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Oct 7 2014

How Karate Works

43 min 4 movies discussed
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Karate, meaning "open" and "hand", was developed in Okinawa before being exported to Japan and then the rest of the world. It is one of the most widely practiced martial arts and one of the most difficult to master. Learn about it in this episode.

AI Summary

In this episode of Stuff You Should Know, Josh and Chuck dive into the fascinating world of karate, exploring everything from its origins in Okinawa to the physics behind those impressive board-breaking demonstrations. They cover the ranking system with its colorful belts, the different types of training like kata and kumite, and how karate masters use basic physics principles to turn their bodies into effective weapons regardless of their size. The hosts also delve into the spiritual side of karate, discussing its connection to Zen Buddhism and how practitioners can find their spiritual center through disciplined practice and breathing techniques.


Movies Discussed

Kill Bill: Vol. 1
Kill Bill: Vol. 1
2003 1h 51m
★ 8.0
"The bride famously used it to punch her way out of a coffin — Mentioned when discussing Bruce Lee's one-inch punch technique and questioning its realism" — Josh
Napoleon Dynamite
Napoleon Dynamite
2004 1h 35m
★ 6.8
"Every time I saw Marshall Arts Expert or Karate Master, I thought of like Napoleon Dynamite — Chuck mentions how reading the article reminded him of Napoleon Dynamite's voice when saying martial arts terms" — Chuck
Street Fighter
Street Fighter
1994 1h 42m
★ 4.7
"I would rip out your heart like a street fighter — Used as an example when discussing concentrated force and punching techniques in karate" — Josh
The Karate Kid
The Karate Kid
1984 2h 7m
★ 7.2
"I looked up a bunch of these pronunciations for once because we get the random email — Referenced multiple times as the hosts discuss karate training and fighting techniques throughout the episode"

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