World Karate Day

Karate is a martial art that originated in the Ryuku Islands (Okinawa) and then began to be practiced in Japan in the early 20th century as part of the cultural exchanges between the Japanese and Chinese.

This October 25 is celebrated as World Karate Day, in commemoration of the meeting of great masters that took place in Naha, Okinawa, in 1936, where this name was given to the martial art developed on this island.

It is also commemorated on October 7 to promote the movement "The K Day", when in 2012 began the campaign to promote the inclusion of the discipline in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, by the World Karate Federation (WKF).

However, for many the original date of this celebration is October 25, and was determined in 2005 by the Okinawa Karate World (OKW), at a meeting attended by the governor of Naha, Keichi Inamine and the Secretary of the Okinawa Assembly, Seizen Hokama.

As mentioned, this date was determined in memory and honor of the meeting organized by the Ryukyu Shinpo newspaper, in Showa Kaikan, Naha, Okinawa, in 1936, where the main masters of the island attended, among them, Chomo Hanashiro, of Shorin Ryu; Chotoku Kyan, Shorin Ryu; Choky Motobu, Motobu Ryu; Chojun Miyagi, Goju Ryu; Juhatsu Kyoda, Toon Ryu; Chosin Chibana, Shorin Ryu; and Shinpan Shiroma, Shito Ryu, among others.

The purpose of this meeting was of historical relevance for this martial art, since the kanji to define the Japanese word 'Karate' (Empty Hand) were discussed to designate the different defense and combat techniques practiced in Okinawa as well as their physical aspect - such as 'Tode', 'Te', 'Toodii' or 'Tii'-, to which 'Do' (Way) was later added to emphasize the importance of spiritual training.

In this same meeting, the subject of katas (forms) was discussed, as well as the use of a distinctive uniform for Karate-Do practitioners.