EXTERNAL AND INTERNAL METHODS OF KARATE

  During the sung dynasty (960 -1279 A.D), a monk named Sang sanfeng modified and purified the forms used in contrast to the external methods used. Then he introduced the internal methods and defined the differences;
EXTERNAL METHOD: 
  It regulates respiration exercise the bones and muscles teaches the art of attack and defense the unity of the hands and the gentle force.
INTERNAL METHOD:
  It comprises the training of bones and muscles facing the attack calmly and its objective is to overcome the enemy the moment of attacks.

FATHER OF KARATE DO –ART OF EMPTY HANDS

Master Gichin funakoshi was the first to Determine the modern karate or “art of empty hand” who was the student of Master Higaonna. . His style was called "Shotokan" after his pen name.
He took his inspiration from all the material arts connected with karate; okinawate, kempo, tai-chi, etc.He studied all those methods and devoted his life time in making in these knowns.He lived until he was 83 years old. Under the direction of master funakoshi another master namely Master Mabuni (founder of shito ryu) followed his instruction and developed the karate throughout Japan over the years.
True karate is the one in which a mind, body and soul of ones gets trained in a spirit of humility and in a critical time he must be devoted to the cause of justice.

SECRETS OF CHINESE MASTERS – ART TO OKINAWA

The Chinese masters took the secrets of their art to Okinawa. When the Japanese invaded Okinawa Island in the seventeenth century and gradually confiscated and prohibited all fighting weapons. The Chinese methods of combat were then adapted under the name of Okinawate where “te” means “hands”. In 1903 the Japanese surprised at the physical performance of young conscripts during the “te” practice were authorized its teaching in schools. The name karate-jutsu replaced the word “te” taken from Chinese ideograms gives the meaning “art of the hands”. similarly in 1932, the emergence of a new style of karate in Japan meant something else and Chinese ideogram “Kara” meaning china was replaced by an ideogram pronounced the same but it gives the meaning “empty”.

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF KARATE

The origin of KARATE dates back to the sixth century between the years 502 A.D. and 550 A.D.when an Indian monk named BODHIDHARMA (Daruma in japaneese; Ta-mo in Chinese) arrived in china. He taught his disciples physical exercises combined with breathing called ta’chuan (or da quan)when he noticed that they were weak and thin due to nine years of ascetic life and deprivation. Part of this teaching was formed into a treatise on limbering up the joints and bones. Bodhidharma is said to have taught in a famous monastery called shaolin, founded in 495 A.D in the henna district of northern china. The shaolin temple was the centre for over 450 varieties of Chinese boxing for centuries.