THE LITERAL MEANING OF KARATE-DO IS “THE EMPTY HANDS” THUS KARATE IS REGARDED AS “THE EMPTY HAND WAY”. KARATE IS A SYSTEM OF COMBAT DEVELOPED ON THE ISLAND OF OKINAWA IN JAPAN. KARATE IS AN ART OF SELF DEFENSE; IT MAY ALLOW YOU TO DEFEAT AN OPPONENT BY THE USE OF STRIKING AND KICKING. THIS SYSTEM OF SELF DEFENSE RELIES ON THE EFFECTIVE USE OF UNARMED BODY OF THE PRACTITIONER. KARATE INVOLVES STRENUOUS PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND IT MAKES USE OF MOST OF THE BODY PARTS, THEREBY INCREASING THE OVERALL FITNESS OF THE BODY. KARATE IS HIGHLY DYNAMIC AND MAKES BALANCED USE OF A LARGE BODY MUSCLES, THUS PROVIDING AN EXCELLENT ALL-AROUND EXERCISE AND DEVELOPS COORDINATION AND AGILITY, KARATE HELPS IN MAINTAINING A GOOD BODY CONDITION BOTH PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY. A KARATE PRACTITIONER DEVELOPS A STRONG CHARACTER AND BUILDS A FEELING OF RESPECT TOWARDS OUR FELLOW MEN. PATIENCE AND COURTESY IS A SIGN OF A GOOD KARATE PRACTITIONER. SELF DISCIPLINE AND RESPECT FOR OTHERS IS THE MAIN MOTTO OF KARATE. THESE TWO ASPECTS ARE SLOWLY INCULCATED BY THE PRACTITIONER DURING THE LONG COURSE OF TRAINING.