Karate is probably the most misunderstood martial art of all. This may be so due to movies and entertainment programs, often comparing karate with something supernatural. On the other hand, many people claim that karate is an aesthetic martial art, having little to do with practical use for self-defense.
However, this is not true. In fact, the very birthplace of karate, Okinawa and the highest-ranked masters of karate beg to differ. Namely, these people have revealed the true history and the actual face of karate that many are completely unaware of.
Thus, if you are interested in knowing the truth about this ancient fighting skill, read on.
![](https://userfiles.steadyhealth.com/images/ic/the-karate-secret-no-one-wants-you-to-know.jpg)
The History of Karate
Amazingly, karate originates from the Chinese, where it was a martial art of farmers and peasants. The Japanese saw it from the Chinese during the occupation of Okinawa. In fact, karate, which means “empty hand” was originally named “kudo te” which stands for “Chinese hand”.
Even though karate was not enough for the people to defend from the cruel Japanese Samurai, there are records and legends about certain people who managed to resist these attacks using nothing more than their body. So, Okinawa, the birthplace of karate, was once an independent kingdom.
The Evolution of Karate and the Fatal Flaw
Initially, karate was a separate martial art. Later, however, it took some aspects of traditional Japanese fighting legacy and the jiujutsu of the Samurai.
Unfortunately, people who learn and practice this skill have a fatal flaw. Namely, due to the complexity and the broadness of this martial art, a single human lifespan is not long enough to master karate completely. Therefore, not a single karate master is capable of reaching a level where he/she can manage to fight their way through every combat situation and leave as a victor.
It has been proved that a karate master, who dedicated his whole life to training of this martial art, has almost equal chance of winning a karate match as a heavy-weight football player who is only familiar with the basic moves, if the two confront each other.
So, to all people who train karate and learn all about it, be aware of the purpose of your martial art. It was developed in order for the farmers to protect themselves against oppressors who came pillaging and destroying. Ultimately, it is a useful skill, which has evolved into something too long and complicated for a human being to fully master.
- www.britannica.com/sports/karate
- Photo courtesy of SteadyHealth
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