Ryukyu Kempo’s Core Principles 4-5
In the United Ryukyu Kempo Alliance, we apply five core principles to our martial arts training. These principles also help us to be more effective and successful in other areas of life. In my last blog, we covered the first three principles with both martial arts and life examples. Here we will finish up with…
Read MoreRyukyu Kempo’s Core Principles 1-3
The U.R.K.A. is a unique martial arts organization for many reasons. One of them is its promotion and use of Ryukyu Kempo’s core principles to enhance training. With understanding, these concepts become ingrained in practitioners and allow them to improve their lives in all areas. Here are the first three of five core principles and…
Read MoreKarate For Girls and its Benefits
The benefits and offerings of traditional Okinawan karate apply to all genders and ages. However, I can speak from the female point of view when I say that karate for girls is exceptionally powerful. My first exposure to martial arts was a recreation center’s aikido class. Then I started ongoing training as a young woman…
Read MoreDojo Support Ten Ways
Your karate school needs your dojo support. A dojo is not a mat or even a building. But it is the people who are a part of it. Without the people a dojo doesn’t exist. And the students and their families are its most important asset. Here are ten ways you can help your dojo…
Read MoreTraditional Okinawan Weapons
In our weekly Okinawan weapons classes, we train in more standard martial arts weapons. United Ryukyu Kempo Alliance camps allow for a wider variety of black belt instructors. That opens up workshops in more of the traditional weapons for training. OKINAWAN WEAPONS FOR BEGINNERS At our dojo, all students need to learn some bo techniques…
Read MoreGround Fighting at Our Dojo
Our dojo offers ground fighting classes as enrichment to training. Not all traditional karate schools do. However, rolls, falls and take downs were part of many ancient Okinawan styles. We continue to preserve some of these basics in our curriculum of karate classes. Plus, many of our students appreciate rounding out their training with the…
Read MoreBogu Kumite Sparring for Self Defense
Bogu kumite are Japanese words describing the type of full contact sparring studied by the United Ryukyu Kempo Alliance. Bogu is talking about armor, it’s made up of the words bo: protect, and gu: equipment. If you are going to participate in full contact sparring, it is vital to wear the right protective gear. Kumite…
Read MoreSeniors: Improve Your Quality of Life with Simple Changes to Your Day
Reaching your golden years gives you a freedom you’ve never had the opportunity to experience before. Unfortunately, it is not without its downside, and you’ll need to pay extra attention to your health in order to live your best life. From staving off depression to ensuring that you’re enrolled in the right Medicare plan, taking…
Read MoreSparring Light Contact: Why do We do it?
Our dojo inherited our light contact sparring from our Kobayashi Shorin Ryu roots. The main targets are the side of the head, chest, abdomen and sides of the body above the belt. In this activity, we just touch with our strikes – both punches and kicks. Therefore, chest guards are not needed. Both partners wear helmets,…
Read MorePartner Drills for Self Defense
At East Valley Martial Arts, we practice many different partner drills to build self defense skills. I would like to share many of them here and how they improve defense abilities. A big safety layer at our school is competent supervision. In other words, do not try this on your own. You are liable for…
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