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A Brief Look At The History Of Karate

Karate is the art of self-defense andcompressed struck or pinched, cause
counter attack without weapons. It is atemporary paralysis of a more or less
Japanese word and in its native languagecomplete nature. Such places as the arm
means literally "empty hands". Karate aspit, the ankle and wrist bones, the
a method of self-defense originatedtendon running downward from the ear,
hundreds of years ago in Japan.the "Adam's apple," and the nerves of
Originally, Karate (or earlier ju-jitsu)the upper arm. In serious fighting
was practiced only by the nobility inalmost any hold or attack is resorted
Japan and especially by the Samurai. Theto, and a broken or badly sprained limb
techniques were kept secret. The hoiis the least that can befall the victim
polloi were denied the knowledge. It was..."
a form of superiority that the upperKarate was taught to the special
class could demonstrate to the commonersimperial guards who protected the
to prove that they were superiorEmperor of Japan. During World War II,
physically - even without weapons!special Japanese shock troops were
This art of self-defense may be definedtaught the secrets of Karate. Toward the
as "an application of anatomicalend of the global conflict, thousands
knowledge to the purpose of offense andupon thousands of Japanese line troops
defense. It differs from wrestling inwere given accelerated courses in
that it does not depend upon muscularKarate, to help them overcome their
strength. It differs from the otherphysical and weight handicaps in
forms of attack in that it uses nohand-to-hand combat with the enemy. Many
weapon. Its feat consists in clutchingan ex-GI who served in the Pacific
or striking that part of an enemy's bodyTheatre of Operations can tell you how
as will make him numb, and incapable ofeven a puny Japanese soldier could
resistance. Its object is not to kill,perform superhuman feats. Karate is
but to incapacitate one for action forfaster than judo, quicker than ju-jitsu
the time being." (Inazo Nitobe,and more deadly than both! That is why
Bushido'. the Soul of Japan)Karate, when mastered, should be used
The size and weight of your opponent maywith reservation and restraint. Karate
be used against him. Even a big 250-lb.never should be employed as an
brute can be toppled by a smaller,aggressive action, but only to defend
lighter man who employs the principlesyourself against an assailant.
of Karate. The Karate man knows theKarate is highly dynamic and makes use
pressure points and focal nerve centersof hundreds of body muscles. It helps
of his bigger, heavier adversary - anddevelop body balance, posture, agility,
strikes at these pressure point.coordination and grace. In fact, Karate
To quote from the Encyclopediais so popular in Japan today that
Brittanica "Several of these sensitivethousands upon thousands of women and
places, for instance the partiallyteenagers are studying it. In addition
exposed nerve in the elbow popularlyto its defensive qualities, it's ideal
known as the "funny-bone" and theexercise for their figures; keeps them
complex of nerves over the stomachtrim and lean. Many schools and colleges
called the solar plexus, are familiar toin America today are considering adding
the European, but the ju-jitsu expert isKarate to the curriculum.
acquainted with many others which, when



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