Originating from Okinawa, Japan, in the 14th century, Karate is a martial art that includes a range of defensive and offensive techniques, including blocks, punches, kicks, and throws, executed by the practitioner’s own hands and feet. Karate competitions are divided into two main sections: kata and kumite.

Kata is a display of a set sequence of moves, representing both offense and defense against an imaginary adversary. Meanwhile, in kumite, two participants square off on a matted area, earning points by executing a series of strikes on their opponent’s body’s designated target area.