a method developed in Japan of defending oneself without the use of weapons by striking sensitive areas on an attacker's body with the hands, elbows, knees, or feet. Compare judo, jujitsu.
ka·ra·te (kə-rä'tē) n. A Japanese art of self-defense in which sharp blows and kicks are administered to pressure-sensitive points on the body of an opponent.
[Japanese : kara, empty + te, hand.] ka·ra'te·ist n.
[kuh-rah-tee] 
