When taught and trained properly, Shotokan Karate can be the ultimate Self Defense Art.
Timing, focus, power are all developed. When backing down is not an option, a blow must be delivered to the proper target with sufficient power at the proper moment. These are the three principals of Shotokan Karate.
Find an instructor who can teach you these things,pay attention, train hard and stay with it. Shotokan founder Gichin Funakoshi has said that "mind and technique become one in true karate." We strive to make our physical techniques pure expressions of our mind's intention, and to improve our mind's focus by understanding the essence of the physical techniques. By polishing our karate practice we are polishing our own spirit or our own mentality. For example, eliminating weak and indecisive movements in our karate helps to eliminate weakness and indecision in our minds--and vice versa.
It may take a lifetime to develop these Shotokan Karate attributes, but the journey is the best part
Shotokan Karate
Karate for "Little Johnny"
Little Johnny is being picked on at school.
Johnnys parents have tried everything, talking to the school principal and teachers, telling "Little Johnny" to ignore the bullies, dad says "if they push you, push them back!" So far nothing has worked.
"Little Johnny" is scared to go to school, his grades are failing, what are his parents to do?
While driving home from the beauty salon "Little Johnnys" mom spots,
"Master Joe's Strip Mall Karate For Kids".
Mom explains the situation to Master Joe. Master Joe recommends a 3 group classes and 2 private instruction karate classes a week program, it's kind of expensive, but Master Joe will throw in a free karate Gi if Mom signs "Little Johnny" up for a one year program.
Well it's been 3 weeks and "Little Johnny" has only cried twice this week at class and he almost has that horse stance down, if he can just get his fist rotating correctly on his punches, he'll be well on his way to that yellow belt, heck he already knows the first four moves of Kata #1 and half of the dojo slogan, "THERE ARE NO BAD KIDS, JUST KIDS WHOSE PARENTS DON'T PAY THEIR MONTHLY DUES".
Can anyone relate to this. I know we have all had remarkable kids come though our schools, but most of them aren't.
When I was 18 yrs old I was teaching at a Kenpo karate school in S. Cal and have seen this situation many times. Parents see Karate, maybe thats the solution and maybe it is, but it's not a quick solution.
I would take kids like, "Little Johnny" and teach them to throw a rear hand reverse punch, put him in front of a heavy bag and slowly train him to hit and hit and hit, usually in 3 weeks the kid would be able to rip off ten decent punches into the bag, know when to fire off his punches and know where to hit.
I had parents come down to the school, Mom and Dads mad, "John" got suspended from school today, he punched one of those kids that "HAD" been pushing him around in the nose.
Mom says she didn't bring her son here to learn to be a karate killer. I explain that I'll have a talk with him. Mom storms out and Dad looks at me and says "Thanks man, My wife and I both really appreciate what you've done for "John."
Karate, Kenpo ,Kung fu, are all beautiful effective self defence arts when taught properly.
Martial Arts Fitness and Strength Training
Everyone has a area of fitness they need to improve on.
Maybe you need more endurance, maybe strength training is whats needed, maybe your a little to heavy or a little to thin or maybe your just not loose enough to get your kicks up where you would like them.
Harold Liederman, old time strong man and editor of Strength and Fitness magazine suggested " that a man should....
* Be able to swim at least half a mile or more
* Be able to run at top speed for the length of two football fields
* Be able to jump over obstacles higher than your waist
* Be in condition to pull your body upward by the strength of your arms, until your chin touches your hands, at least 15 to 20 times
* Be able to dip between parallel bars or 2 chairs 25 times or more.
"If a man can accomplish these things,' Liederman said, 'he need have no fear concerning the safety of his life should he be forced into an emergency from which only he alone may be able to save himself".
So, how do we get to this level of fitness?
Balanced and slow progressive training is whats needed.
Most people don't reach these basic levels because they let their desire to achieve push them to over train and they end their training as quickly as they started.
Weight training: Pick 5 or 6 basic exercises, perform 1 set of 10 repetitions for the first two weeks, ( get the feel of the weight, find the weight that you can perform 10 reps and feel it in the last few), the next two weeks add a set of 8 reps with a small increase in weight. After this 2 week period add 1 more set of 6 repetitions, for a total of 3 sets 2 to 3 times per week. Now you can make small gradual increases in the amount of weight you lift.
This program will add strength and size to your muscles.
Stamina: Exercise bike, Jump rope, jogging, swimming or repetitive calisthenics are all excellent ways to improve your endurance.
Remember to take it slow so you don't burn out;
Take any of these forms of exercise or better yet, mix them up.
Do a few minutes each day, add time as you can, but be consistent, Try to achieve 20 mins. of continuous work and you will have all the stamina you need.
Flexibility: Being a Martial Artist you should already know how to stretch. Take you Dojo routine and try stretching for 10 to 15 mins before going to bed and again when you get up in the morning. Be sure you include some light stretching for you upper and lower back areas and your neck, these areas are often neglected.
You are a Martial Artist, your exercise program is to enhance you M.A. training, along with developing a solid flexible body.
Here are a few sites I strongly recommend:
1. MUSCLE BUILDING 2. BODYWEIGHT TRAINING 3. DUMBELL TRAINING
