Here are four fascinating facts about Karate history:
1. Origins in Ryukyu Kingdom: Karate was created in the Ryukyu Kingdom, specifically in Okinawa, which is the largest of all the Ryukyu Islands.
2. Global Popularity: There are more than 100 million Karate practitioners worldwide, according to the World Karate Federation.
3. Father of Modern Karate: Gichin Funakoshi is known as the “father of modern karate.” He introduced Karate to the Japanese mainland in 1922.
4. Karate Practitioners: Those who practice Karate are called “karateka”. Some well-known karatekas include Itosu Anko, Gichin Funakoshi, and Yoshitaka Funakoshi.