Karate is a striking-based combat sport and martial art originating in Okinawa, Japan, contested in both kumite, sparring for points, and kata, a judged solo performance of prescribed movement sequences. It made its Summer Olympic debut at the 2020 Tokyo Games and is governed internationally by the World Karate Federation. The sport developed from Okinawan fighting traditions blended with Chinese martial arts before spreading to mainland Japan and internationally in the 20th century.
Facts
Originating RegionRyukyu Kingdom, Okinawa, Japan 2 International Governing BodyWorld Karate Federation 3 Classification
Olympic Programme Status Connections
Ancestor Of
Source Kickboxing, Wikipedia
Taekwondo, Sports Why this is disputed. Revisionist scholarship, described as the prevailing theory, roots taekwondo in karate; traditionalists hold its origins are indigenous Korean.
Source Wikipedia, Taekwondo
Associated With
Source Wikipedia, Martial Arts
Featured In
Source Wikipedia: Olympic sports
Played By
Source Chōjun Miyagi (Wikipedia)
Source Wikipedia, CN Barcelona
Source Douglas Brose (Wikipedia)
Source Gichin Funakoshi (Wikipedia)
Source Gōgen Yamaguchi (Wikipedia)
Source Hideo Nakamura (Wikipedia)
Source Hidetaka Nishiyama (Wikipedia)
Source Higaonna Kanryō (Wikipedia)
Source Hirokazu Kanazawa (Wikipedia)
Source Katsuya Miyahira (Wikipedia)
Source Keinosuke Enoeda (Wikipedia)
Source Kenwa Mabuni (Wikipedia)
Source Luigi Busà (Wikipedia)
Source Mas Oyama (Wikipedia)
Source Masatoshi Nakayama (Wikipedia)
Source Mikio Yahara (Wikipedia)
Source Morio Higaonna (Wikipedia)
Source Rika Usami (Wikipedia)
Source Ryo Kiyuna (Wikipedia)
Source Sajjad Ganjzadeh (Wikipedia)
Source Sakura Kokumai (Wikipedia)
Source Shigeru Egami (Wikipedia)
Source Steve Arneil (Wikipedia)
Source Steven Da Costa (Wikipedia)
Source Takayuki Kubota (Wikipedia)
Source Tatsuo Shimabuku (Wikipedia)
In the Other Atlases
Found In
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Sources
1. Karate at the 2020 Summer Olympics (Wikipedia)
2. Karate, Wikipedia
Lead section
developed in the Ryukyu Kingdom
History, Okinawa section (19th and early 20th century)
In 1905, Itosu helped to get karate introduced into Okinawa's public schools.
In Group: Striking Combat Sports, Lead
While modern karate is primarily a striking art that uses punches and kicks
View the Source3. World Karate Federation, Wikipedia
Lead sectionQuote, Lead section
It is the only karate organization recognised by the International Olympic Committee
Wikipedia: Olympic sports
Featured In: Olympic Games, Changes between 2000 to 2030Quote, Featured In: Olympic Games, Changes between 2000 to 2030
karate, sport climbing, surfing, and skateboarding as optional sports for the 2020 Summer Olympics
Kickboxing, Wikipedia
Ancestor Of: Kickboxing, Lead sectionQuote, Ancestor Of: Kickboxing, Lead section
developed in the late 1950s from karate mixed with boxing
Wikipedia, Taekwondo
Wikimedia FoundationAncestor Of: Taekwondo, Emergence of various kwansQuote, Ancestor Of: Taekwondo, Emergence of various kwans
Traditionalism holds that the origins of taekwondo are indigenous while revisionism, the prevailing theory, argues that taekwondo is rooted in karate.
Wikipedia, Martial Arts
Wikimedia FoundationAssociated With: Martial Arts, Unarmed, StrikesQuote, Associated With: Martial Arts, Unarmed, Strikes
Punching: Boxing, Wing Chun, Kickboxing, Muay Thai, Karate
Wikipedia, CN Barcelona
Played By: CN Barcelona, LeadQuote, Played By: CN Barcelona, Lead
It is active in athletics, diving, karate, petanca, pilota, rugby, sailing, swimming, water polo, and triathlon.
Gichin Funakoshi (Wikipedia)
Played By: Gichin Funakoshi, LeadQuote, Played By: Gichin Funakoshi, Lead
was the founder of Shotokan karate
Mas Oyama (Wikipedia)
Played By: Mas Oyama, LeadQuote, Played By: Mas Oyama, Lead
He was the founder of Kyokushin Karate, considered the first and most influential style of full contact karate.
