Karate Martial Arts

Karate is a science and philosophy of fightingare the real karate fundamentals from which
which has developed over the centuries in thekarate masters have developed and devised
Orient and now popular in Japan. During the pastvarious other techniques. The six techniques are
few years, it has spread from Japan to thethrowing, thrusting, striking, kicking, blocking and
United States and Europe, where it is rapidlycovering. Karate techniques aim to concentrate as
gaining recognition as one of the world's mostmuch bodily strength as possible at the points of
effective means of self-defense. Karate is a waycontact with the opponent's body. These points
of life, the purpose of which is to enable men andcould be almost any part of the body- the knees,
women to realize their full potential, both physicalthe head, the elbows and shoulders. These are
and spiritual. If the spiritual side of karate isthe karate weapons. The distinctive feature of
ignored, its physical aspect is meaningless. Thekarate preparatory calisthenics is that they are all
ultimate purpose of karate is to develop humanaimed at strengthening or limbering the joints. It is
character rather than merely strengthen humanessential to follow a basic calisthenics routine daily.
beings against physical enemies. Karate doesThe true master of martial arts is the man who is
promote confidence, courage, and other qualities.able to forget himself in his desire to help others
Karate properly viewed, is a way of perfecting.This is the real meaning and philosophy of martial
your character. Man has developed ways ofarts.
combat with his hands, feet, and head as aCorrect karate is a martial art. It is the way of
means of staying alive. These primitive fightingkarate, and it shares the common aim with judo,
techniques gave birth to a more advanced martialkendo and aikido. Karate as the original martial art,
arts, in which special techniques evolved for thethrough physical and spiritual training and discipline,
hands, the feet and the head. The human bodymakes the impossible possible, and helps one in
has five main movable parts, the arms the legspursuing the aim of life. Physical and psychological
and the head, there are only five types oftraining are very demanding. Karate is a method
techniques. This is the case with modern jujutsu,of unifying body and spirit and making human life
kendo and karate.broader and deeper. Karate, like any other art,
Dividing the three major karate techniquerequires time.
classifications in half there are six techniques which