Karate
Media
Part of Panorama
- Title
- Karate
- Language
- English
- Year
- 1961
- Rights
-
- Fulltext
- KARATE The subtle art of self-de fense which originated in Oki nawa js now proving increas ingly popular not only in Ja pan but also in some foreign countries. Andrew Heiskell, chairman of the board of the American weekly, Time Incorporated, commented that he had never seen any art of self-defense with such speed, force and beauty as Karate. Foreigners who viewed the Fifth All-Ja pan Karate Tournament held at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium in June, 1961 did not spare their words of ad miration for the powerful force as well as beauty of the art. What is Karate? Karate (literally empty hand) is not an art aimed at ultimate victory over an op ponent; neither is it a drama tic act of splitting boards and cracking roof tiles with bare hands. The supreme goal of Karate is to train a person to conquer physical and spiritual obstacles and improve his cha racter. In training, emphasis is put on the spiritual side as much as on the physical side. A person cannot master the art until he has built up his character to a higher level. The following is a brief out line of this particular art of self-defense with the “empty hand.” Requiring the active move ment of the whole body, the techniques consist of blocking or thwarting an attack and counterattacking by punch ing, striking or kicking. For example, there are a total of 20 parts in the hand and arm which are used when engag ing in this art. There are some seven types of “tsuki” or straight blows. Some six parts of the leg are utilized. There are a total of eight types of ways to stand on one’s feet alone. Karate can be divided into three basic movements—“kihon” (fundamental), “kata” (form) and “kumite” (grap pling). The fundamental movements include how to hit and fend a blow, how to kick 70 Panorama with one’s legs, how to ad vance, retreat and move to right or left. All these move ments require strenuous train ing before one can become adept at them. In the case of fonn move ments, the above-mentioned fundamental movements are combined rationally into new forms of continuous move ments. A person engaged in this type of movement seem to be practicing calisthenics. But there is not a single wast ed or meaningless movement A Karate man practices his art presupposing that he is surrounded by enemies. Therefore, he must be able to strike out in all directions as well as defend himself front all quarters. There are several types ofi form movements depending on whether they are aimed at building up one’s muscles and bones or quickening one’s re flexes. However, every one of these movements must incor porate good balance, speed, beauty and striking power. Briefly, “focus” in Karate re fers to concentration of all the energy of the body in an instant on a specific target. Anyone can practice these form movements—individual ly or in groups, the old or the young, men or women. Through continuous hard training, one may be able to master this art of self-defense. Amateurs go through these movements by first pre-ar ranging the parts of the body they are going to attack. This is called basic “kumite”. In the case of experts, they en gage in free “kumite” which simulates a real bout. Be cause these experts have gone through long and strenuous training, accidents rarely hap pen. However, since Karate blows possess destructive po wer, actual bouts are carried out under extremely strict rules in order to prevent in juries. Those who are allowed to participate in such bouts are only persons holding Ka rate grades and who can free ly control movements. Development of Karate The history of Karate goes back hundreds of years, but it was in 1921 that the Gichin Funakoshi introduced this art to Japan and evolved the tech niques of making the most effective use of various move ments of the body. Funakoshi was the president of the Shobukai (Association of Chivalric Art) in Okinawa, the birthplace of Karate. This unique type of art was deve loped in the islands during the period when Okinawa was under the administration of Shimazu, the Lord of Satuma, December 1961 71 beginning in 1609, and Oki nawans were prohibited from possessing any type of arms. Thus, the islanders were forc ed to invent an art of self-de fense using only their bare hands and feet as weapons, and they practiced the art in great secrecy. The introduction of Karate by Funakoshi caused quite a sensation in Japan, creating a growing number of follow ers, particularly among stu dents. Subsequently, around 1924, Karate clubs were or ganized in major colleges and universities in Japan. There was a temporary lull in the popularity of Karate immediately after the war, but with inauguration of the Japan Karate Association, it became much more popular than in prewar days. Its po pularity can be seen by taking a glance at the association’s “dojo” in the past six years. New followers include child ren from seven years old to men over 60 years of age. Wo men also are taking it up. But the largest number of prac titioners are students. Parti cularly noteworthy is the fact that there are some 400 fo reign Karate followers in Ja pan representing a total of 30 nations. The Japan Karate Associa tion with its headquarters in Tokyo has some 170 chapters today throughout the country. Although it is extremely dif ficult to determine the exact number of persons practicing Karate in Japan, an approxi mate figure would be between 600,000 and 700,000. The National Karate Cham pionship Tournament was held on June 11, 1961 at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymna sium attended by Crown Prince Akihito together with more than 13,000 spectators filling the spacious gym. Among the dignitaries present were the leaders of political and business circles as well as foreign envoys of 24 count ries. A total of 76 Karate experts selected from throughout Ja pan displayed their tech niques at the tournament. Some 24 persons exhibited their prowess in the “kata” and “kumite” matches. Aside from these matches, side at tractions were provided by a hundred persons holding ranking grades who displayed mass “kata” forms. Another attraction was the breaking of two one-inch boards placed together with the bare fist. Also shown were military dances of old Japan by young children as well as demons tration by a girl defending herself from an attack by a man. Foreign members of the 72 Panorama association also demonstrated their Karate paces. Karate in Foreign Countries According to the spokes man of the Japan Karate As sociation, aside from the Ame rican Air Force stationed in Japan which has adopted Ka rate as a regular subject 'in its physical education pro gram in 1951, there are four Karate associations in the Uni ted States, namely Colorado Springs, Honolulu, Philadel phia and Los Angeles. In the United States, Karate has fre quently been adopted by mo tion pictures and television, and the English version of the book on Karate, “Karate, the Art of Empty Hand Fighting,” is reported selling well. The Karate fever in the Re public of Korea is also high, particularly among students and soldiers. In the Republic of China, a different type of Karate from that in Japan is being practiced; it is a type of Chinese boxing which ori ginated in the Chinese main land. In Malaya, the local Ka rate association opened a “do jo” in Seremban. In the Phil ippines, the vice president of the Philippine National Ath letic Association has invited a Japanese expert to Manila to give instructions in Karate there. In Indonesia, there is a plan to form a local associa tion. In Europe, the country where Karate is most popular is France with a total of 12 Karate “dojo” and with an ag gregated membership of about 600 persons. Satoru Muraka mi, a member of the Japan Karate Association, is giving instructions in France as well as in Algeria, Morroco, West Germany and Spain. In Swit zerland, there are two “dojo”. In South America, there is a local Karate association in Brazil, and enthusiasts from such countries as Argentina, Venezuela, Peru and other South American countries are presently studying this art of unarmed self-defense in Tok yo. ♦ * ♦ Edith—So that rich old bachelor didn't pro pose. Madge—No, he ate six meals at that summer hotel where they advertise home cooking and decided to stay single. December 1961 73