabited by fishermen
and farmers, where everyone knew each other, didn't require official
ranking, belts, or even uniforms and fixed training halls (dojo). People
practiced as they were, the way basketball is played on the street and
how Kung Fu is practiced in the parks in China today.
 
People knew only a few forms, but they knew the application to all
the techniques (bunkai), in contrast to today's situation, where
a karateka can know 20 or 40 forms, but would never dream
of using any of the techniques in a real confrontation.

Okinawan Karate can not be understood without knowing
the Okinawan grappling and wrestling system known as
Tegumi. In the forms (kata), what seem like blocks and
punches are in fact complex grabs, joint locks, and throws.
 
Fighters didn't start off with their hands on their sides, but
in front of them, much like old style western boxers. Rooting
was practiced, as well as the use of pressure points, both
for striking and grabbing. In fact, there was no great divide
between Karate and Jujutsu (also spelled Jiu Jitsu).

There were only two styles, named after the islands/cities
they came from: Shuri-te and Naha-te.

All this changed, when Okinawans started going to the
Japanese mainland for work, in the 19th century. The greatest
influence on Karate as we know it today, for better or worse,
is the Okinawan Gichin Funakoshi. He introduced and
popularized Karate in Japan in the early 20th century.

In order to introduce Karate into the education system, and
make it more like Jigoro Kano's Judo and the already established
Kendo, he introduced uniforms, belts, and the kyu/dan
ranking system. He also removed the grappling applications
that could make Karate much more dangerous and didn't
pass on pressure point striking, which he was aware of.

In Japan, Karate took on other cultural Japanese values,
like an incorporation of Zen Buddhism, and the  warrior
code of Bushido.

Thus, Karate became a discipline like Kendo, practiced
for technical perfection and the molding of character.
It became farther and farther removed from the deadly
art it once was. Today, the Okinawan styles are still
the most practical for self-defense, although Kyokushin,
created by the Korean Masutatsu Oyama, is one of the
best if you're looking to learn self-defense and fighting
quickly, as are it's offshoots Ashihara Karate and 
Enshin Karate.

Okinawan Styles: Goju Ryu, Shito Ryu, Isshin Ryu, Shorin Ryu
Japanese Styles: Shotokan, Kyokushinkan, Wado Ryu, Ryobukai
Non-Japanese offshoot: Taekwondo