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What does Karate-Do mean?

Karate is a Japanese martial art based on self-defense without weapons. 'Kara' means 'emptiness', 'Te' means 'hand' and 'Do' is 'the way': Karate-Do is therefore 'the way of the empty hand'. It also means that karate does not promote violence and must only be used in self-defense. Lastly, the emptiness also refers to the particular state of mind we should find while training: we 'empty' our mind, we try to be fully focused on our practice.

A brief history of Karate

Karate was born in Okinawa, a small island located at the extreme south of the Japanese archipelago.

Karate descends from Okinawaian and Chinese martial arts. It was developed from the seventeenth century by the Okinawaian peasants who were not allowed to use any weapons and swords in particular to defend themselves. That's why Karate was first taught secretly, one master teaching to a very small group of trainees.

Then, at the end of the nineteenth century, Karate is no longer a forbidden art and begins to be taught in Okinawaian schools, both as a martial art and as an excellent gymnastic for the physical development of the young students.

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A few years later, in the 1920s, a renowned Okinawaian master, Gishin Funakoshi (1869-1957) is invited to Tokyo to promote and teach karate. Master Funakoshi is considered as the Father of modern karate and his dedication to his art, his charisma have inspired many contemporary masters, such as Hirokazu Kanazawa. (Seen at left demonstrating Ippon Kumite with Michel Lorach (right) during a special training in France organized by Michel Lorach.)

Today, Karate is practiced worldwide, by millions of enthusiastic students of all ages and nationalities.

The specificity of karate

Karate is based upon the use of every part of the body as a potential weapon and thus offers a great range of techniques: hands, legs, elbows, knees, but also wrists and fingers can be used to defend oneself.

Karate uses the entire body, enabling a harmonious muscular development, expanding power, strength and dexterity. Moreover, it is based on the understanding of our body and its healthy use (breathing, balance, rotation, relaxation, contraction, and so on). Therefore anyone can practice karate, no matter what one's morphology or physical condition is because all exercises are proportional to one's own capacities. Karate is really a lifelong practice! And even after 30 or 40 years of training, there is still a lot to learn!

Karate and Self-Defense

Karate is an excellent self-defense method: no need to follow special classes, all you will learn while training could be useful in a self-defense situation:

• kihon (techniques performed in front of the mirror) improves techniques, efficiency and power;
• kumite develops fighting skills (distance, speed, power, fighting sensations);
• katas (a sequence of several blocking and counterattacking techniques) provides examples of self-defense situations.