Karate: what is it?, origin
There are a wide variety of sports practiced around the world, both with and without international competitions. Among them , karate stands out, a very popular sport worldwide. In this digital magazine , we’ll talk about this martial art, its origins, and what it consists of.
Karate: Learn more about this Olympic sport
Karate is a martial art currently practiced by approximately 50 million people worldwide. It also aims to be included in the Olympic Games; it can be practiced as an art, a combat sport, or for self-defense.
What is karate?
Karate is a martial art widely practiced worldwide. It’s a sport that relies on an individual’s physical coordination and, in turn, mental coordination.
Currently there are many variations of karate that have emerged since its appearance until today.
This sport is characterized by the use of open-handed strikes , blocks, kicks, and other techniques. All of this is combined with mental agility, concentration, relaxation, strength, speed, and balance.
There are also various belts that demarcate a “level” in the beginning, the apprenticeship, and reaching master status. These belts are determined by color, starting with white and continuing to black, which is the highest level:
- White
- Orange
- Blue
- Yellow
- Green
- Brown
- Black
Origin of karate
Karate originated in Japan, specifically Okinawa . As such, it began with the great boom of Chinese immigrants during the 14th century, who introduced part of their culture and customs to this population, including martial arts.
Once the use of weapons was banned in Japan, martial arts gained momentum and became increasingly popular.
These martial arts were influenced not only by China, but also by the martial arts of nations such as Thailand, the Philippines, and Indonesia . In turn, Japanese martial arts such as Judo and Kendo also influenced this sport.
Karate as an Olympic sport
Although not officially part of the Olympic Games, karate is a discipline that features various competitions and tournaments at the local, regional, national, and even international levels.
Currently, karate is not yet considered an Olympic sport. However, there are hopes for this to happen; and not just hopes; it has already been officially announced.
According to the International Olympic Committee, in 2016, specifically on August 3, several sports, including karate, were included in the upcoming Tokyo 2020 Games . This means that the martial art is intended to be considered a true Olympic discipline.
However, many karate masters fear that by introducing karate as an Olympic discipline, certain techniques, strikes, and tactics that would not be used in competition will be lost, as is the case with taekwondo and judo.
