The History of Karate
Introduction
The development of the martial arts or fighting arts dates back at least three to four thousand years. From the evidence that remains, all major early civilizations, such as those in China, the Indian subcontinent, the Middle and Near East, and the Mediterranean area, for example, appear to have had forms of military arts, and it is not unusual to see evidence of the development of empty handed or unarmed techniques in conjunction with these arts.
Since the human anatomy is fairly uniform, the types of unarmed fighting arts that developed in these different regions, whether by direct influence from other cultures or not, show great similarity. The use of striking with various parts of the hands and feet, with the elbows and knees, the use of pulling, pushing, tripping and throwing to gain advantage, the use of holds and locks, pulling the hair, biting, gouging, breaking, strangling, etc., in the most violent forms of combat, presumably when survival was most at stake, are all in evidence in varying degrees. Which techniques were developed and used in each culture depended as much upon local custom, mores, and etiquette as on the creativity of the participants, and upon whether the use was for actual combat as opposed to sport or physical education.
The martial art of karate-do has its origins in Okinawa. Its earliest evolution is not known, but is only surmised to have preceded the very substantial development known to historians to have taken place between the twelfth and nineteenth centuries, especially under considerable influence from China. Karate was introduced into Japan in the early twentieth century. Since the end of World War II there has been a great surge of cultural exchange between Asia and the West. Karate-do is part of that cultural exchange and has made a significant impact on many Americans. A much more detailed account of the origins, development, and spread of Asian martial arts can be found in the USKL Intermediate Training Manual.
