The Origins of Karate

Karate is a martial art developed in the Japanese territory known as the Ryukyu Islands. It includes punching, kicking, knee and elbow strikes and open-handed techniques. Karate students may also learn grappling techniques, arm locks, throws, and point strikes depending on the schools or style they study.

Karate began as a fighting system referred to as "ti.After trading contacts were established with the Ming dynasty of China by King Satto of Chūzan;in late 14th century, various forms of Chinese martial arts were slowly introduced to the Ryukyu Islands by the visitors from China.

A group of Chinese families moved to Okinawa near the end of the 14th century where they established the Kumemura community and shared their knowledge of a wide variety of Chinese arts and sciences, including the Chinese martial arts.

The centralization of governance and authority in Okinawa by King ShōHashi in the first half of the 15th century and the banning of weapons enforced in Okinawa after the invasion of the Shimazu clan, were also factors that furthered the development of unarmed combat systems in Okinawa.

Each teachers taught a particular kata as well as differing techniques and principles that distinguished their local version from that of others.

The adoption of empty-handed Chinese Wu Shu into Okinawan fighting arts most likely transpired because of cultural and political interchanges. Further influence came from Southeast Asia from the regions of Sumatra, Java, and Melaka. Many Okinawan weapons such as the sai, tonfa, and nunchaku likely originated in and around Southeast Asia.

Sakukawa Kanga had studied staff fighting in China. In 1806 he started teaching a fighting art in Shuri that he called "Tudi Sakukawa." This was the first known written reference to the art of "Tudi." Around the 1820s Sakukawa's most significant student Matsumura Sōkon who lived till the end of the 19th century taught a synthesis of te and Shaolin styles. Matsumura's style and techniques would eventually develop into the Shōrin;-ryū karate style.

Gichin Funakoshi, founder of Shotokan karate, is generally credited with having popularized karate on the Japanese mainland though the spread is more likely through many Okinawans who were actively teaching, and are thus equally responsible for the popularization of karate.

Funakoshi was a student of both Asato Ankō and Itosu Ankō who had worked to introduce karate to the Okinawa Prefectural School System. During this time period, prominent teachers who also influenced the spread of karate in Japan included Kenwa Mabuni, Chōjun Miyagi, Motobu Chōki, Kanken Tōyama, and Kanbun Uechi.