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Japanese “empty hand”
Unarmed
martial-arts discipline employing kicking, striking, and defensive
blocking with arms and legs. Emphasis is on concentrating as much of
the body's power as possible at the point and instant of impact.
Striking surfaces include the hands (particularly the knuckles and the
outer edge), ball of the foot, heel, forearm, knee, and elbow.
Encyclopædia Britannica.
2003. Encyclopædia
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As legend has it, the evolution of
karate began over a thousand years ago, possibly as early as the fifth
century BC when Bodhidharma arrived in Shaolin-si (small forest
temple), China from India and taught Zen Buddhism. He also introduced
a systematized set of exercises designed to strengthen the mind and
body, exercises which allegedly marked the beginning of the Shaolin
style of temple boxing. Bodhidharma's teachings later became the basis
for the majority of Chinese martial arts. In truth, the origins of
karate appear to be somewhat obscure and little is known about the
early development of karate until it appeared in Okinawa.
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Karate
Translates to
"Empty Hand"
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