Karate Uniforms, Belt, and Equipment

Karate is a Japanese word. Literally translated it means “way of the open hand”. Karate in modern times is the result of several millennia of tradition. The earliest roots of karate trace all the way back to the ancient training of the Chinese army. Chinese military history dates back to 1500 BC, it is the longest continuously recorded history in existence. The martial arts training of Chinese soldiers began during the Warring States period of about 476 BC.

In the Warring States Period China shifted from a bronze driven society to an iron working society. The notion of combat also evolved, from a style utilizing chariot warriors to mobile infantry with spears and crossbows. But the most unique aspect of Chinese military training stemming from this point became their focus on unarmed, hand to hand combat. As opposed to western armies which considered a disarmed opponent a target for surrender; Chinese forces sought to wipe out the enemy in most cases.

As such the warlords of the Warring States Period began teaching their soldiers how to fight and kill opponents even after they had been disarmed. This system of fighting involved strikes at vulnerable areas of an enemy, often the throat or eyes; it also incorporated the rudiments of throwing an enemy by shifting his balance and using his momentum to your advantage. The throwing and momentum manipulation became known as judo as they were refined. The striking form of combat formalized itself in the Shaolin tradition.

The Shaolin Temple of warrior monks was founded in the 5th century Common Era. They refined the martial arts as more than a mere means of combat. To the Shaolin monks the martial arts became a way of life and a path to enlightenment. They are a Buddhist monastic order that survives to this day. Much of the popular folk lore that is associated with karate, such as the animal styles and many karate legends stem from the Shaolin order.

From the Shaolin, martial arts spread to the Chinese populace in general. To get from Chinese martial arts, to karate, which is a Japanese word you have to follow the traditions of cultural exchange between the nations. Entire extended families would transplant themselves to learn from the other culture, and this is just what happened in Okinawa. About two dozen Chinese families moved to Okinawa in the 17th century, and they began teaching the locals martial arts. Two hundred years later, the striking martial arts became popular in Japan nationally; they gave them the name karate, which we still use today.

Some of the traditional karate gear and equipment dates from this Japanese period. For instance our modern floor mats were once woven rice reed mats. The kyū and Dan style of rank lends itself from Japanese culture, as does the coloring of karate belts. A karate uniform originally came from the Chinese. The west’s addition to karate culture, music seems oddly out of place in comparison, but compared to the millennia of history in this art, our half century of practice makes us bare beginners.

 

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