A Report on Martial Art: Karate

Karate is a type of Japanese martial art. It is one of the most widely practised martial art forms world wide. It relies on acute physical coordination and mental focus. The word Karate actually translates to ‘empty/open hands’ (kara = empty/open, te = hand). In a more deeper understanding, ‘te’ signifies that your body is our main weapon, instead of swords, guns, or any object that is physically harmful. This fighting style was used by the Ryukyu Islands natives, and was later influenced by Chinese kenpō when Chinese families settled on Okinawa. The karateka consists of punches, kicks and deflection techniques. The themes of traditional karate training are both fighting and self-defence, though the mental and moral aspects target the individuals overall improvement.

Karate was developed in Asia (India, China and Japan) over thousands of years, having countless martial arts variations and disciplines practiced today. The modern day karate is practiced in Okinawa, an island located in Japan. This can be traced back to the late 17th century, when weapons were banned by samurai rulers of Japan. The earliest written evidence of karate was the word tode (the Okinawan name for the art). This was through the reference of a Chinese visitor who taught a form of Kung Fu to the island. The tode style blended with the martial arts that has already been cultivated on the island, known as te (hand). Te was popular in three cities: Shuri, Naha and Tamarai. Each of these cities had their own way of doing martial arts and modern day styles, including Shotokan and Shito-ryu (mostly influenced by the city of Shuri). For hundreds of years, experts in Okinawan martial arts perfected a variety of combat styles and forms, due to political situations. The ruling authorities would ban peasants in using weapons from time to time, leaving them with household items for protection. This also contributes to the development of martial arts across Asia, relating to how karate is practiced without weaponry.

A man named Funakoshi Gichin is credited for carrying karate beyond its geographical roots, by bringing the elements of Okinawan fighting styles and the combat technique to mainland Japan, that progressively reached the rest of the world. He brought karate to Japan in 1922, and is seen and respected as the father of modern karate. If karate had to be described in one sentence, Funakoshi’s maxim would be the most suitable: “You never attack first in karate.”

Today, karate is practiced by millions of people worldwide. There are now four main styles of karate in Japan: Shotokan, Goju-ryu, Shito-ryu, and Wado-ryu. Karatekas wear a white, loose-fitting outfit called a gi, consisting of pants and a jacket that’s closed with a belt. The belt’s colour indicates the karateka’s skill level (kyu). This can vary from different styles and teachings of Karate. Karatekas who are advanced are ranked by their dan:

1. white belt: 9th to 6th kyu (novice)
2. yellow belt: 5th kyu
3. orange belt: 4th kyu
4. green belt: 3rd kyu
5. blue belt: 2nd kyu
6. brown belt: 1st kyu
7. black belt: 1st to 8th dan

The various belt colours symbolises the circle of life, through the stages of a growing plant. The longer you partake in the practice of Karate, the more you’ll see yourself growing and changing, similarly to a plant. Each belt colour tells a story of life, growth and advancement.

1. White Belt: When a plant is born, it breaks through the ground & meets bright white sunlight
2. Yellow Belt: As the plant adjusts to the white light it’s exposed to the yellow sun.
3. Orange Belt: The warmth from the sun is hot & radiates on the growing plant.
4. Green Belt: As the sun keeps burning brightly, the plant gets greener & grows fresh new leaves & sprouts.
5. Blue Belt: Growing taller, the plant reaches up towards the beautiful big blue sky above.
6. Brown Belt: The darkness increases so the plant humbly bows down towards the brown soil from where it came.
7. Black Belt: The end is here. Our plant dies, but a new one will grow. Every end is another beginning.

The Shotokan Karate International Australia (SKIA) is the official organisation of Kanazawa Soke’s SKIF in Australia. The organisation has around 5 clubs, with over 1,000 members, making it one of the largest Australian martial arts associations.

Shotokan Karate was introduced to Australia in 1971 by Sensei Frank Nowak. His first contact with karate was in 1963, when his friends heard about a new fighting art being introduced into Germany. Sensei Nowak practiced five to 6 times per week, and scoring him a double success by winning the German National Kata Championship at the age of 20. He then decided to take up teaching Karate professionally, and went to Tokyo to study his Instructor’s License at the age of 22. Sensei Nowak was the first fully qualified Shotokan instructor to arrive in Australia.

Today, SKIA strives to balance traditional and modern Karate in training and competition. They regularly hosts traditional Karate seminars, where students gain a deeper understanding in the technical and spiritual aspects of Karate. SKIA also provides for those who wish to test their skills at the highest level in competition, where they have frequent tournaments hosted at venues. They host tournaments in NSW, QLD, VIC and WA annually, culminating in the SKIA National Championships (held in a different state every year). It includes several days of intensive training under international instructors for this high quality tournament.

A kimono (着物) is a traditional Japanese traditional garment. The literal meaning of ‘kimono’ is a ‘thing to wear’ (ki = wear, mono = thing). They are a t-shaped, straight lined robes worn until the ankles, attached with collars and long, wide sleeves. The kimono is wrapped around the body, with the left side over the right (except for events including burials), and held together by a sash called an obi. They are also usually worn with traditional footwear (zōri or geta) and split-toe socks (tabi). Kimonos are worn on special occasions, and often worn by women. Men would wear the kimono during weddings, tea ceremonies and other special or very formal gatherings/ celebrations. Professional sumo wrestlers are seen wearing the kimono as it is required for them to wear traditional Japanese clothing in public.

The earliest Kimonos were greatly influenced by the traditional Han Chinese clothing, today known as hanfu. This was achieved through Japanese embassies to China that left Japan adopting the Chinese culture in the early 5th century AD. Kimonos are suitable to wear in any weather. They are made out of a breathable fabric which is beneficial for the warmer seasons, and can be layered to provide warmth in the colder seasons. This is why kimonos partake in the everyday lives of Japanese people, as well as having a cultural significance.

Overtime, the practice of layered kimonos came into fashion, and Japanese people started to pay attention to how different colours looked together, developing a heightened sensitivity to colour. Usually, colour combinations are represented by their current seasonal colours, or the political class that they belonged to. During the Kamakura (1192-1338) and Muromachi (1338-1573) period, men and women wore brightly coloured kimonos. Warriors were dressed in colours that represented leadership. During the Meiji period (1862-1912), Japan was massively influenced by foreign cultures, where the government encouraged people to adopt the clothes and habits of the Western world. Before, Government officials and military personnel were required to wear Western clothing for very important functions by law. For ordinary citizens, using garments to decorate with the wearer’s family crest was required when wearing kimonos. This helped to identify their family background to others.

Each layer of the kimono holds importance and meaning. They represent an element of Japan’s history, which builds to the modern day style. When the first kimono appeared in the eight century, Heian noblewomen would wear twelve layers. Each layer would symbolise both the seasons and events during the peaceful Heian era of 794 - 1192 AD.

Nowadays, kimonos are rarely worn by Japanese people in their everyday lives, for how they are reserved for special occasions including weddings, funerals, tea ceremonies and seasonal festivals. All styles are sewn by hand, and are decorated in different patterns and colours, with the use of silk, linen and hemp based material.