Which part of the world does karate really belong to?

[kenpo_fighter]

I agree unfortunatly I think some people think if a nation does better at sport karate then their the better one.

its as sad a fact as tournaments where punching to the head (with sparring gear) is prohibited & yet they claim "A full Contact tournament" on the flyer.

[Monkeymagic]

Karate does not belong to a nation.

Karate is evolving and changing.

Japanese Karate is no more okinawian karate anymore than okinawian karate is chinese.(except TKD that's just plain bad shotokan.)

Right now Karate belongs to the europeans, who do kata better, and understand much more about spirit, fighting, and training.

Anyway, my vote.

I did say use the term 'belong' loosely. I wanted discussion of what this meant to people in the karate world.

How can you proove that Europeans, who do kata better, understand more about spirit, fighting and training?

[Menjo]

I can see your point and uderstand, I just got mixed up

[Kajukenbopr]

None, KArate is for the world!!!!

if we are going to be dividing Karate practitioners count me out...... I'd rather have them all as groups of a big style

[Meguro]

Karate belongs to whoever is practicing it.

[Tiger Burford]

Okinawa is where Karate is from is was taken to Japan but they were not taught all the hidden moves that apply to the bunkai

[SenseiMike]

hmmmm..........I voted okinawa, but as I read the replies, I almost wished I voted Japan.

A lot of people, and I mean a LOT, credit the 36 families from china with the beginning of Karate. but we forget, or never learned, that between the 700-1100 AD a lot of samurai fled to Okinawa bringing with them forms of kempo and jujitsu, the 36 families did not reach Okinawa untill 1396 AD.

[ninjanurse]

Karate belongs to whoever is practicing it.

[Oss]

my sensei told me..

[Monkeymagic]

Thanks for your opinions. I am just trying to see whether people really think karate belongs to a nation or whether thay have another opinion.