Karate

Histoire

Karate grew on Okinawa, then the independent Ryukyu Kingdom, from a local fighting method called "te" (hand) mixed with Chinese boxing brought by trade with Fujian. For centuries it was taught quietly, master to student.

In 1901 Anko Itosu brought karate into Okinawan schools, simplifying the old forms into training for children. In 1922 Gichin Funakoshi demonstrated it in Tokyo and it spread through Japanese universities. In the 1930s the characters were changed from "Chinese hand" (唐手) to "empty hand" (空手). Today the World Karate Federation runs the sport, which debuted at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

Le saviez-vous ?

• The word karate was first written with characters meaning "Chinese hand"; the same sound was later written "empty hand".
• Shotokan, the most practised style, is named after Funakoshi's pen name "Shoto" — "pine waves".
• The coloured belt and dan system was borrowed from judo in the 1920s.
• Sport karate has two disciplines: kata (forms performed alone) and kumite (sparring).
• Karate has been an Olympic sport only once, at Tokyo 2020, held in 2021.
• Kyokushin, founded by Mas Oyama in 1964, made full-contact karate famous worldwide.

Glossaire des techniques

Oi-zuki

lunge punch

Gyaku-zuki

reverse punch

Mae-geri

front kick

Mawashi-geri

roundhouse kick

Yoko-geri

side kick

Ushiro-geri

back kick

Age-uke

rising block

Gedan-barai

downward block

Shuto-uchi

knife-hand strike

Kiai

spirit shout

Formes

Heian Shodan–GodanTekki ShodanBassai DaiKanku DaiJionEmpiSanchinSeienchinSuparinpeiUnsu

Armes et équipement

Karate-gi

training uniform

Obi

belt that shows the grade

Makiwara

padded striking post

⚔ In the Arsenal

MakiwaraChi ishi e nigiri gameKeikogi (gi)Cinto negro

☯ Philosophy and quotes

“Karate begins and ends with respect.”— Gichin Funakoshi, Niju kun, principle 1 (1938)

“Karate is like hot water: without constant heat it grows cold.”— Gichin Funakoshi, Niju kun, principle 11 (1938)

Funakoshi's twenty principles (Niju kun)The dojo kunBudoDoDojoReiShu-ha-riZanshinMushinFudoshinKimeKiaiMa-aiSenKata / taoluDantian / tandenOsuSee all →

Figures clés

• Gichin Funakoshi (1868–1957) — brought karate from Okinawa to mainland Japan; founder of Shotokan
• Chojun Miyagi (1888–1953) — founder of Goju-ryu
• Kenwa Mabuni (1889–1952) — founder of Shito-ryu
• Hironori Otsuka (1892–1982) — founder of Wado-ryu, mixing karate and jujutsu
• Mas Oyama (1923–1994) — founder of Kyokushin

Sources: World Karate Federation (WKF) · Okinawa Prefecture — Karate Promotion Division · Encyclopaedia Britannica