The traditional martial art of karate evolved on the islands of what is now Okinawa with rich regional influences. Today, karate has developed into a global competitive sport, with events comprising both one-on-one bouts as well as kata, specific sets of movements performed solo that embody the very essence of the martial art. We explore karate past and present with a special focus on kata and their role in passing karate's core teachings from one generation to the next.