Crossword Genius

Eastern style of serving chops? (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

karate

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'style of serving chops?' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I can't see how they can define each other.

'eastern' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite understand how this works, but
'eastern' could be 'e' and 'e' is found within the answer.
The remaining letters 'karat' is a valid word which might be clued in a way I don't understand.
This may be the basis of clue (or it may be nonsense).

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for karate that I've seen before include "fighting system" , "Oriental-style chops" , "method of fighting" , "Jap. combat; sort of chop" , "Unarmed-combat system" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph, The Globe and Mail and The Guardian.
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