Karate: The Most Popular of Japanese Martial Arts
Emphasis on the value of self defense couldn't be more understandable than anything else in the world today. Beyond the safety of one's home lies dangers, one of which would be muggers and/or aggravated assailants, who wish to rob persons of their money and valuables. Self defense stands as the ideal avenue in dealing with these dangers.
The market is filled with various self defense items, ranging from electroshock items like stun guns and tasers, pepper sprays, and night sticks, standing as testaments to the value of self defense. In dealing with the troubles and threats which come in the form of those with harmful intent, self defense stands to be the best avenue for persons who desire to ensure their safety, with Martial Arts being a practical avenue for such desire to come through.
When talking about martial arts, one can't avoid but think along the lines of Japanese Martial Arts, which Karate is one of. Karate stands to be the most popular of Japanese Martial Arts, made famous not only for its reputation, but for the many story themes involving Karate, and, generally, Japanese Martial arts. Many samurai movies feature Karate, Karate movements and stances, fueling Karate's popularity status among Japanese Martial Arts. The 80s movie hit "The Karate Kid", showed the world the "practical" training discipline of Karate, as Mr. Miyagi instructs the value of "waxing on" and "waxing off". Bottom line, as a Martial Art, Karate stands as the "flagship" of Japanese Martial Arts.
Just like all Japanese Martial Arts, Karate owes its origins from fighting styles, combining the best features of different Chinese and Japanese Martial Arts into one. Karate basically is a martial art which is developed from a synthesis of Chinese Kempo, the Ryukyuan Martial Arts and concepts from Classical Japanese Martial Arts. Its name Karate means open hand, simply emphasizing that it is a Martial Art which calls for no need for weaponry. As a Martial Art, Karate utilizes various offensive and defensive movements, the most popular of which would include joint manipulations, grappling, restraints, traps, throws and locks. Karate practitioners are referred to as karateka, and are more than capable of overwhelming muggers and robbers, who bear malicious intent.
If you are on the lookout for learning a Martial Art, Karate would be one good Martial Art to consider, not because it is very popular, but because it is highly effective as a form of self defense.
