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U.R.K.A. Summer Camp Favorites
The biggest event of the year for the United Ryukyu Kempo Alliance is the Summer Camp at the Headquarters dojo. I attended the U.R.K.A. Summer Camp for the first time in 2002 and I was totally impressed. Here are my top five favorite things about it. U.R.K.A. Summer Camp and Camaraderie The people, the brotherhood…
Read MoreKarate Moms: We Love Them So
Our dojo would be a sad place if karate moms were not an active part of it. Not only do they support their kids in getting to class. They facilitate making sure karate tuition is paid. And they try their best, even when it’s a hectic day, to get their children to the dojo on…
Read MoreJapan’s Children’s Day
Because we teach Okinawan martial arts, and because our kids’ karate program is popular, our dojo takes an interest in Japan’s Children’s Day. A friend visited Japan recently and spoke about the carp flags flying in preparation of this holiday. It takes place as the third and last national holiday in Japan’s Golden Week. May…
Read MoreRyukyu 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 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 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 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…
Read MoreKata Builds Self Defense
If you have ever seen several martial artists doing the same series of moves together, that was likely a kata. With the correct understanding, this type of training helps the student build the correct form, or body positioning. When done properly, as intended in a life protection art, kata builds self defense. It is the…
Read MorePhysical Fitness and Stamina thru Karate
Karate is a great way to improve physical fitness and stamina. Its many payoffs include a lot of health improvement. This article from Health Fitness Revolution mentions 10 martial arts health benefits. Half of their 10 benefits relate to physical fitness and stamina. Those are: total body workout, improved cardiovascular health, weight loss, improved reflexes and muscle tone. At…
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