Karate involves jabbing, hitting, and kicking at the most vulnerable parts of the opponent's body. One of the most destructive of the martial arts, karate is usually practiced on tiles, boards, and other hard objects rather than on human opponents.

The word karate literally means "the art of empty hands." It is the most widely practiced of all the martial arts. Karate is a sport and a means of self-defense that uses the body as a weapon in striking, kicking, and blocking.

In Japan, where it is called karate-do, it involves discipline of the mind as well as of the body. Unlike judo and aikido, it is not a grappling or throwing sport. There are hundreds of varieties of karate, stemming from the intense rivalry among teachers of the art. Two international organizations govern karate: the World Union of Karate-do Organizations and the International Amateur Karate Federation.

Karate originated in Okinawa many centuries ago, where it was based on combat techniques imported from China. It was not called karate until it was introduced into Japan early in the 20th century by Gichin Funakoshi. It was he who gave the art its present name in 1935 to differentiate it from Okinawan types that used weapons. Its worldwide popularity came about after World War II, when many United States servicemen stationed in Japan discovered it.

Karate has strict rules of etiquette. Students entering or leaving the training room, or dojo, execute a standing bow, and they perform a kneeling bow in front of the teacher. Students wear white uniforms made up of a jacket and pants. Beginners wear the white belt. Training is done according to grades, and each student must show proficiency in his grade before passing to the next rank.

There are two kinds of karate competition: individual and sparring between two opponents. Individuals are judged on their execution of movements. When the competition is between two individuals, they are of the same rank and weight. Matches are conducted by a referee, as in boxing, and judges sit at the side of the mat. Most bouts last for one round, but black-belt championships are longer. In professional matches the combatants wear boxing gloves and footwear.

Judo developed from jujitsu, an art of self-defense that was popular during the Tokugawa period.

Judo has three basic strategies--attacking the opponent's vital points, throwing the opponent, and grappling. One referee and two assistants preside at a judo match.

The winner is the first man to throw his opponent to the floor, to lift his opponent over his shoulders, to pin him down until he gives up, or to pin him for at least 30 seconds. If neither contestant accomplishes any of these goals, the match is awarded to the more aggressive of the two. Colored belts are worn to indicate degrees of mastery in judo.

Jujitsu was introduced into Japan from China many centuries ago. For ages it was a secret art, guarded jealously by the nobility.

Now it is known not only throughout Japan but in many other countries. During World War II and thereafter all United States combat troops learned judo, which is similar to jujitsu, as a means of fighting without weapons. (See also Martial Arts.)

The art of falling without injury is a first principle of jujitsu. Often an expert will fall purposely in order to trap an unwary opponent into a dangerous position. This is called conquering by yielding.

In jujitsu matches the one in danger of injury from an opponent's grip admits defeat by tapping the floor with hand or foot. A fall is not necessary.

Another type of wrestling, called sambo, was recognized in 1964 by the International Federation of Amateur Wrestling. Developed in the Soviet Union in the 1930s, it is popular today in Russia and also in Bulgaria and Japan. Based on regional wrestling styles, sambo resembles both jujitsu and catch-as-catch-can.