Okinawan Budokai May 15 2009

Karate or karate-do is a martial art developed in the Ryukyu Islands from indigenous fighting methods and Chinese kenpō. It is primarily a striking art using punching, kicking, knee and elbow strikes and open-handed techniques such as knife-hands and ridge-hands. Grappling, locks, restraints, throws, and vital point strikes are taught in some styles. A karate practitioner is called a karateka. Karate can be practiced as budo as a sport, as a combat sport, or as self defense training. Traditional karate places emphasis on self development (budo). Modern Japanese style training emphasizes the psychological elements incorporated into a proper kokoro (attitude) such as perseverance, fearlessness, virtue, and leadership skills. Sport karate places emphasis on exercise and competition. Weapons (kobudō) is important training activity in some styles. Karate training is commonly divided into kihon (basics or fundamentals), kata (forms), and kumite (sparring).  Chinese Hand Karate was originally written as Chinese hand in kanji. It was later changed to a homophone meaning empty hand. The word karate was used for some time orally before it was first written.[citation needed] The original use of the word karate in print is attributed to Anko Itosu. He wrote it with the kanji Tang Dynasty hand rather than the present usage of empty hand. The kanji representing it remained in use in Okinawa as a way to refer to China generally. Thus the word karate was originally a way of expressing "Chinese hand," or "martial art from China." Since there are no written records it is not known definitely whether the kara in karate was originally written with the character meaning China or the character meaning empty. During the time when admiration for China and things Chinese was at its height in the Ryukus it was the custom to use the former character when referring to things of fine quality...