Karate (bare hand in Japanese) is a martial art that originated from Chinese martial arts and indigenous martial arts of the Ryuku Islands, Japan, and developed after the 17th century. Karate is a major striking martial art based mainly on pricking and kicking, knee and elbow strike, and techniques of such open hand as the edge and back of hand. Catch, squeeze, hold-down, throw and hit at the vitals are some forms of karate. Karate was created by Sakugawa Kanga, Matsumura Sogon, Itoshu Anko and Kichin Funagoshi.
