What are the basic principles of karate?

Answer 1

The self defense applications within the art of Karate are varied and widespread. While the kicks and strikes are obvious, there are many other techniques including grappling, joint locks, throws and take downs within the art. To understand even a fraction of the available techniques requires years of study, but even a few months can add a variety of skill to one's abilities.

Answer 2

Karate loosely translated means "way of the open fist."

As was told to me by my sensei, the point of karate is to make your first an iron ball, your foot a spear, and your arm a sword.

Weapons do some later: bo, jo, sai, tonfa, etc, but these are meant to be an extension of your hands. If you don't learn the basics without weapons, it is hard to control the weapons when you do have them.

So, in answer to your question, you can use your body and anything similar to the weapons you learn. A broom can be used like a jo, a bat can be used like a sword, a kitchen knife can be used like a tanto, a baton can be used like kama, etc...

Answer 3

Karate is a very efficient system of self defence especially if combined with basics of other Martial Arts. It is useful to learn the basic movements such as punches, kicks and blocks, it helps learning about distance, timing and builds reflex.
Sparring (called Kumite) helps to develop also the psychological skills related to a real fight situation
Katas (which are a series of techniques applied against imaginary attackers) helps to learn sequences of techniques and applications: if practiced with an opponents (Bunkai) katas are particularly useful for the study of how techniques apply to a real life situation.
The basic physical training, not only builds the necessary strenght and coordination needed for any self defence situation: it builds mental resistance and controll wich are usefull in order to maintain control in stressful situations.
Nevertheless karate fails to provide a comprehensive system for grappling, throws, and ground combat. It also might be misleading is practices in a strongly ritualized way without taking in account how a real fight works.
To reach a significant level of capacity with Karate takes several years and is best to get also some experience in Judo (throws and falls), Aikido and more.
The most important variable in making karate a good tool for self defence is a good teacher that has real life experience of self defence: someone who has worked in the military, worked as a bouncer, or studied with very good teachers.

Answer 4

All martial arts are self-defense forms. That being said, some are often (not always) taught in ways that emphasize exercise (tai bo, kick boxing)or the "art" part of "martial arts" (Qi Gong, Tai Chi) and these are not ideal for learning self-defense.

Judo and Aikido are both famously "peaceful" martial arts, but there is no such thing. All martial arts teach a person how to hurt or subdue another person, and the option of subduing is not always plausible (consider taking the time to choke someone out if you have more than one opponent, or trying to hold a person still until they calm down while they're getting angrier that they can't move).

If you want to focus on defensive techniques (blocks, falling safely, etc...) then just practice those more when you're not in class. You can also consult instructors on what attacks are most likely to dissuade an opponent while being less likely to badly hurt them (knocking the wind out of someone, "gently" throwing them to the ground, and hitting them in the nose are all obvious examples).

Answer 5

Karate is a martial art which not only teaches you to have a control on your senses but also teaches you some good self-defense. It teaches you disciple and emphasize never to be very aggressive. It has some really good techniques to knock out your opponent.

Answer 6

KARATE, cause it is more easily to kick someone, than throwing him on the ground.

Answer 7

Their is actually 5. Effort, Etiquette, Character, Sincerity, Self Control.