Summary

The Karate is a martial art that is considered, mainly, a defensive art. Karate is a complete and instructive sport, a self-defense method that contributes to the physical and mental development, as well as the socialization. Karate, specifically, can play a critical role in preventing GBV. Martial arts can impart self-defense skills and enable women to avoid, interrupt, and resist assault. The adaptation of Karate training to women’s self-defense courses, explore the multiple sources of gender-based violence, especially including its connections with sexism, racism, and classism. The instructors focus on holding perpetrators responsible while empowering women with the idea that they have both the right and ability to protect themselves.

History

Karate (空手) is a martial art developed in the Ryukyu Kingdom. It developed from the indigenous Ryukyuan martial arts (called te (手), "hand"; tii in Okinawan) under the influence of Chinese martial arts, particularly Fujian White Crane. Karate is now predominantly a striking art using punching, kicking, knee strikes, elbow strikes and open-hand techniques such as knife-hands, spear-hands and palm-heel strikes. Historically, and in some modern styles, grappling, throws, joint locks, restraints and vital-point strikes are also taught. A karate practitioner is called a karateka (空手家).

The Empire of Japan annexed the Ryukyu Kingdom in 1879. Karate came to mainland Japan in the early 20th century during a time of migration as Ryukyuans, especially from Okinawa, looked for work in the main islands of Japan. It was systematically taught in Japan after the Taishō era of 1912–1926. In 1922, the Japanese Ministry of Education invited Gichin Funakoshi to Tokyo to give a karate demonstration. In 1924, Keio University established the first university karate club in mainland Japan, and by 1932 major Japanese universities had karate clubs. In this era of escalating Japanese militarism, the name was changed from 唐手 ("Chinese hand" or "Tang hand") to 空手 ("empty hand") – both of which are pronounced karate in Japanese – to indicate that the Japanese wished to develop the combat form in Japanese style. After World War II, Okinawa became (1945) an important United States military site and karate became popular among servicemen stationed there.

On 28 September 2015 karate featured on a shortlist (along with baseball, softball, skateboarding, surfing, and sport climbing) for consideration for inclusion in the 2020 Summer Olympics. On 1 June 2016 the International Olympic Committee's executive board announced they were supporting the inclusion of all five sports (counting baseball and softball as only one sport) for inclusion in the 2020 Games.

Web Japan (sponsored by the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs) claims that karate has 50 million practitioners worldwide, while the World Karate Federation claims there are 100 million practitioners around the world.

Physical Benefit

Karate is such a dynamic sport that requires your body to work together quickly, you develop coordination throughout your kinetic chain. Its many rewards include better health and protection from diseases such as coronary artery diseases, improved mood, and overall feeling of well-being. It also decreases stress by reducing the stress hormones in the body. The techniques will help you build stamina, strength, endurance and agility.

The nature of Karate improves core muscles and muscles that are not worked out regularly during regular strength training. After learning several defense techniques, you will boost your confidence immensely. You will start walking with your head held high and start feeling like you can take on any challenge that life throws at you. Karate reveal the positive effects of the training in treating psychological conditions including depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. Those you train with will be more than friends; they will be family.

Mental Benefit

Mental health is just as important as physical health, but it often gets overlooked. Fortunately, Karate is one activity that can benefit both your body and mind. Karate encourages you to dig deep, uncover where you're stuck, and move through mental blocks. It helps you identify what you want to improve in your life and gives you the confidence to make positive changes.

As you learn new things and push your body to new limits, you adapt a can-do attitude that will carry over to other aspects of your life. Most physical activities increase confidence in one way or another, but Karate is built on a foundation of encouraging self-trust and self-awareness. Through practice, Karate develops a deep and unshakable form of confidence they carry with them through all aspects of their lives. The most important and unique thing Karate offers to one’s mental health is emotional awareness and control. Unlike many other sports, Karate actively calls for introspection.