In 2020, karate will make its debut as an Olympic sport. This traditional Japanese martial art, focused on strikes and kicks, uses two competition formats. Kumite is a type of non-contact sparring, while kata are set sequences of techniques performed solo. Modern Japanese karate has its roots in the traditional Okinawan martial art, where the emphasis is mostly on learning kata. A traditional karate practitioner never strikes first, and since the art trains self discipline and a spirit of respect for others, it's often taught in schools, especially in Okinawa.
VIDEO BY MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF JAPAN
