When someone first looks at how to learn karate, self defense and fitness are normally the main reasons, but when first attending karate lessons for beginners, it should be remembered that karate is a striking art, even karate for beginners!
As karate is primarily a striking art, I have always believed in punch bag, focus pad, kick shield and makiwara, training.
You may disagree, but one of my primary objectives with new and experienced karateka, is to encourage them to hit fast and hard. Not only is this an essential part of a striking art, such as karate, it's also good fun!
I am still shocked at how many karateka are not training with, punch bags, focus pads or makiwara!
I do not practice Shotokan karate just for fighting, I love everything about karate, kata, kihon and kumite, if I wanted fighting I would join a MMA gym, they take the best fighting techniques from all the martial arts and put them to practical use in the ring or cage.
Our karate dojo is a traditional shotokan dojo and the majority of our training is the three k's, kata, kihon and kumite. But we do use focus pads and kick shields quite regularly and everyone at our dojo enjoys pad training.
Take boxing, a very physical sport, the fighter everyone fears, is the fighter that can knock people out, fighters like this are obviously the most dangerous ones to fight.
Lets put it another way, you have a choice, you can fight boxer number 1. He has one all his last 10 fights on points, he is technically very skillful. Or you can fight boxer number 2. she has only won 6 of her last 10 fights, all 6 of the wins were by knockout in the first 3 rounds. (notice how I use he and she, if I didn't, my wife would ground and pound me while I was sleeping)
Which one would you prefer to fight? I know which one I would rather fight and it isn't number 2!
If you don't strike pads or bags, I encourage you to do so, not only will it help your karate, it's great fun!
Ossu
Linhuck
"Why waltz with a guy for 10 rounds if you can knock him out in one?"
Rocky Marciano Quote
Tuesday, 29 December 2009
Sunday, 27 December 2009
Learn Karate At Home - What grade are you?
What Karate Dan Grade Are You?
When people ask me what karate Dan grade I am, I always respond with the same answer, DESPERATE DAN!
Many years ago, in ancient China, oh! Sorry, I’m getting carried away here. I'll start that again, several years ago I attended a seminar in London, England, there was a selection of Japanese Karate masters, all were brilliant.
There were hundreds of Karate practitioners, all ages and all grades. The Dojo captain shouted, 'Line up' and we all moved to where we thought our Karate Dan grade equivalents would be standing.
I remember looking towards the top of the line and there were some awesome Karate legends in the line, Terry O'neill, Bob Poynton and several others. There was also a group of very senior looking Karateka, their black belts were extremely worn, they had a certain look of authority about them, but they also looked worried and were standing down near the 1st and 2nd Dans.
The karate training began, warm up and stretch lasted maybe 20 minutes, then onto Kihon (basics), the theme of the seminar was to be a particular Kata (form). I will refrain from mentioning the Kata being taught, because a lot of karate seniors will know what seminar I am referring to, because they were probably on it, not that I’m saying they were the group I am going to talk about, because there were some hot Karateka on the course. I later realized that these paper martial artists were only on the course because it was a Kata seminar, if it had been Kumite (fighting), they would definitely have stayed at home.
I was near this group of what I thought were senior karate instructors, I was still wondering why they were down my end of the Black belt lines when I suddenly noticed one of them execute a sort of, reverse punch, it was weak, slow and with about as much focus as my 1 year old son has, when he’s watching the CNN news channel.
I know what you’re thinking, why wasn’t I concentrating on my Karate, all I can say is SHOCK!
There was 5 or 6 senior karate instructors in the group and in my opinion, they were awful, nice guys, but their karate was of a very poor standard. I later found out that the lowest grade in the group was Godan (5th Dan). Now I’m not the best in the world but when my instructor packed his bags and moved away, he said to me, ‘Linden, always train with the best, because there’s a lot of s**t out there’. I now know what my instructor was talking about.
Now there is a point to this story, thank god I here you all say. Because of this event happening all those years ago when I was still a teenager, I decided wasn’t going to test ever again, what a PRATT I was, I stayed Nidan(2nd Dan) for 15 years because in my mind I thought the Karate ranking system was a joke.
A great karate man changed my mind, he said, ‘ It’s all about you! Do not worry what everyone else is doing, it’s what it means to you that’s important, now go and grade.
I now realize more than ever that Karate is a one man/woman journey, it’s your journey and I wish you the best of luck.
