Okinawa
How do I Love Karate? Let me Count the Ways
Here, I share my passion for traditional Okinawan karate! After over two decades of karate training, here is my countdown list of the things that I love.
Read MoreBenefits of Private Karate Training
There are benefits to both the instructor and the student in private martial arts training. Here are the top five benefits of private karate training.
Read MorePerseverance Picture Revealed
This is a picture of perseverance. Despite many varied obstacles and constraints, it was time for this kyu rank to test. So she tested, and she passed.
Read MoreHow to Introduce Young Kids to Karate
The younger the student, the more they need their parents’ support and help in getting the most out of training. Here are some ways that parents can help young kids who are not sure about starting karate.
Read MoreOkinawa Shuri Castle Photo a Favorite
This photo at Shuri Castle is one of my favorite group photos and general karate pictures. For me it symbolizes Ryukyu no shin – the heart of the Ryukyu Kingdom, or the heart of karate from Okinawa in current times.
Read MoreKarate helps you Lose Weight: Top 5 ways
Karate training is not a cure-all for obesity, yet if you have weight loss as a goal, there are many ways that karate helps you lose weight. Here are our top five.
Read MoreWhy Traditional Okinawan Karate?
In its early development, traditional Okinawan karate was strictly a way to protect one’s self and one’s family, as well as the community. Good traditional schools preserve that tradition so that modern practitioners are well able to do the same.
Read MoreWhat About Adults’ Karate?
When karate first came to America after WWII, it was primarily an activity for adults. The karate kid movie helped usher in the age of karate for children and we are still in that age. But adults’ karate is important and valuable.
Read MoreHow to Be a Good Karate Student
Although each dojo is unique, there are many universal ways to be a good karate student. I bring this up because I know a lot of karate students who greatly appreciate being a part of a dojo. Their training has changed their lives and they would like to give back and support their dojo. The same goes for appreciative parents who have children benefiting from karate.
Read MoreSymbol for Ryukyu on Karate Book Cover
The name for this symbol for Ryukyu is the mitsudomoe. Mitsudomoe has a literal meaning of “three comma-looking shapes.” The Ryukyu island chain makes up what used to be an independent country called the Ryukyu Kingdom.
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