Almost every civilization in history has its own martial art form. Some used weapons, while others preferred fighting without them. Before the twentieth century, these techniques were mainly learned to survive war. However, karate was not only a way to survive an attack but also practiced as a way of life.

The history of karate, to this day, is a much-contested topic. The lack of written evidence has made it difficult to pinpoint the actual inception point of this unique art. Yet, the existing knowledge is nothing short of a fascinating tale.

In this article, I will discuss the history of karate, sharing my knowledge of its origin, timeline, and modern development.

History of Karate: The Origin

Did you know that in the Japanese language, especially in the old Okinawa dialect, Karate means both “Empty Hand” and “Chinese Hand”? The reason why the meaning has shifted from “Chinese Hand” to “Empty Hand” lies deep beneath the social and economic history of Japan and China. The discussion of the origin of karate can be divided into six sections:

• 5th Century BC : The inception point
• 1349 AD : King Satto’s Reign
• 1422AD : King Shŏ Hashi Reign
• 1609 AD : Annexed by Japan
• 1867 AD Meiji era and Kokutai
• 1923 AD Karate in Tokyo

 5th Century BC: The Inception Point

Many historians and karate experts support the idea that karate started in Japan in the mid-fourteenth century. This is partially true. The origin of karate in South Asia can be dated back to the 5th century BC. According to some old scriptures, Bodhidharma or Darma was the first person who introduced Budo or War art to China. Bodhidharma was an Indian monk who traveled to China to spread the words of Buddhism.

When Bodhidharma first arrived in China, he found that his followers were having difficulty concentrating on meditation. For that reason, he integrated physical training within their practice of Buddhism.

At first, the physical training was limited to only physical movement based on yoga. But soon, this became popular and with time, these exercises merged with Chinese boxing and became kenpo.

What Bodhidharma did for karate is still debated among historians and karate experts. However, his name came up several times in many ancient documents and was associated with the early stages of martial arts in China.

Karate, which started in Okinawa, is greatly influenced by the Chinese practice of martial arts. Many experts believe that Bodhidharma’s early practice regime was the inception point of Karate.

1349 AD: Okinawa and King Satto’s Reign

The word “Karate” and Okinawa—an island situated in the southern part of Japan—are intertwined. Okinawa, before 1609, was an independent island with its own flourishing culture and strong economy. The island was also known as Ryu-Kyu Island.

Satto was the king of Okinawa. Because of the lack of natural resources, under the reign of King Satto, Okinawa started exploring business opportunities in its neighbor: China. With the growing business, the cultural exchange of these regions became prominent.

According to historians, this was the time when Chinese martial arts entered Okinawa. Okinawans became fascinated with the alien technique of fighting practiced by the Chinese monk. Many started learning it and carry the skill in Okinawa.

A school of thought, however, believes that some sort of fighting techniques were already there in Okinawa within this time. The introduction of Chinese martial arts merged with the existing skills of the masters of Okinawa. Many consider this hypothesis weak as there was no evidence for this theory.

1422 AD: King Shŏ Hashi’s Reign

Okinawa island consisted of three main regions: Sumi, Naha, and Tomari. After many years of internal clash, King Shŏ Hashi united these three regions and established his reign.

King Shŏ Hashi, after his accession to power, made an interesting decision. Because of the previous clashes among the various clans within Okinawa, he banned the use of all kinds of weapons. This decision bolstered the practice of karate in this region.

Okinawans, as they were banned from using any sorts of weapons, leaned towards the art of war. Even though Okinawa is not a very big island, interestingly, there were reportedly three different types of karate styles: Sumi-te, Naha-te, and Tomari-te. All these arts cumulatively known as “Okinawa-te” or “Tode.”

Although the basics were the same, these styles were different from each other. Some used fast movement, while others preferred a steady, mountain-like stance. These differences in style later became four styles in karate.

1609 AD: Annexed by Japan

Tokugawa Shogunate Minamoto Yorimoto took charge of Japan in 1600, and under his reign, Okinawa was annexed to Japan in 1609.

1867 AD: Meiji Era and Kokutai

The Japanese word Meiji means “Enlightened Rule.” After the emperor took charge of Japan in 1867, Japan started to transform into a global city. For the first time in history, Japan had opened its doors to the world. Merchants from different parts of the world started to sail towards Japan.

With this openness, Japan was also worried about the cultural invasion of western countries. Merchants from different parts of the world had not only brought goods to trade but also introduced their culture, language, and food to Japanese people.

To thwart this threat, the Meiji government started a campaign called “Kokutai,” which can be translated into “National Essence.” You might be thinking why this is important for karate?

According to the Meiji government, “Okinawa-te” was considered Chinese culture, and thus, under the Kokutai, it was banned to practice karate in Japan.

This banishment on karate had a major impact on its way of practicing:

• Because it was illegal to practice Karate at that time, sensei’s in Okinawa started to practice at night. It was recorded that the practice started at sunset and stopped at sunrise.

• Sensei’s were very particular about their choice of students. They had to be sure about the secrecy of the practice. That’s why only a few willing students were able to join the training.

• Practicing karate was expensive. And because it was practiced at night, common peasants were unable to participate in such training. That’s why only the rich families were able to obtain the secrets of the art.

• A student must work at the dojo. Sensei used to teach only the basics to the students. If a student grows impatient or refuses to complete the daily chores of the dojo, Sensei would cancel his studentship.

Even with the banishment, the Masters of Okinawa keep practicing the art. In this time, Masters like Gichin Funakoshi started to open their knowledge towards the regular people.

1923 AD Karate in Tokyo

Modern karate started in 1923. With the invitation of Emperor Hirohito, Gichin Funakoshi, for the first time, came to Tokyo and demonstrated his skill.

In 1926, the Japanese army went to Okinawa to enlarge its might and recruit some new people. They saw that some Okinawans were far more superior than others in terms of physical condition. The Japanese army identified that because of the intensive practice of karate, these people have acquired great physical strength.

This discovery worked like magic. The Japanese government lifted the ban on Karate and named it Karate. The meaning of this word was originally Chinese art. But the government used “Empty Hand” as its translation. Since then, Karate in the whole world Means Empty hand or “The way of Emptiness.”

After World War II, American soldiers came to Japan and learned the fascinating techniques of Karate. They went back and started practicing it in America. Karate saw a boom in the late sixties and early seventies. Movie stars like van Damme helped karate to be known all over the world.

In conclusion, The history of karate started in India and finished in Japan. Martial art, like all art forms, has transformed with time. As a cultural entity, Karate in Japan was greatly influenced by the socio-economic condition of Japan. Today Billions of students are practicing karate.

Karate, transcended from its physical application, has become more of a lifestyle. It is helping kids and adults with their anxiety and other mental issues. It teaches Discipline and honor which helps practitioners build their characters.