Karate

martial art · self-defense · discipline · Japan

Ancient island roots. Karate developed in the Ryukyu Kingdom, a group of islands now part of Japan, blending local fighting styles with Chinese martial arts techniques.

Strikes and more. While modern karate focuses on punches and kicks, traditional karate also teaches throwing and joint locking moves to control opponents without harsh strikes.

Belt ranks. Karate students wear different colored belts to show their skill level, starting with white and working up to black belt, which takes years of dedicated practice.

The karate-ka. A person who practices karate is called a karate-ka, which means they follow a path of continuous learning and self-improvement through martial arts.