Karate is a Japanese style of martial arts that originated in Okinawa. Originally the word Karate was made up of two Chinese characters that meant "Chinese hand", and was followed by "jutsu" or "technique". This original meaning pointed to the fact that the techniques of Karate had come from Chinese martial art styles. However as all things Chinese became unfashionable in Japan, the characters were changed to mean "empty hand", but the pronunciation stayed the same. In the 1900's the "jutsu" was changed to "do", and the meaning switched from "Chinese hand technique" to "empty hand way", or karate-do.

Not only did the symbols and meaning of the term karate change over the years, but the techniques, training methods, and purpose of practice did also. Between the late 1800's and early 1900's karate shifted from what was primarily a fighting system to a way to provide children with physical fitness and discipline in the Japanese school system. Shotokan, the most popular form of karate, was created by Gichin Funakoshi and his first demonstration was before the Japanese ministry of education.

There are many different styles of Karate, but nearly all of them have the same common stances (front stance, horse stance, cat stance, etc.), strikes (lunge punch, reverse punch, knife hand, hammer fist), blocks (upward block, outward block, downward block, x block), and kicks (front kick, side kick, roundhouse kick, crescent kick, back kick). While these techniques sound like fighting techniques, modern karate is not an ideal system for self defense for a variety of reasons. First, the majority of training in karate is done without a partner. Second, techniques are practiced from static, immobile stances, or with very slow and lumbering movements. Third, the striking and blocking technique leave the body entirely open to the opponent. And forth, the style of defense in karate is to block and then counter.

In systems meant to provide a practitioner with real fighting skills, the vast majority of training needs to be done with a partner. Solo training does not promote skills in timing or dealing with the force of an incoming attack. The wide, static stances of karate make quick movements difficult. In a real fight or self defense situation you must be able to quickly move toward or away from your opponent. Unlike boxing, Thai boxing, or other reality based martial arts, modern day karate techniques do not give maximum protection to the practitioner. Punches and kicks are thrown with the head straight up and extended, open to counter attacks. While this is fine for physical fitness training, it's not for fighting. And finally, the idea of blocking an attack first and countering second gives any opponent a great opportunity to continuously attack.

Modern karate can be a great form of exercise, a nice hobby, and a lot of fun. But it should not be confused with a fighting style or self defense system. If it is, practitioners are likely to be badly hurt when attempting to fight or defend themselves.

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