Karate

Karate

What Is Karate? Amazing strength and lightning-quick speed. Discipline and respect. These are some of the many things people gain while practicing the art of karate. Karate is a martial art in which people who practice it use only their hands and feet. There are no weapons in karate. In fact, the word karate is Japanese for " empty hand. "

Nobody knows for certain how karate was invented. However, many believe it happened in the 1600s on a tiny island between China and Japan. The two nations often fought over the island. When a Japanese clan took over the island, the people who lived there were no longer allowed to have weapons. They invented karate as a way to defend themselves. Karate is now one of the most popular martial arts in the world.

The Gym Karate students train at a dojo, or gym. When they first enter a dojo, they must bow their heads as a sign of respect. In a karate dojo, the teacher is called a sensei. The sensei is an expert who has a great deal of knowledge to pass on to his or her students. Karate students learn to respect their sensei, their classmates, and the rules of the dojo.

Belts Before training begins, students must wear the right clothes. In karate, everyone wears a special robe, or gi. Students also wear a colored belt around the waist of their gis. As karate students continue to train, they move up in standing to different colored belts. Earning a new belt, however, isn't just about learning new moves.

Students learn discipline, respect, and patience while practicing karate. They can use these skills in other areas of their lives, too. The good habits students learn are just as important as the moves they practice. When a sensei sees students practicing good habits, they may just earn a new belt.