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Karate techniques focus mainly on hand strikes, but uses elbow and knee strikes as well as some kicking techniques.
Students practice two modalities of karate: kata, a series of attack and defense techniques used against an imaginary opponent, and kumite, sparring against an opponent using attack and defense techniques.
The philosophy of karate emphasizes proper training of the mind as well as the body, building character, and focusing on principles such as respect, self-control, and concentration.
Kickboxing has spread around the world since the modern form of the sport was first developed in Japan in the 1950s. Estimates of the number of participants vary because there are at least 14 different national and regional variations, some of which consider themselves mixed martial arts rather than kickboxing in the strict sense.
Kickboxing is practiced almost entirely by adolescents and young adults. It is a potentially dangerous sport that requires more speed, agility, coordination, and muscular strength than most older adults possess. Although it is difficult to estimate the total number of kickboxers either worldwide about 90% in all countries are male.
