basic information

In karate one is defending him/herself with fists, elbows and feet. Karate is related to the Chinese Kung-fu and the Korean Taekwondo. Karate-do means "the way of the empty hand" since usually no weapons are used.

Two basic kinds of traditional karate performances are:

• Kata:
  One fighter or a group performs his/her skills in front of judges. Precision, technique, and posture are the criteria.
• Kumite:
  A fight between two karate fighters in which they do not really hit each other but stop their movements right before the opponent's body. A potential KO-kick ends the fight.

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