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KARATE
Karate is a martial art originating from Japan from the island of Okinawa. The word Karate in Japanese means 'empty fist'.
Although karate is one of the martial arts, it is not the only goal of training karate.
'Kokoro' - a word that appears in various martial arts - has a deep meaning in karate.
The meaning of the word is personality or approach. So, besides the ability to self-defense,
karate has a goal to build the personality of the participants. A person who practices
karate with the right motives, aims primarily to boost the strength of mind, concentration,
ability to build, sustain the efforts and pressure, increase the speed and force of movement,
to build a proper response in critical situations, to respect the opponent, etc. All this
is achieved by constant repetition of movements that are an integral part of karate.
Karate is usually divided in three parts:
Karate basics (Kihon in japanese) - learn the basic movements, blows, ways of blocking kick and positions.
Kate - set of exactly specific movements, attitudes, blocks.
Fight - (Kumite in japanese ) - free or aranged
Karate is divided in different styles so there are a number of independent international
organization for individual styles. The greatest WKF - World Karate Federation is recognized
by the International Olympic Committee. Kyokushin is karate stayle, which founded Masutatsu
Oyama. It differs from traditional karate (Shotokan), because Kyokushin is full contact
Karate, which means that the full force of blows are allowed, and fighters do not wear
any protection. It is considered the strongest style of karate. Many of Kyokushin karate
fighters were successful in a competition-type K1.
The most common styles of karate are Shotokan, Uechi Ryu, Shito Ryu, Wado Ryu, Goju Ryu,
Kyokushin, Fudokan. Dojo Kun is a set of basic principles of karate that all students
recite at the end of karate training.
Those are:
HONOR - MEIYO
LOYALITY - CHUJITSU
SINCERITY - SEIJITSU
COURAGE - YUUKI
GOODNESS and KINDNESS - SHINSETSU
MODESTY and HUMBLENESS - KEN
FAIRNESS - TADASHI
RESPECT - SONCHOO
SELF-CONTROL - SEIGO
Karate has different ways of evaluating students. Funakoshi in 1924. yr. accepted the
Dan-system from judo. The student takes exams for each level. Each level in karate means
the color belt.
Belt colors are:
White belt: 6. kju, beginner level
Yellow belt: 5. kju
Orange belt: 4. kju
Green belt: 3. kju
Blue belt: 2. kju
Brown belt: 1. kju
Black belt: 1. dan
KARATE HISTORY
Indian prince Bodhidharma in the 5th century left India as a Buddhist monk, taught
meditation in the Shaolin temple in China. To improve health of the folk Buddhist
priests developed a system of exercises for them. In the system were involved practice
of meditation and self-defense. After the Temple was destroyed, priests were traveling
China and taught martial arts. Since the Okinawa is near the Chinese mainland, they went
to China to acquire fighting skills and then passed on to others in Okinawa. There is
the martial art known as 'Te' which means 'hand'.
An unidentified military doctor noted that people from Okinawa very physically ready.
When it came to the Japanese emperor, he asked for a demonstration. Demonstration was
performed Gichin Funakoshi, who is considered the father of modern karate. In year 1930
the skill name was changed to 'karate', or empty hand or weapons without a struggle.
After World War II in Okinawa USA built a military base and karate fast became popular
among the base.
To the popularization of karate contributed numerous movies filmed from 1960-1970.
It took another thirty years for karate to begin to spread throughout Europe, where
karate goes into judo clubs with the help of Japanese instructors. The first
national federation of karate was founded in 1961 in France, and the first international
karate tournament held in 1963 in Belgium .
Croatia has not lagged behind. In 1957. in Zagreb was founded judo club 'Kata' which
practiced karate. Karate developed with the help of Vietnamese and Japanese
instructors. In 1966. was established karate club "Lika", in 1970. Croatian Karate
Federation, and in 1972. Karate Association of Zagreb, in 1968. in Split was held
the first international karate competition 'Adriatic Cup. With a variety of problems
Karate became very popular sport, and counting the European and World championships
karate is Croatian sport with the most throphies.
On the ballot in 2005. Karate did not receive the necessary two thirds vote of the
members of the Olympic Committee so it was not included in the Olympic sports.
KARATE RULES
Karate competitions are divided into kumite and kata events. Kumite in the translation
from Japanese language means a struggle between two opponents, and kata floor fight with the
imagined enemy.
Kumite competition may be individual and collective, with the inside of the karate fighters
divided into age and weight categories. Each team has three competitors, except for seniors
in which five contestants perform.
Kata competition is divided by age. The team in floor competition always has three competitors.
Kumite and kata competitions in karate are separated for women and man.
As karate competition is a very young sport, so have the rules changed often in karate. The first
fight on the court were held in the square area with a length of the sides eight to ten meters
with one main and four auxiliary judge who sat in the outside corners of the arena, and
signaled white and red flags.
Competitors with red and black belt woren the title belts.
The battle lasted two with the possibility of two extensions of one minute or until one
Ippon. Players were bare handed. Fighting required different tactics and techniques from today.
To decide the one shot or one technique which required a better mental and technical
preparation of the competitors. Strokes were powerful and were allowed greater contacts.
Number of serious injury was a big (fractured nasal bones, teeth and ribs, jaw dislocation,
bashed liver, spleen or kidney).
Changes in the rules of karate mainly relate to the judges and protection of
fighters from injury.
In the mid eighties protective white gloves were introduced, protective rubber for the teeth and tatami.
The battle lasted three minutes of pure time or up to three ippon.
The main and one additional judge wore a blue jacket and gray pants and use the Japanese
terminology. Assistant referee signaled with his hands. The rules were upgraded with new
gestures and terminology. The main disadvantage was the long course of struggle with
frequent interruptions and discussions of the main and assistant referee. Arena controller
participated in the decisions.
Then one additional judge was introduced in the fighting ground, and the Chief Judge has
increased responsibility in order to reduce downtime and consultations judges. Increased
safety is the obligation of competitors wearing rubber for the teeth and increase the
scoring area including side scoring in the body surface. The "ten seconds" rule was introduced.
In 2000. the number of extra judges increased to three, and the arena controller, in some cases
had the right to stop the fight. Competitors wore red and blue belt and red and blue gloves
with thicker padding. Judo throws over the hip were alowed. Score was unlimited and the
maximum point difference between the two contestants was eight points. Sanbon or three points
are granted for a kick in the head, face or neck and throwing or cleaning that rivals fallen
upon the ground with the successful operation of hand or foot pointing techniques. Nihon or
two points are granted for a kick to the body, hand in the back, head or neck, for a
combination of manual techniques and pointing tehnique after launching the opponent out
of balance. Ippon is awarded for a fist shot to any pointing part of the body except
the back (Nihon). In the kata competition was introduced the cup system with repasage and in
the finals of team competition bunkai.
Changing the rules from 2005. the protection of competitors was increased by wearing feet protectors
for all competitors and for the women chest guard.
Criteria for scoring and prohibited activities are not changed, but the same techniques were
often evaluated and interpreted differently (the strength of the contact, distance, posture,
throw).
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