Facts about Karate

Contrary to popular opinion, the martial art Karate was not invented in China. Rather, it has its origins in the island of Okinawa in Japan. The word “Karate” means the “empty hand” or the “Chinese hand”, and it has been given this name because it involves a rapid use of hands and legs in an extreme close combat.

It was sometime in the sixteenth century that Chinese Kung Fu fighters experimented around with their styles and formulated the “te” technique (”Te” means hand). The art grew in China and evolved from a very rough and simple fighting style into a hard, close-combat style.

Around the late nineteenth century, Gichin Funakoshi, a famous martial arts practitioner from Japan, blended new moves into the “Te” style and displayed his art to the Japanese martial arts masters in early twentieth century. This was the beginning of Karate, as we know it.

Karate kicked off with the original Okinawa style; later on, the Japanese patented their own styles, which are now appropriately called Japanese styles of Karate. With time, many karate schools all cross the world began naming their Karate after their school’s or master’s name, giving birth to many sub-styles.

The original style - known as the Okinawa style - is a very hard and external style. It employs circular means of defense while its attack is linear in nature. The physical condition is extremely rigorous, as compared to the Japanese style of Karate. The Japanese style of Karate is more stylistic and its movements are linear in both defense and offense.

Some of the important Karate sub-styles are: (i) Wado-Ryu style, which combines JiuJitsu movements with Okinawa karate techniques, and (ii) Uechi-Ryu style, which blends Okinawa Karate with Chinese martial arts tactics. The Uechi-Ryu style appears more Chinese than Japanese though it is a blend of both the cultures.

As you know, Karate is a fast-paced martial art that involves electric movements of the hands and legs. So, you need to ensure that you are attired in a comfortable Karate uniform.

As Karate involves close combat and can be lethal, you will also need to protect your head and groin by strapping on a head guard and groin protector, respectively. Arm, chest and leg guards are available too, and so are karate mitts and shin protectors. And, of course, mouth guards can be considered too, just in case.

To train for Karate, you will need jump ropes, breakable boards, a Karate training board and a Karate training system. To perform Karate exercises, you will need leg and body stretchers, mats, water training bags, punching bags and pull-up and push-up bars.

And, finally, before you go out there to practice Karate, do not forget to plug in a first aid kit in your bag.

Karate not only keeps your body fit, it also strengthens your mind and enhances your concentration. Only thing, you must learn to respect it and practice it seriously as an art.

Tags: chinese martial arts, Karate, karate training, martial arts

The day I figured “it” out.

From: Cindy

I finally figured “it” out… “it” being the key to my training.

Tuesday, when I came in to class (late again), I wasn’t focused on taekwondo. In fact, sometimes I’m REALLY ho-hum about training at night after I’ve spent all day trying to improve my small business (and a little time surfing martial arts websites). Like many extroverts, I learn by socializing and having fun. As you know, martial arts is very much an individual journey.

Tuesday night we had a pre-tournament. Colored belts were grouped as a ring (I’m a blue belt, an intermediate rank in my style). In the nine months I’ve spent sparring, I’ve never won for 100 reasons. I don’t “get” much out of sparring… probably because I wasn’t putting much into it. I’ve been so afraid of kicking someone in the head that I just avoid it altogether.

But Tuesday, I decided to just spar. No worrying.

Something clicked. I switched up stances, interpreted their telegraphy, spun around, and yes, kicked people in the head. I have big boobs, and I even managed to protect my chest. Most importantly, I kept control and attitude at the forefront. No sense in being cocky or overpowering.

I beat every student in my ring/class. And after the pre-tournament training, I beat the highest ranking TKD student (a second degree black belt / trainee instructor).

Just do it! Everything else will follow.

Cindy
former slacker, currently awesome (and a little sweaty)

PS I’m in a ring with all black belts on Saturday, so don’t expect miracles.
PPS I still don’t like sparring that much, but I do like to win.

Tags: class, confidence, Karate, karate training, martial arts, sparring, Taekwondo, training, winning, worrying

How Do I Make The Most Out Of Each And Every Karate Training Session?

