空手道 Karate

Karate can trace its roots to the Chinese Shao Lin martial arts. The Shao Lin style migrated to Okinawa, Japan, where the authorities forbade the use of weapons. The Okinawan style of "empty-hand" fighting and self-defense soon arose, combining Shao Lin with indigenous fighting techniques. This martial art was called karate in recognition of its Chinese origin.

Karate includes two categories in Asian Games: Kata and Kumite. The kata is personal demonstration of basic techniques, and kumite is the appliance of the techniques to combat with a sparring partner.

Karate is a good form of physical conditioning, which helps develop speed and endurance as well as balance, co-ordination, and flexibility.

Karate made its Asian Games debut in Hiroshima Asian Games, 1994.

空手道起源于日本，其发展在很大程度上得益于中国的拳术。20世纪初空手道公开演武，此后在全世界迅速发展。1994年日本广岛第十二届亚运会空手道首次成为正式比赛项目。

空手道比赛场地一般为8×8米。比赛项目有套路赛（型）和格斗赛（组手）两种。在组手比赛中，一方有效进攻导致对手瞬时丧失战斗能力或重心明显移动为得分标准。