A Japanese striking martial art emphasising punches, kicks, and open-hand techniques delivered with control.
Origin and rules
Karate developed in the Ryukyu Kingdom, modern Okinawa, and was systematised in Japan in the early 20th century, notably by Gichin Funakoshi. Practitioners strike with controlled punches, kicks, knees, and elbows, with rules emphasising precision.
How it plays
Competitive karate has two main events: kumite, full-contact-style sparring scored on clean techniques; and kata, the solo performance of choreographed forms judged on accuracy and power. Bouts use a points-based scoring system.
Competition
The WKF Karate World Championships are the top international event. Japan, France, Spain, Italy, and Iran are leading karate nations. Karate made its Olympic debut at Tokyo 2020 but was not included at Paris 2024.
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