Why Karate?
I come to you with only Karate, Empty Hands.
I have no weapons, but should I be forced to defend myself, my
principles, or my honor,
should it be a matter of life or death, of right or wrong, then
here are my weapons, Karate, my Empty Hands.
Above
All!
Karate is not an easy art. But it is an art.
And like any art the more you put into it, the more it will repay you.
Karate enriches you physically, mentally and
spiritually—developing your body, your mind and your character.
Especially at the JKA.
What
isKarate-do?
Kara is the Japanese word for empty while temeans hand and dotranslates as the way, or
path. So Karate-do is The Way of the Empty Hand. It is a martial art in which
the ultimate purpose is not to seek to win, but to work towards perfection of
character, self-control and self-discipline by the accumulation of experience
through training. It is also a form of self-defence using all parts of the body
which, by hard and systematic training, become effective and powerful weapons.
Karate encompasses whole body movements which develop balance, flexibility,
co-ordination, speed and power. This is achieved through the constant practice
of the basic movements (Kihon) which, due to their variety and complexity, can
be considered as a complete art form themselves.
What
is Shotokan Karate?
Shotokan Karate originated in
Okinawa, a small island south of Japan. It was popularized in Japan by Gichin
Funakoshi in the 1950s.
Shotokan Karate is a traditional martial art. This means that improvements in
character and mental discipline are as important as physical skill, if not more
so. Shotokan Karate is meant to be accessible to all, including, women,
children, and those without great athletic ability. JKA Kuwait Dojo offers a
caring, safe environment where everyone can learn the art of karate. Its
practice leads to:
• Muscular and Aerobic
fitness
• Body alignment, balance and movement
• Increased perceptual awareness
• Stress management
• Concentration, confidence and discipline
Shotokan Karate is a
traditional Japanese style of Karate. It combines both mental and physical
training to refine the character of its students. Karate means "empty
hand" as translated from its Chinese characters. As a result, Karate uses
no weapons in its training, relying on the hands, feet, and body of its
participants.
The founder of modern Karate,Gichin
Funakoshifrom Okinawa, first demonstrated his powers to the Japanese public
in 1922 in Tokyo. Funakoshi established his first Dojo in Japan in 1936. The
Japan Karate Association (JKA) was created in 1955 with Funakoshi as the Chief
Instructor. The name Shotokan is derived from Funakoshi'ss pen-name, Shoto and
the Japanese word for hall, kan.
Why should I join a Karate
club?
Master Funakoshi's precept says thatThe ultimate aim of
karate lies not in victory or defeat, but in the perfection of the character of
its participants.Karate is beneficial both physically and mentally: you
will improve your physical fitness and flexibility, you will have a better understanding
of body dynamics, a greater awareness of your surroundings, a greater ability
to defend yourself, and the ability to control your emotions in high pressure
situations. Most of all, Karate will build your self-confidence in everyday
life.
Why should I join this
club in particular?
We are affiliated with Japan
Karate Association/World Federation, all the grades and ranks you get, are
recognized worldwide.
We are on a friendly
environment, no stress no hates, speak up we hear you..
Is Karate Violent?
There is no first attack in Karate. Every Karate move always
begins with a defense. Karate is based onrespect,discipline,relaxation andcalm awareness. An
aggressive, emotional attitude is contrary to the philosophical and
practical nature of the martial art.Funakoshi said that "The spirit of
Karate is lost without courtesy". In Karate one learns the values
of kindness, sincerity and self-control. The students are taught to be bold
and gentle, and to have confidence and humility. These contrasting
combinations eventually lead to total harmony of body and mind. This is the
true aim of Karate.
Is Karate an Effective Self-Defense?
Karate is theultimate inunarmed self-defense. It
is designed to disable with one move; it has techniques against all forms
of attack and has been developed
through centuriesof harsh experience. Most importantly, ittrains the
mental and emotional skills of
combat, as well as the physical. Strength and size are not importantin Karate - it
can be performed well with whatever strength you have, by relying on technique,speed and co-ordination. Karate
teaches you how to avoid possible confrontations - it is far better to
de-fuse or to avoid a dangerous situation than to confront it.
What Happens in the Lessons?
Karate consists of three aspects:Kata, Kihon(basics) andKumite(Fighting).
Kihon involves the systematic training of various blocks, strikes, punches
and kicks. Kumite is the application of the techniques learned in Kihon.
The Fighting is all pre-determined and is non-contact, being carried out
with great control.
What is Kata?
Kata are
formal exercises consisting of pre-determined defensive and offensive
movements, performed in a sequence. They are performed by oneself against a
series of imaginary attacks by several opponents. The secrets of Karate are
hidden in these beautiful compositions of lethal movement. They are the
means by which the fundamental
techniques of Karate are
transferred to each generation. There are 27 kata in Shotokan - a new kata or series of kata are
learnt after each grading.
Who can Take Up Karate?
Karate is for everyone - men, women and children; old or
young; fit or not. Every girl or woman should know what to do if attacked.
Women in the lesson get the same training as the men. Children can benefit
from the self-discipline, and the skills acquired will improve their
self-confidence and character. The training is non-competitive. Older
people have gained their black belts after 60 and have practiced the art
into their 80s. Older students receive the same training as younger people,
although naturally the instructor will not demand the same level of
endurance. Everyone's training is with oneself - the instructor only
expects the best that you can achieve; there is no competition with anyone
else in the lesson. You can adjust your training to suit your own stamina
and abilities, but the harder you train the more you will benefit.
What Do the Belt Colors Mean?
Beginners wear a white belt. Students are then graded
starting from 9th kyu (first white belt), to brown belt (1 kyu) then will
be able to apply for black belts which starting from ShoDan (1st black
belt).
How Good is Karate for Fitness?
Karate is one of the mostbalanced andcomplete ways of keeping in good physical
condition. Karate incorporates the use of the entire body in which legs,
hips, spine, shoulders and arms are co-ordinated to develop balance,
flexibility, poise, speed, strength and stamina. No other form of training
uses as many parts of the body to such an extent. Karate is not seasonal
and so one's condition can be maintained throughout the year. Other forms
of training, where exercise for the sake of exercise is done, become a
chore after the first enthusiasm passes and are invariably dropped.
However, Karate becomes more interesting and rewarding as you progress,
without any limit. Even after decades of training, students will still be
learning and improving their techniques - this is very rare in any sport.
Is Karate good for my health?
Yes. Because Karate involves both stretching and
cardiovascular exercise, it is extremely good for your health. Furthermore,
unlike many other activities, Karate uses almost all muscle groups. This
means that your body becomes very well balanced rather than overworked in
specific muscle groups.
Are There any Other Benefits from Karate?
Karate is a means of developing friendship. At its best it
is also a means of gainingself-understandingand self-confidence. It is an
art form through which one can express individuality. Karate is also a
bridge to other cultures and times, and it establishes a contact with one's
mind and body that is rare in Western education. The true rewards lie in
the improvement of mind, body, and character. Without this
threefold development, mastery of the techniques will be impossible. Great
personal effort and mental concentration are needed to learn Karate, but
the rewards are enormous.
Will I be able to defend myself physically?
Students of Shotokan Karate, knowing that they can handle
themselves in a physical conflict, feel confident, and thus are able to
avoid most confrontations without resorting to a physical fight. If there
is no avoiding a fight, the student of Karate learns to disable his or her
opponent in one blow.
|
|
No comments:
Post a Comment