Posts Tagged ‘karate training’
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 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…
Read MoreA Variety of Partners for Self Defense
Having a variety of partners for self defense training in karate is a benefit. Many people want the perfect training partner. And they want to train only with that person. But that’s not a good idea as I said in this article. I’ve seen that fleeting look in people’s eyes when they are paired off…
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…
Read MoreBuilding Awareness of Surroundings
The physical training of karate has many benefits. Awareness of surroundings is important for self defense. That is the ability to move around and among people and objects. And for martial artists that includes doing techniques in crowded or unusual places. AWARENESS OF SURROUNDINGS AND PEOPLE A basic level of awareness of surroundings and people…
Read MoreTraditions for a Dojo New Year
The New Year in Japan is a time of renewal and celebration, just like in other countries. At our dojo, we enjoy special traditions for entering a dojo new year together. Our traditions come from Japanese culture and martial arts. LAST CLASS BEFORE A DOJO NEW YEAR One way that we celebrate a dojo new…
Read MoreKarate Builds Self Defense Abilities
All traditional Okinawan karate builds self defense abilities in many ways. Karate in the way we train at our dojo teaches a high level of self defense. With skill, that expands into life protection. Meaning you can protect others as well as your self. We teach those skills in both adults’ classes and kids’ classes.…
Read MoreTraditional Martial Arts vs. Sport Karate
Originally, and I mean way back, traditional martial arts took their place as the only fighting art. Their usefulness had to do with protecting one’s self, family and community. The martial arts evolved into art forms for people to learn a tradition of life protection while improving their lives. More recently, some martial arts branched…
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