It is believed that about 5000 years ago a prince of Kanchipuram
(Tamilnadu - India) developed the first crude version of weaponless
self defence, by watching the movements of animals and birds while
they fought. He applied these movements to the human body and
discovered that these movements could be effectively exploited.
The Prince, then experimented on 1000 slaves, to discover the
weaker parts of the human body, where even a puncture with a needle
could kill the victim. The prince then used the techniques that
he had found successful and directed them at the weaker parts
of the human body and perfected the first known art of weaponless,
self defence.
Bolidharma, (known as Daruma Taishi to the Japanese) a Buddhist
monk, learnt the technique of Weaponless self defence while in
India, and imparted training to his monks in China. In Tamil -
Karam means hand & in Japanese Karate means Empty (Kara) and
Hand (te). It is a system of attack and defence that uses all
parts of the body (hands, feet, elbows, fingers, etc.,) to kick,
punch, chop, butt, or any other move that is effective in defending
ones self. Many of these movements may seem odd to the average
person, but one must bear in mind that these have been analysed
and geometrically calculated so that whatever the action, a block
or a punch, it is the maximum the human body can achieve. One
learns that it is not the size and strength alone that wins rather
it is the speed and power that are the deciding factors in making
one victorious .
True KARATE is a Physical Art, a Technique of Weaponless Self-
Defence and a Sport. One of its greatest attributes is that anyone,
irrespective of size, age or sex can practice this Art. The degree
of skill, of course, varies from person to person. However, one
can practice KARATE according to his own physical capabilities.
KARATE is related with AHIMSA and therefore is employed to deter
an agressor from resorting to violence, rather than maim or to
kill. Nowadays, if any one speaks about SELF DEFENCE, it means
only Karate. Eve-teasing, chain snatching and other assaults on
women are reported almost everyday. KARATE is the only fitting
answer to these social evils and crimes. KARATE can be learnt
by School-going children / college students or by any other citizen,
irrespective of their sex.
Those who want to protect themselves from the evil can learn this
art of weaponless self-defence. It can be learnt from the age
of 4 till 60 years. Strength and stamina are two main requisites
for learning Karate. However, KARATE training has been linked
with the performance of feats of strength, viz., pulling cars
by the hair, breaking granite placed on the chest or abdomen,
riding a motorcycle while lying on a bed of nails, etc. These
acts of strength can be performed by anybody who is strong enough
and has absolutely no relation with the martial art of Karate.