Ossu,
Linden Huckle The Karate Way
When people ask me what karate Dan grade I am, I always respond with the same answer, DESPERATE DAN!
Many years ago, in ancient China, oh! Sorry, I’m getting carried away here. I'll start that again, several years ago I attended a seminar in London, England, there was a selection of Japanese Karate masters, all were brilliant.
There were hundreds of Karate practitioners, all ages and all grades. The Dojo captain shouted, 'Line up' and we all moved to where we thought our Karate Dan grade equivalents would be standing.
I remember looking towards the top of the line and there were some awesome Karate legends in the line, Terry O'neill, Bob Poynton and several others. There was also a group of very senior looking Karateka, their black belts were extremely worn, they had a certain look of authority about them, but they also looked worried and were standing down near the 1st and 2nd Dans.
The karate training began, warm up and stretch lasted maybe 20 minutes, then onto Kihon (basics), the theme of the seminar was to be a particular Kata (form). I will refrain from mentioning the Kata being taught, because a lot of karate seniors will know what seminar I am referring to, because they were probably on it, not that I’m saying they were the group I am going to talk about, because there were some hot Karateka on the course. I later realized that these paper martial artists were only on the course because it was a Kata seminar, if it had been Kumite (fighting), they would definitely have stayed at home.
I was near this group of what I thought were senior karate instructors, I was still wondering why they were down my end of the Black belt lines when I suddenly noticed one of them execute a sort of, reverse punch, it was weak, slow and with about as much focus as my 1 year old son has, when he’s watching the CNN news channel.
I know what you’re thinking, why wasn’t I concentrating on my Karate, all I can say is SHOCK!
There was 5 or 6 senior karate instructors in the group and in my opinion, they were awful, nice guys, but their karate was of a very poor standard. I later found out that the lowest grade in the group was Godan (5th Dan). Now I’m not the best in the world but when my instructor packed his bags and moved away, he said to me, ‘Linden, always train with the best, because there’s a lot of s**t out there’. I now know what my instructor was talking about.
Now there is a point to this story, thank god I here you all say. Because of this event happening all those years ago when I was still a teenager, I decided wasn’t going to test ever again, what a PRATT I was, I stayed Nidan(2nd Dan) for 15 years because in my mind I thought the Karate ranking system was a joke.
A great karate man changed my mind, he said, ‘ It’s all about you! Do not worry what everyone else is doing, it’s what it means to you that’s important, now go and grade.
I now realize more than ever that Karate is a one man/woman journey, it’s your journey and I wish you the best of luck.
Ossu,
Linden Huckle The Karate Way
Thursday, 24 December 2009
The Difference Between A Man of Do (The Way) and a Little Man
Many years ago, my sensei told me a story,
A student once asked his sensei, "What is the difference between a man of Do (the way) and a little man?" The sensei replies, "It is simple. When the little man receives his first dan black belt, he can hardly wait to run home and shout at the top of his voice to tell everyone that he has obtained his first dan. Upon receiving his second dan, he will climb to the rooftops and shout to the people. Upon receiving his third dan black belt, he will jump in his car and parade through town blowing the horn, telling one and all about his third dan".
The sensei continues, "When the man of Do (the way) receives his first dan, he will bow his head in gratitude. Upon receiving his second dan, he will bow his head and his shoulders. Upon receiving his third dan, he will bow at the waist and quietly walk alongside the wall so that people will not see him or notice him".
In this materialistic world, karate-ka who follow the way, are few, but to me, the above story epitomises a good martial artisit. The older I get, the more I realise, character is everything!
Ossu
Linden Huckle
learn karate
A student once asked his sensei, "What is the difference between a man of Do (the way) and a little man?" The sensei replies, "It is simple. When the little man receives his first dan black belt, he can hardly wait to run home and shout at the top of his voice to tell everyone that he has obtained his first dan. Upon receiving his second dan, he will climb to the rooftops and shout to the people. Upon receiving his third dan black belt, he will jump in his car and parade through town blowing the horn, telling one and all about his third dan".
The sensei continues, "When the man of Do (the way) receives his first dan, he will bow his head in gratitude. Upon receiving his second dan, he will bow his head and his shoulders. Upon receiving his third dan, he will bow at the waist and quietly walk alongside the wall so that people will not see him or notice him".
