köken: Orthographic borrowing from Okinawan 唐手(とーでぃー) (tōdī) to Japanese 唐手(からて) (karate), compound of 唐 (kara, “Tang Dynasty; China”) + 手 (te, “hand”), as the art was originally transmitted from China to Okinawa, and thence to mainland Japan. The use of 空 to spell the kara portion is an example of ateji (当(あ)て字(じ)) to express the idea of “empty-handed” or “unarmed”.
karate; an Okinawan martial art involving primarily punching and kicking, but additionally, advanced throws, arm bars, grappling and all means of fighting
köken: From Japanese 空手(からて) (karate, literally “the state of being empty-handed”), from earlier 唐手(からて) (karate, literally “Tang Dynasty; China” + “hand”), from Okinawan 唐手(とーでぃー) (tōdī).