Karate (空手, Karate or 空手道, karate-dō) is a martial art developed from Chinese kenpō (kung fu) and indigenous fighting methods from Okinawa. The word karate is formed by two characters, kara (empty) and te (hand). Karate-do literally means way of the open hand. Through the practice of karate, self-defense techniques are learnt where no weapons are needed other than hands, feet or other parts of the body. It is primarily a striking art, featuring punching, kicking, knee and elbow strikes, and open-handed techniques, but grappling, joint manipulations, locks, restraints, throws, and vital point striking are also taught. A karate practitioner is called a karateka.

The "kara" of Karate-do was also interpreted by Gichin Funakoshi to mean "to purge oneself of selfish and evil thoughts, for only with a clear mind and conscience can the practitioner understand that knowledge which he receives." Funakoshi also believed that one should be "inwardly humble and outwardly gentle." Only through humility could one be open to Karate's many lessons, by listening and being receptive to criticism. He considered courtesy of prime importance. He believed that "Karate is properly applied only in those rare situations in which one really must either down another or be downed by him." To Funakoshi, it was not unusual for a practitioner to use Karate for real perhaps once in a lifetime, as Karate practitioners should "never be easily drawn into a fight." To him, one strike by an expert could mean either life or death. He who misuses the techniques brings dishonor upon himself. He also believed in conviction, that in "time of grave public crisis, one must have the courage...to face a million and one opponents." He believed that indecisiveness was a shameful trait.

Shorin-ryu (小林流 Shōrin-ryū) is one of the major modern Okinawan martial arts. Said to have been founded by Sokon Matsumura during the 1800s, Shorin-ryu combines elements of the traditional Okinawan fighting styles Shuri-te and Tomari-te. Shorin-ryu is widely considered to be one of the two major modern styles of Okinawan karate, along with Goju-ryu, which is rooted in the other traditional Okinawan style, Naha-te.

Sokon Matsumura was a renowned warrior of his time; bodyguard to three kings of Okinawa, he has been called the Miyamoto Musashi of Okinawa and was dubbed bushi, or warrior, by his king. However, while he is often referred to as the "founder" of Shorin-ryu, he did not invent all the components of the style, and perhaps didn't refer to it as Shorin-ryu himself. It is quite possible that he synthesized his knowledge of Okinawan arts with Chinese fighting styles that he learned on his travels and taught it as a coherent system to some eager students, who subsequently refined it, labeled it, and passed it on. Shorin is the pronunciation of the Chinese Shaolin in Hogun  the primary dialect of Okinawa; and ryu means "style". Therefore, Shorin-ryu ("Shaolin style" or "small pine forest") reflects the Chinese influences intrinsic to the art.

Along with being a style on its own, Shorin-ryu is also perhaps the most influential single ancestor of modern Japanese karate. One of Matsumura's best-known students, Anko (or "Ankoh") Itosu became a great practitioner and teacher of Okinawan karate and developed the five Pinan kata, which are now taught not only in Shorin-ryu, but also in a wide variety of Okinawan, Japanese and derived martial arts. It is also believed by some that the first three Pinan kata were actually developed by Matsumura and the last two by Itosu. In addition, Itosu and another student of Matsumura's named Anko Azato were among the primary influences on a fellow Okinawan named Gichin Funakoshi. Funakoshi introduced his Okinawan martial arts to mainland Japan in 1922, and in subsequent decades was instrumental in developing what he termed simply karate or karate-do into a popular Japanese martial art. The style Funakoshi taught on mainland Japan is now called Shotokan karate.

Shorin-ryu is based on both direct straight lines and circular lines of defense and offense. It is a system which places great emphasis on strong, correct blocking and body movement, coupled with light, quick movements into and out of the opponent’s defensive zone. Great focus is also a stylistic difference between Shorin-ryu and other systems. The system teaches 23 forms (Katas), which are the basis of eventual mastery of the style. Extensive knowledge of the katas are required for promotion, in addition to knowledge of several weapons, fighting ability, strength, speed, endurance, moral outlook, knowledge of history and principles, etiquette, and years as a student. Essentially, Shorin-ryu karate is self-defense oriented with it’s main emphasis on an immediate and totally effective counter attack. This simply means that instead of teaching intricate combinations, it teaches solid basics, with striking force being so great that is drops the opponent in his tracks without the need for intricate follow-ups.