Karate Martial Art And Its Popularity

There are several styles in martial arts but the most popular still remains Karate. What are the reasons why this martial art is so popular as compared to all other arts? The basic reason is that this art developed because of the basic necessity and was the main weapon for the survival by the peace loving people.

Karate became the most developed martial arts in Okinawa and was considered to defending culture against the armed warriors. This is one of the purest forms of martial art which does not have use any weapons. It is a total combination where body parts are used for kicks, punches and strikes executed in circular or linear thrusting and striking motions.

This is the combination of various techniques with proper breathing and body positioning, forming stances similar to the animals. Karate today has become a self-defense system which can defend one against armed or unarmed assailants.

The origin of karate can be traced in China where karate emerged as the biggest defense system in case of any adversarial challenge. Many styles in Okinawan karate come from the origin styles of Shaolin Kung Fu.

The people of Okinawa have made minor changes to concentrate on the power that is focused on inflicting injuries to the opponent warrior armor. It is a fact that karate develops the strength of the trainee, with the result some techniques have been modified from the original Kung Fu so as to suit the physique of the people of Okinawa.

But this is also a fact that the karate still maintains the nine original essentials aspects which were brought from China:

• Breathing

• Striking Vital Areas

• Pressure points

• Joint Locks

• Grappling

• Pain Control

• Throwing and Sweeping

• Choking

• Counters to all the above aspects

Okinawan karate forms use these basic aspects which are practiced and perfected every day.

In Okinawan kata most of these techniques are kept as hidden movements. Some techniques are too dangerous so most of these aspects have been kept aside or forgotten totally. Most of the experts use only two or three aspects.

The most unique thing of the karate is that it has powerful strikes which a practitioner can deliver to the opponent. Through rigorous training which is given for countless hours, both physical and mental strengths can be built to have a super human nature.

The biggest advantage is that it makes the strong bodies, not strong body alone it also makes the mind strong. This results in maintaining the younger look and physically fit body. Traditionally there were only two types of kicks, a back kick and a front kick; today the karate has become mixture of all types of kicks.

It has become a sports game with so many kicks being incorporated in the karate. Karate was not invented to be sport, it was developed for life and death confrontations. Sports karate has become only a practice to make mind and body strong.

Today karate has become more or less of a sport where points are given for tagging the opponent which was not earlier. But in any case Karate is an art which has all the techniques for self-defense.

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