Martial Arts: Karate
Karate
The term "karate" and most of the styles it describes are 20th-century constructs. Regarded as the quintessential Japanese martial art, Karate is Okinawan in origin – Funakoshi Gichin brought it to Japan in the early 20th century. In 1933, Japan recognized karate-do as an official martial-arts ryu (school). Its precursor was an art called Te, or "hand." Te, in turn, owed much to the Chinese martial arts.
Originally, the kanji characters for “karate” were those for "Chinese" and "hand." In the 1920s, Funakoshi and his fellow sensei replaced the kanji for "Chinese" with that for "empty," both pronounced "kara." This changed "karate" from “Chinese hand" to "empty hand," emphasizing use over origin. These early masters also adapted many Karate terms from Okinawan to Japanese.
Karate – despite its practitioners' reputation in the popular mind – is a -do form. Its techniques are designed as much for safe sparring and kata as for combat utility. Karate can be effective in a fight, but it's primarily a sport. There are combat-oriented Karate schools that teach full-contact martial arts, but few dojos break free of the artistic kata and low-contact sparring which characterize the art.
Below is a small sampling of important Karate styles, both Japanese and Okinawan. This list is far from exhaustive – there are dozens of other styles, and the instructors of many styles have developed further variations. Major styles not discussed here include Chito Ryu, Shito Ryu, Shorin Ryu, Uechi Ryu, and Wado Ryu. The GM can safely use the styles described here as guidelines when expressing these other arts in game terms.
Te
3 points
The various forms of Te – sometimes called Di – were Karate's Okinawan precursors, and included Naha Te, Shuri Te, and Tomari Te. Developed while weapons were banned, Te was strictly an unarmed art; for Okinawan weapons training, see Kobujutsu. Te was brutal and combat-oriented. It was taught informally, had neither a ranking system nor a uniform, and made few distinctions between styles. The master taught techniques and kata at his discretion rather than in a set order.
Te stresses deflecting an incoming attack and then launching a strong counterattack. The goal is to finish the fight with a single blow – either a killing punch or kick, or an incapacitating pressure-point strike. Stylists use Aggressive Parry to ward off an enemy's attack, and then follow up with a disabling or lethal attack. Committed Attack (Strong) is common, and blows often target the vitals, neck, or skull.
Many Te masters went on to found Karate schools, but almost none passed on pure Te. Today, training in Te is nearly impossible to find – the GM could reasonably require a modern PC to have an Unusual Background if he wishes to know Te. This rarity makes Te an excellent "ultimate style" (see Ultimate Styles).
Skills: Karate; Judo
Techniques: Aggressive Parry; Back Kick; Counterattack (Karate); Elbow Strike; Exotic Hand Strike; Hammer Fist; Kicking; Knee Strike; Leg Grapple; Sweep (Karate); Targeted Attack (Karate Exotic Hand Strike/Vitals); Targeted Attack (Karate Kick/Vitals)]]; Targeted Attack (Karate Punch/Neck).
Cinematic Skills: Breaking Blow; Immovable Stance; Kiai; Mental Strength; Power Blow; Pressure Points; Pressure Secrets.
Cinematic Techniques: Dual-Weapon Attack (Karate); Lethal Kick; Lethal Strike; Pressure-Point Strike; Targeted Attack (Lethal Kick/Vitals)]]; Targeted Attack (Lethal Strike/Vitals).
Perks: Iron Body Parts (Any); Special Exercises (Striking ST +1)]]; Unusual Training (Breaking Blow, Only vs. well-braced objects out of combat).
Optional Traits
Advantages: Combat Reflexes; High Pain Threshold; Languages (Japanese, Okinawan).
Disadvantages: Reduced Appearance; Unnatural Features (Gnarled knuckles from iron-hand training).
Skills: Any weapon skill under Kobujutsu; Parry Missile Weapons; Savoir-Faire (Dojo).
Shotokan
4 points
This page has not been finished up!
Goju Ryu
5 points
This page has not been finished up!
Isshinryu
4 points
This page has not been finished up!
Kyokushin
4 points
This page has not been finished up!