The literal translation of the word "Karate" means "Empty Hand". This refers to the fact that Karate originated as the unarmed self-defense using only hands,feet and body of the practitioner. This system consists of basic techniques that block or evade an attack and then counter-striking the opponent by punching,kicking, striking or and combination thereof. Empty handed fighting was brought to Canto, China during the Liang Dynasty by a Buddhist Monk named Daruma from India who originated the meditative   sect of Zen. He introduced this form of Empty Handed fighting around  525 A.D. 300 Years ago, the form Empty Hand fighting called "Okinawa-te" underwent development in Okinawa when the Satsuma clan of Kyushu banned all weapons in Okinawa.