What does the Japanese word 'karate' mean?
Answerempty hand
Karate is a striking art, unlike judo — a grappling sport derived from jujitsu.
Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica, Karate (2024) britannica.com
Sports · Facts & sources
Karate facts & stats
6 sourced facts about karate, each with the context behind the number. 4 more are in today's round and appear here after it closes.
The basics
Going deeper
In what decade was karate brought from Okinawa to mainland Japan?
Answerthe 1920s
Karate uses a complex ranking system shown by the color of a student's belt.
Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica, Karate (2024) britannica.com
How many athletes competed in karate at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics?
Answer82 athletes from 36 countries
Competition was held at the Nippon Budokan on 5–7 August 2021.
Source: Wikipedia, Karate at the 2020 Summer Olympics (2021) en.wikipedia.org
Expert level
About how many karate dōjō (training halls) are there in Okinawa today?
Answer431 dōjō
Okinawa also has more than 100 karate styles (ryūha) and branches (kaiha).
Source: Okinawa Karate Information Center, Okinawa Karate and Kobudo (2023) okic.okinawa
A weapons ban that shaped Okinawan karate followed the Satsuma invasion of Ryūkyū in what year?
Answer1609
Karate's roots also trace to King Shō Shin's reign (1477–1526), when local lords were gathered around Shuri Castle and a sword hunt took place.
Source: Okinawa Karate Information Center, Okinawa Karate and Kobudo (2023) okic.okinawa
When did trade between Okinawa (Ryūkyū) and China begin, opening the door to Chinese martial arts?
Answer1372
Chinese martial arts were introduced to Okinawa after that trade began — one influence on karate's development.
Source: Okinawa Karate Information Center, Okinawa Karate and Kobudo (2023) okic.okinawa
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