The Art of Karate

By: Audrey Albatera

The Japan Karate Club showcasing their skill at SNMMSI

Karate is one of the many different types of Martial Arts – and one of the most popular. As we may know, it was originated in Japan, and can be practiced as an art, self-defense, combat sport, or all of the mentioned.

There are several factors which you can benefit from Karate: increased mobility, strength, improved stability, lowered blood pressure, and mental concentration.

As brutal as it might get, it has a great relevance to self-defense. Unlike other forms that focus on a single body part (consider Taekwondo as an example, as it emphasizes on kicks), Karate incorporates the whole body. Punching, kicking, elbows, throws, and possibly even open-handed “knife-strikes” are all staples of the form. It is one of the few martial arts to truly focus on the mind as much as the body. With a focused mind and a fully trained body, Karate can easily become one of the most unstoppable fighting forms out there.