Modern

Karate

This site is created to give the reader a quick insight of the authors' view on karate. Many things happened since the early 1920's, time when Master Gichin Funakoshi moved from his native Okinawa to mainland Japan and began to modernize karate, to change it from what at that time was exclusive Martial Art of adult male into what is 80 years later inclusive Modern Day Sport practiced by old and young, male and female.

Major events that emerged in the last 80 years of very important times for karate may be summarized as follows:

• Children became the largest segment of society to practice karate. They needed a unique approach to training since they are not simply scaled-down adults, and principles used in practice with adults cannot be used with the children without proper modification.

• Modern concept of training that has its basis in Sports Medicine began slowly to find its place in karate training, particularly with the preparation of athletes for the competition.

• Teaching methodology reached new levels. Concepts of western teaching methodology replaced traditional karate training which in its original form was almost exclusively designed to address martial arts needs of adults males.