Karate-Do

Karate-Do. Simply is a combination of three Japanese words; Kara, Te and Do.

with a simple meaning

Kara

Means Empty

Te

Means Hands

Do

Means Way

So KARATE-DO means THE WAY OF THE EMPTY HANDS

Karate is a Japanese martial art whose physical aspects seek the development of defensive and counterattacking body movements.  The themes of traditional karate training are fighting and self defense, though its mental and moral aspects target the overall improvement of the individual.  This is facilitated by the discipline and persistent effort required in training.  If karate had to be described in only one sentence, then the most suitable one may arguably be "You never attack first in karate."

This is a a maxim of Gichin Funakoshi (1868-1957), the Okinawan master who brought karate to Japan in 1922,( early 20th century during a time of cultural exchanges between the Japanese and the Ryukyuans) and who is accepted as the father of modern karate. 

 

for more about Karate-Do go to: http://www.skifworld.com/karate-do.php or http://www.ski-i.it/NEW-SKI/SKI-E430.htm or http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karate