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WEEK 7: KARATE
WEEK 7
KARATE:
HISTORY AND IMPROTANCE, SKILLS
The earliest Karate Practices was in 400B.C when Buddhist Monksin India used a form of Karate to defend themselves against wide animals. They also invented a form of Karate about 2000 years ago to protect themselves when it is impossible to carry weapon.
The modern type of Karate was developed in 17th century on a Chinese Island of Okinawa. This was made possible by Okinwan school teacher Gichin Funakoshiwho was invited to Tokyo by the Minister of National Education to demonstrate the arts in 1917.
In 1922, Funakoshi moved to Japan permanently and built a school in 1939, where he taught karate style known as Shotokan, which was the type that was introduced to American Service Men after the Second World War in 1945. The Federation of All Japan Karate Organizations was formed in 1964, while in 1970, the World Union of Karate Organization (WUKO) was formed.The first World championship was held the same year (1970).
KARATE IN NIGERIA
Karate came to Nigeria in early 1960s, when the Japanese and Chinese textile traders were actively involved Organized Karate started in 1976 and sense, (instructor) Jack Mbom. In 1980, the Nigerian Karate Association was formed with Jack Mbom as the president. In 1991, the name of the Association was changed to Karate Federation of Nigeria (KFN). Shotokan is the karate style practiced in Nigeria.
NATURE OF KARATE
Karate means empty handed (Kara –empty, te- hand) in Japanese language. It is a martial arts in which the karateka uses the knees, bare feet, to kick and hands, elbow to strike. The targets of strikes and kicks are, the eyes, nose, throat, stomach, groin and knees.
There are two types of karate competition namely: non-contact (Kata) and partial contact (Kumite). These are done before the referee and judge who scores according to how effective the strikes and kicks were delivered.
IMPORTANCE OF KARATE
The importance of karate are as follows:-
1. It promotes good health.
2. It is essential for good health.
3. It promotes the social lives of individuals.
4. It is also for entertainment.
5. It aid mental alertness.
6. It is good for physical fitness.
7. It also builds self – confidence.
KARARTE FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT
1. Dojo:- This is a gymnasium or hall where karate is practiced. The floor is made of wood and the contest area is covered with mat. It also has changing room and other conveniences.
2. Mat:- The mat is a smooth, spongy foam laid on a wide even floor, it has a blue mats of 8m square contest area, which is surrounded by a safe zone of blue mats of 3m wide. The entire mat area is 12m square.
3. Scoreboard:- This is an electronic board that is placed on one side of the square mat.
4. Stop watch:- It is used to time the contest.
5. Flag:- They are provided for the judges to take decision.
6. Chairs:- There are placed at the corners of the mat and are used by the judges.
7. Outfit:- It is a clean loose cotton long sleeve Jacket worn over a clean white trouser, half way the shin, with the belt.
8. Belt (Obi):- It is a long cotton fibrematerials woven into a belt, 2m long by 5.5cm wide. It is used to the Jacket loosely. White belt is for beginners, black for experts, while brown, blue, green, orange, yellow and red colours are for seniority.
Other protective gears that should be worn are – Mouth guards, hand guards, groin guards, chest guards, shin and in – step.
KARATE SKILLS, RULES AND REGULATION
The skills in karate includes stance- This is to posture taken by the karateka when executing various skills. It is an important skill because it serves as the spring board for the technique such as blocking, kicking and movement. There arefour basic types of stance which are:-
1. Forward stance
2. Backward stance
3. Horse stance and
4. Catstance
1. Movement:- This involve going or moving from one place to another with different parts of the body being in action. Different parts of the body is used as weapons and most frequently fist arm, knee ball or tool knife etc.
2. Co-ordination:- This is the ability to lighten the joints and transform speed into power. It is also the co-ordination of good stance related body during the pitch and the correct use of the legs, hip, trunk and arm.
3. Blocking: This stance assist in patting opponent attack and also use to open the way for counter attack. The following techniques can be used in blocking, the arm crossed block, knife hand block, elbow block, forearm block etc. These can be done with both arms outwards, inwards, upwards and down wards.
4. Kicking:- This is the most essential skill of karate. Kick is more powerful than punch, it is reaching and hitting an opponent with the foot. The target is timed, the hit is fast and the withdrawal is rapid with good balance the skills of kicking are:-
· Front kick
· Back kick
· Side kick and
· Round kick.
Evaluation Questions:
1. Give a brief history of Karate (5 lines).
2. Describe the history of Karate in Nigeria (3 lines).
3. List 5 importance of Karate.
