Posts Tagged ‘traditional Okinawan karate’

A Peaceful and Free World: An Okinawan Ideal

This Guiding Principle contains some of the most powerful words in Nakamura Sensei’s instructional document. Especially considering the tumultuous struggles of Ryukyu history. Even after all of the turbulence, Nakamura O Sensei still held high the ideal of a peaceful and free world. In fact, he instructed his students (and by extension, traditional martial artists in current times) to build such a world.

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Martial Artists Together in Brotherhood

As one of very few female karateka in our dojo, and (at that time) the only adult female, I wondered what exactly it meant “to bring sincere martial artists together in brotherhood.” It was that word brotherhood that made me curious. Did it mean that I was excluded? Was this a man’s thing? 

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The Ryukyu Kingdom and Freedom

I love training in traditional karate for many reasons. One of those is the culture of the Ryukyu* people. These island dwellers have strong values that are worth learning about and promoting. One of those things that they value, and have valued highly for hundreds of years, is freedom. A History of Freedom George H.…

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Training Inspiration: Quotes for Karateka

“If we could change ourselves, the tendencies in the world would also change. As a man changes his own nature, so does the attitude of the world change towards him. …” -Mohandas Gandhi. I’d like to add to the Gandhi quote that the only one who can change me is me. That’s because the only one…

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Why Young Karate Kids Benefit from Training

“At what age can a child start karate?” That is one of the most common questions I’m asked about karate, as an instructor in a Little Dragons early childhood karate program. I’m asked that question by potential dojo parents as well as acquaintances making conversation.

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