The Art Of Karate

An unarmed self defense that came from eastern Asia involving the use of hands

, elbows and knees or feet for kicks and blows to parts of the body that are vulnerable is called Karate. This system of self defense is often confused with other Asian sport like ju-jitsu,sumo and judo. These involve wrestling, holding an opponent on the ground and choking him and throwing as well.

Karate during the seventies was referred to as an acrobatic boxing. Karate involves a little personal contact and the opponent becomes immobile because of powerful and well directed blows which are delivered far from the opponent as possible. Experts in Karate can crush a large block of ice using his fist, he can splinter a six inch thick pine wood by a single kick and he can shatter stacks of tiles using his head or an elbow.

The three main areas of karate training are calisthenics, kumite, and kata. Calisthenics are rigorous and build up acrobatic flexibility and speed. Kumite is training in specific karate blows, kicks, chops, and blocks, involving the use of knuckles of the fist, the blade of the hand, the ball and outside edge of the foot.

The extended fingers are also strengthened and used like a spear point. Katas are acrobatic forms of punching, kicking, blocking, turning, leaping, and dodging and are often practiced with an imaginary opponent. In a dojo, or karate school, training is done barefoot on the wooden floor with no mats used.

Punching bags, weights, bamboo blocks, deep boxes of any dry beans or coarse sand used to strengthen the extended fingers of the hand. A loose fitting jacket and pants called gi is the traditional costume in karate.

A person's belt determines his rank. Beginners wear white, followed by yellow, green brown and of course those who wear black which are considered to be the experts. These experts are also categorized in various dans or degrees which can be determined by the person's ability in teaching and skills. Schools today are only up to the eighth dan.

In the seventies, when karate was very popular, lots of movies came out with this theme. From Bruce Lee's Game of Death which pits him with different martial art styles to the African American Three the Hard Way. Even television had David Carradine wandering from place to place with Kung Fu. Apparently, its spirit hasn't died today with many other karate-themed movies, the most modern and popular of which is the "Karate Kid" series which is now on its third installment.

by: Greg Pierce

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