Karate
#karate#life
Karate is a Japanese martial art built around strikes — punches, kicks, knees, elbows, open-hand techniques — with blocks and evasive footwork, and very little grappling. The name means "empty hand": no weapons, the body is the tool.
It originated on Okinawa, absorbed Chinese influences, and spread through mainland Japan in the 20th century, where it split into several major styles. The best-known is Shotokan; others include Goju-ryu, Shito-ryu, and Wado-ryu.
I started paying attention to karate after my son began training. These notes are my own learning map — partly to understand what he's being taught, partly because the vocabulary and ideas turned out to be more interesting than I expected.
Training pillars
- Kihon — basics: stances, punches, blocks, kicks practiced in isolation.
- Kata — prearranged forms, a curriculum encoded as movement.
- Kumite — sparring, applying technique under resistance.
Etiquette and the dojo
- Dojo — the training hall.
- Dojo-kun — the dojo's guiding principles, recited at the end of class.
- Rei — the bow; how every practice begins and ends.
- Sensei — the instructor.
- Osu — multi-purpose acknowledgement.
Gear and ranks
- Karategi — the training uniform.
- Obi — the belt, marking rank.
- Kyu and dan — the ranking system, colored belts to black belt.
Concepts
Styles
- Shotokan — the default style, the one my son trains in.