Karate Flying Kick

If you’re reading this article then you have probably already begun your study of the martial arts and in all likelihood have progressed through the first few belts. You now understand what karate is about and you are fully familiar with your weekly training schedule. The question that you may still have though is “How do I make the most out of each and every training session?” The following are some suggestions to help you answer this question.

There are several things that you can do to maximize your overall training experience, all of them are easy to implement, and will help you take your karate to the next level. I have presented these tips in a simple cheat sheet that you can post on your bulletin board and look at before each training session.

So here they are:

1. Go to class regularly - When it’s time for your next class, get up out of your chair and go straight to class. Do not pass go, do not collect $200, GO TO CLASS! Half the battle of karate is getting to class. Don’t lose this battle, or you are doomed to failure from the start.

2. Always give your best - Don’t ever accept anything less than your best effort. You are more than likely paying good money to attend your karate classes. Don’t waste your money, and especially don’t waste your time by being half-committed in your training.

3. Ask questions if you don’t understand something - You are the customer, you are paying your instructor to provide you with quality karate. Don’t be afraid to ask questions if you don’t understand something. Any good instructor should be more than happy to answer your question, no matter how insignificant they may seem to others.

4. Set specific goals for your training and an appropriate timeframe in which to achieve them - Put this list of goals on your bulletin board (preferably next to this article!) and look at them every day or at least before every training session.

5. Write a diary of what you did in each class - OK, OK, I know this is a tough one, and yes I promised to keep it simple, but quite honestly if you do only this one thing I can personally guarantee that your karate will improve dramatically. There is nothing more valuable than keeping a written record of what you did each lesson to keep you on target and help you understand what you learned and where you need to improve.

6. Use your diary notes for your benefit - Oops there I go again, more work for you but hopefully you’re listening by now. A diary is not much use unless you re-read what you wrote and then find out the answers to any questions you had from each lesson. Remember tip #3, it’s OK to ask questions after the lesson too, or even before the next lesson.

7. Find a great training partner - There is nothing worse than going to class and then having to pair up with someone who doesn’t want to be there. Avoid these people like the plague! Find a good partner who shares your same goals and values and make sure you both know that you will work together at every opportunity.

8. Attempt to understand the overall theme of each class - Most good instructors have an overall theme or objective that is carefully woven into each class. Through the content of each lesson many greater insights can be gained by understanding how each content item relates to the overall lesson, and by understanding the general context of each class. This integration of big picture concepts helps to take your karate training to the next level.

So hopefully this quick cheat sheet will help you to glean some extra benefit and insights from each lesson and if nothing else it should serve to better focus your efforts on effective training strategies.

Tags: Karate, karate training, martial art, martial arts, tips, training

Cardio benefits of Karate Training

It has virtually become common knowledge that regular exercise - especially sustained activity which places an optimum load on your pulmonary-cardiovascular system - promotes health and, according to recent research, greater longevity. There are various exercises which are found to be good for your health including certain forms of self-defense activities. This was first reported in a well-controlled, long-term, Stanford University study headed by exercise physician Dr. Paffenbarger.

Dr. Paffenbarger first found that people who burn over 2000 calories per week through exercise significantly reduce their cardiovascular risks. He then evaluated a number of different types of exercise to see how effective each is in helping the practitioner burn 2000 weekly calories.

He and his co-workers grouped the types of exercise into three categories with respect to their effectiveness in burning the minimum calories he found necessary to be of health benefit. The categories were: Best, Fair and Least effective.

In the ‘Best’ Category we find the expected - running, jogging, walking, bicycling, cross-country skiing and swimming. These are the forms of exercise which, at the time of Paffenbarger’s study, already had strong scientific support. Along with these types of exercise, Dr. Paffenbarger’s study also found that karate rated in the ‘Best’ exercise category for pulmonary-cardiovascular health.

Karate, a set of Okinawan/Japanese self-defense and fighting systems, is not only healthy from an exercise standpoint but, in my opinion, is the optimum, effective self-defense for the average person at just about any age level. Dr. Paffenbarger found that practicing karate for one hour on each of three different days per week causes the body to burn over 2000 calories each week.

Tags: cardiovascular health, Karate, karate training, self defense