Old Karate, New Words: Understanding Karate’s Original Intent.

 

Posted by ADAM CARTER on JUN 02, 2025

Old Karate, New Words: Understanding Karate’s Original Intent.

(Approx 2 minute read)

Imagine stepping into an early Okinawan karate dojo around the turn of the 20th century. It was probably someone’s back garden, surrounded by a wall or fencing so no one could see what was going on. Unlike today, the environment was very different.

Teachers of the time passed down their knowledge to only a handful of students, shaping their unique approaches to self-defense.

The technical terms we readily use in karate today bear a surprising secret: they emerged long after the techniques themselves.

Every day on social media, you’ll see someone posting what these techniques are called. Some of them are wrong, by the way – but that’s another story.

Back then, each technique lacked a formal name. Instruction focused on movement, not terminology.

As karate migrated to mainland Japan, the need for standardized teaching methods grew. Large classes in schools and universities demanded a common language.

Drawing inspiration from established martial arts like judo and kendo, new terms were created for the techniques we use today.

These labels offered uniformity and clarity, ensuring consistent instruction across different schools and styles. And of course, with karate’s rapid global expansion, it made it easier for everyone – regardless of language – to understand what was required of students.

But while these technical terms aimed to bridge communication gaps, they also introduced a new challenge: interpretation.

Old Okinawan concepts, when renamed in Japanese, often lost their original meaning.

Today, most people use the same terms – but they may interpret them differently, leading to even more confusion.

Yet if you choose to look past the terminology for a moment, new meanings can appear, offering fresh insights.

Take the commonly seen ‘punch’, for instance. It’s often taught and labelled as a straight strike with a closed fist – but is it always a punch? Just because the hand is closed doesn’t mean it’s limited to that function. In some interpretations, that same movement can represent a grab, a pull, or even a joint manipulation.

The label might say ‘punch’, but if you look deeper – within the context of the kata or the principle – it might be something else entirely, opening up a vast array of techniques you may not have considered.

As long as you interpret your new understanding within the right context, of course.

By focusing on core principles and actively seeking their deeper meaning, you can unlock new skills – through action, not just words.

The historical disconnect between the terms we use today and the actual movements is crucial to grasp. It can lead to deeper insights, especially when analyzing the applications within kata.

While technical terms play a valuable role in instruction, they shouldn’t overshadow the underlying principles and their application.

Remember, a name is just a label – the real understanding lies in why the movement exists in the first place.

Written by Adam Carter