Why do people call martial arts "karate"?

[RON]

Some people who have no experience in martial arts automatically call it karate like how most people refer MMA as UFC.

For example:
"When's your karate practice tonight?"

"Mom, it's called Muay Thai."

I'm not ranting about it, I'm just wondering why people think all martial arts is karate. It's extremely similar to why people think MMA is UFC.

[cabdragon333]

ignorance and the heavy influence of pop culture. Namely Karate kid (80s)

[North]

It's just a word that gets stuck in the mind, and is used in relation to a topic the person probably knows nothing about. It's like if a friend tells me the name of and about a character in a movie or television show, and then a while later tells me about a different character from the same movie or show, I might automatically think of the first character they described to me. And that'd only happen because I wouldn't know any better without having seen the movie. Plus, your brain has a way of remembering things that are repeated to you. So if someone hears Karate any time martial arts are referenced, they'll always think to call it Karate. It's just a somewhat psychological thing, is all.

My grandpa always use to refer to my kung fu as karate, but after enough repetition of correction, he's began calling it kung fu.

[Karateka]

Everyone knows what karate is. Fewer know what, say, Wing Chun or Muay Thai is. Hell, a lot of people out there don't know that there is more than one style of martial art.

And people who call MMA UFC simply know MMA from UFC.

[Frankthetank]

Ignorance.

It has become a generic term for martial arts, like calling window cleaner "windex", or tape "scotch tape" (both are brands)

[muaythaiguy]

I know! my fricking mom asks me "Are you going to taekwondo tonight?" and I'm like It's MUAY THAI!!!

To answer your question it's ignorance.. most people know nothing about martial arts.

[muaythaiguy]

I know! my fricking mom asks me "Are you going to taekwondo tonight?" and I'm like It's MUAY THAI!!!

To answer your question it's ignorance.. most people know nothing about martial arts.

[Walton]

people that don't train in a form of martial arts usually call it karate because they believe its the only style out there besides kung fu. they usually get that from many martial arts movies. "karate kid and ext."