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• Karate is a martial art of Japanese origin. It is system of unarmed combat consisting of kicks and blows using the hands and feet. Although it is an effective system of combat, it is also seen as a philosophy of living, where development of the physical and spiritual is more important than competition.MSN Encarta: Karate

• Fast Facts

  1. Origins: Ryuku Islands, JapanPurdue University: A Brief History of the Shoto-kan Karate-do
  2. Age: Over one-thousand years oldMSN Encarta: Karate
  3. Karate is Japanese for "open hand"MSN Encarta: Karate
  4. Funakoshi Gichin credited with introducing Karate to mainland JapanShotokan Karate Club:Brief History of Karate
  5. Experts of karate are called karatekasMSN Encarta Dictionary: Definition
  6. Karatekas wear a gi, which is an outfit consisting of: white jacket, white pants and a colored beltAll Karate.com: The Karate Uniform: Gi

• Disclaimer

  The content in this page is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please contact your doctor before beginning any karate program.

• Belts

  The color of the karate belt represents the skill level the student has achieved. The colors can vary depending on the school, however the standard colors of the karate belt are white, green, brown and black. The white belt is the lowest ranking and the black belt is the highest.MSN Encarta: Karate

• Karate Training

  There are three different aspects of karate training. The first is kihon, which teaches the basic moves of karate. Kata involves practicing the moves with an imaginary partner. The third aspect is known as kumite, which is when the student actually practices combat and learns strategy, such as which vulnerable areas to attack and what the most common blows are.MSN Encarta: Karate

• Health Benefits of Karate

  Aside from the general benefits of engaging in physical exercise, adherents of karate maintain that it helps develop flexibility in muscles and joints.University of Houston: Benefits in Learning Karate Some claim that the breathing techniques used in Karate can help achieve asthma control, and that the level of concentration required can minimize symptoms of Attention Deficit Disorder.Parade: Go With The Flow (October 9, 2005)

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