👉 Karate, a Japanese martial art and form of self-defense, is characterized by its emphasis on physical strength, speed, coordination, and discipline. It originated in Japan during the Edo period (1603-1868) and gained popularity worldwide after World War II. Karate is practiced as an individual sport or a combination of martial arts disciplines such as Judo, Kung Fu, and Taekwondo. Karate emphasizes striking with the hands (martial arts