Kenwa Mabuni (Wikipedia)
Played By: Kenwa Mabuni, LeadQuote, Played By: Kenwa Mabuni, Lead
was one of the first karateka to teach karate in mainland Japan
Luigi Busà (Wikipedia)
Played By: Luigi Busà, LeadQuote, Played By: Luigi Busà, Lead
is an Italian karateka. He is a two-time gold medalist at the World Karate Championships
Ryo Kiyuna (Wikipedia)
Played By: Ryo Kiyuna, LeadQuote, Played By: Ryo Kiyuna, Lead
born 12 July 1990) is an Okinawan karateka
Douglas Brose (Wikipedia)
Played By: Douglas Brose, LeadQuote, Played By: Douglas Brose, Lead
is a Brazilian karateka. He is a three-time gold medalist in the men's kumite 60 kg event at the World Karate Championships.
Steven Da Costa (Wikipedia)
Played By: Steven Da Costa, LeadQuote, Played By: Steven Da Costa, Lead
is a French karateka. He won the gold medal in the men's 67 kg event at the 2020 Summer Olympics
Sajjad Ganjzadeh (Wikipedia)
Played By: Sajjad Ganjzadeh, LeadQuote, Played By: Sajjad Ganjzadeh, Lead
is an Iranian karateka. Competing in the above 84 kg kumite division
Chōjun Miyagi (Wikipedia)
Played By: Chōjun Miyagi, LeadQuote, Played By: Chōjun Miyagi, Lead
was an Okinawan martial artist who founded the Gōjū-ryū school of karate
Masatoshi Nakayama (Wikipedia)
Played By: Masatoshi Nakayama, LeadQuote, Played By: Masatoshi Nakayama, Lead
Japanese master of Shotokan karate
Hirokazu Kanazawa (Wikipedia)
Played By: Hirokazu Kanazawa, LeadQuote, Played By: Hirokazu Kanazawa, Lead
was a Japanese master of Shotokan karate
Keinosuke Enoeda (Wikipedia)
Played By: Keinosuke Enoeda, LeadQuote, Played By: Keinosuke Enoeda, Lead
was a Japanese master of Shotokan karate
Hidetaka Nishiyama (Wikipedia)
Played By: Hidetaka Nishiyama, LeadQuote, Played By: Hidetaka Nishiyama, Lead
was a Japanese karateka, known for helping to establish the Japan Karate Association, and later pioneering Shotokan karate in the United States
Morio Higaonna (Wikipedia)
Played By: Morio Higaonna, LeadQuote, Played By: Morio Higaonna, Lead
is a world renowned Okinawan karate master
Sakura Kokumai (Wikipedia)
Played By: Sakura Kokumai, LeadQuote, Played By: Sakura Kokumai, Lead
is an American karateka. She won the gold medal in the women's individual kata event
Rika Usami (Wikipedia)
Played By: Rika Usami, LeadQuote, Played By: Rika Usami, Lead
is a Japanese karateka
Katsuya Miyahira (Wikipedia)
Played By: Katsuya Miyahira, LeadQuote, Played By: Katsuya Miyahira, Lead
was an Okinawan martial artist who was the grand master of the Shorin-ryu Shido-kan style of Okinawan Karate
Steve Arneil (Wikipedia)
Played By: Steve Arneil, LeadQuote, Played By: Steve Arneil, Lead
master of Kyokushin karate
Mikio Yahara (Wikipedia)
Played By: Mikio Yahara, LeadQuote, Played By: Mikio Yahara, Lead
Japanese karate expert of the Shotokan style
Takayuki Kubota (Wikipedia)
Played By: Takayuki Kubota, LeadQuote, Played By: Takayuki Kubota, Lead
was a Japanese and American karateka
Hideo Nakamura (Wikipedia)
Played By: Hideo Nakamura, LeadQuote, Played By: Hideo Nakamura, Lead
is a karateka from the Korean Peninsula
Shigeru Egami (Wikipedia)
Played By: Shigeru Egami, LeadQuote, Played By: Shigeru Egami, Lead
pioneering Japanese master of Shotokan karate
Higaonna Kanryō (Wikipedia)
Played By: Higaonna Kanryō, LeadQuote, Played By: Higaonna Kanryō, Lead
who founded a fighting style known at the time as Naha-te
Tatsuo Shimabuku (Wikipedia)
Played By: Tatsuo Shimabuku, LeadQuote, Played By: Tatsuo Shimabuku, Lead
He is the founder of Isshin-ryū ("One Heart Style/One Heart Way") style of karate.
Gōgen Yamaguchi (Wikipedia)
Played By: Gōgen Yamaguchi, LeadQuote, Played By: Gōgen Yamaguchi, Lead
was a Japanese martial artist and student of Gōjū-ryū Karate under Chōjun Miyagi
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