KARATE: An Art and Self-Defence Discipline
The Teenager Today|August 2023
Origin and History - Among the various existing martial arts, karate is the most widely practised. It is said to have been developed in Japan and evolved as a means of self-defence during Okinawa’s occupation by Japan. The Japanese had banned the carrying of weapons and anyone found with a weapon was put to death. The locals had no option but to train their bodies until they became lethal weapons of self-defense.
STANISLAUS LOUIS
KARATE: An Art and Self-Defence Discipline

The roots of self-defence go back in time to India. As history goes, a Buddhist monk, Budidharmi, on his visit to the Shaolin Temple, found his brother monks weak due to which they could not sustain long hours of meditation and prayer without getting distracted or falling asleep. To rectify this, he introduced a combination of empty-hand techniques and yoga, which became known as Shaolin Kungfu. This te (hand) technique was locally known as tang (Chinese hand) and was formally known as Okinawa-te (Okinawa hand).

Gichin Funokoshi (1868-1957) is known as the Father of Modern Karate. He had trained in Okinawa-te and found its training to be hard and lethal, so he improvised it into a gentler system and called it karate. Unlike Okinawate, karate focused strikes at skin level. This self-defence art moved from the aim of training like a warrior towards training for sports, physical fitness and spiritual development.

Karate styles

Karate was exported from China, and as it became pan existent, it underwent changes and karate styles came into existence. Karate as an art is an expression of the human body. There are stylistic differences, yet it remains basically the same art (karate). There are more similarities than differences among various styles. A straight-fist punch or straight-front kick does not change with styles or languages. The stylistic differences in the forms of karate are unimportant for students studying karate from a self-defence perspective. For these students “there are no best styles”.

Let’s look at the ways in which a karateka can train today.

1. Traditional way

この記事は The Teenager Today の August 2023 版に掲載されています。

7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。

この記事は The Teenager Today の August 2023 版に掲載されています。

7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。

THE TEENAGER TODAYのその他の記事すべて表示
STICKING OUT YOUR NECK!
The Teenager Today

STICKING OUT YOUR NECK!

Maybe it's having the twins, my grandsons from New York, back home again, that reminded me of a conversation I had with them a couple of monsoons ago: \"What's that?\" asked one of them pointing to a huge shell on the ground.

time-read
2 分  |
September 2024
Hippos can get airborne while running fast
The Teenager Today

Hippos can get airborne while running fast

Hippos weigh up to two tonnes, but these bulky creatures can go airborne for a period of time.

time-read
1 min  |
September 2024
Tree bark plays a vital role in removing methane from the atmosphere
The Teenager Today

Tree bark plays a vital role in removing methane from the atmosphere

Trees are known for removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, thus benefiting the climate. New research shows that they offer one more benefit.

time-read
1 min  |
September 2024
Lunar caves could shelter astronauts on the moon
The Teenager Today

Lunar caves could shelter astronauts on the moon

Scientists have found an underground cave on the moon not far from where Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin landed 55 years ago.

time-read
1 min  |
September 2024
Manasi Joshi
The Teenager Today

Manasi Joshi

The Para-Badminton World Champion

time-read
2 分  |
September 2024
International Day of Peace
The Teenager Today

International Day of Peace

In Search of Non-violence and Cease-fire

time-read
1 min  |
September 2024
Non-Violent Communication
The Teenager Today

Non-Violent Communication

How to cope with conflict situations

time-read
4 分  |
September 2024
FR ALOYSIUS G. REGO
The Teenager Today

FR ALOYSIUS G. REGO

A short-statured bearded figure glancing through a pair of spectacles, cane in hand, and head swinging with every step, was the most feared figure in the galleries of our school, St. Joseph's Collegiate, Allahabad.

time-read
2 分  |
September 2024
The Architects of the Future
The Teenager Today

The Architects of the Future

As we celebrate Teachers' Day on 5 September, students from St Charles School, Santacruz East, Mumbai, have come together to share their thoughts and perspectives on the challenges that teachers face in today's rapidly-changing educational landscape.

time-read
4 分  |
September 2024
JUNG & KOOK
The Teenager Today

JUNG & KOOK

With music, stories and news of K-pop all over the place, on Instagram, Twitter, Thread and other social media platforms, and dozens of boy and girl bands emerging from South Korea, believe me when I say that K-pop is irresistible.

time-read
4 分  |
September 2024