In this materialistic world, karate-ka who follow the way, are few, but to me, the above story epitomises a good martial artisit. The older I get, the more I realise, character is everything!
Ossu
Linden Huckle
learn karate
Tuesday, 22 December 2009
Learn Karate at Home?
Is it possible to learn karate at home? If you are thinking about starting karate, getting some online information, is a good idea. With some online tutorials, you will be able to understand what to expect if you attend a karate club.
But if you have some video instruction, I only recommend using them at the same time you attend classes conducted by a qualified karate instructor and the moves you practice, will be basics (kihon) or forms (kata).
Karate is an incredible art form that has developed over thousands of years of evolution giving us the karate we have today. There are thousands of karate for beginners classes starting every day, where people, young and old start to learn karate for the first time.
Karate classes usually start with a warm up, followed by a full body stretch. This alone is great for health and well being, keeping the body soft and supple is a fantastic thing, especially in your later years.
Next will come basic karate moves (kihon), blocking, punching, kicking, etc. These are practiced on the spot, or stepping forward, back and even at different angles in the many varied karate stances (dachi). These are the techniques you will be able to practice at home and get an idea of what karatedo (the way of karate) is all about.
So karate class training has the warm up and stretch, basics (kihon), next comes sparring (kumite). Now the word sparring is used loosely in karate because it usually means anytime you partner up to practice karate techniques. For example, you may partner up to practice a wrist grab and escape, this will be called kumite or sparring in the dojo (training hall). So try not to think that every time the word sparring (kumite) is used, you are going to partner up with a crazed black belt who is going to try and kill you!
After the warm up, basics and sparring, kata (forms) is usually practiced. Kata is a sequence of karate moves including, punches, kicks, strikes, jumps, spins, etc, that are strung together in a particular order, to create a pattern of techniques, similar to the gymnastics floor display.
To explain kata fully will need an article all on it's own, but to me kata is the most important element of karatedo. They say, kumite is the spirit of karate, but kata is the soul! And I agree.
So if you are practicing karate moves at home, trying to get a feel for karate, I wish you luck and urge you to attend a karate for beginners class as soon as possible. Good luck with your journey in the wonderful world that is karatedo! Ossu
But if you have some video instruction, I only recommend using them at the same time you attend classes conducted by a qualified karate instructor and the moves you practice, will be basics (kihon) or forms (kata).
Karate is an incredible art form that has developed over thousands of years of evolution giving us the karate we have today. There are thousands of karate for beginners classes starting every day, where people, young and old start to learn karate for the first time.
Karate classes usually start with a warm up, followed by a full body stretch. This alone is great for health and well being, keeping the body soft and supple is a fantastic thing, especially in your later years.
Next will come basic karate moves (kihon), blocking, punching, kicking, etc. These are practiced on the spot, or stepping forward, back and even at different angles in the many varied karate stances (dachi). These are the techniques you will be able to practice at home and get an idea of what karatedo (the way of karate) is all about.
So karate class training has the warm up and stretch, basics (kihon), next comes sparring (kumite). Now the word sparring is used loosely in karate because it usually means anytime you partner up to practice karate techniques. For example, you may partner up to practice a wrist grab and escape, this will be called kumite or sparring in the dojo (training hall). So try not to think that every time the word sparring (kumite) is used, you are going to partner up with a crazed black belt who is going to try and kill you!
After the warm up, basics and sparring, kata (forms) is usually practiced. Kata is a sequence of karate moves including, punches, kicks, strikes, jumps, spins, etc, that are strung together in a particular order, to create a pattern of techniques, similar to the gymnastics floor display.
To explain kata fully will need an article all on it's own, but to me kata is the most important element of karatedo. They say, kumite is the spirit of karate, but kata is the soul! And I agree.
So if you are practicing karate moves at home, trying to get a feel for karate, I wish you luck and urge you to attend a karate for beginners class as soon as possible. Good luck with your journey in the wonderful world that is karatedo! Ossu
Linden has been training and teaching karate for over 30 years and loves to share his knowledge and experiences in the martial arts. Supplement your dojo training with these free videos, karate lessons for beginners.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Linden_John
Thursday, 17 December 2009
Karate Training Tips
Here are some basic karate training tips to help with your practice of karatedo.
1. Relax. When someone first starts to learn karate, tension is everywhere. There is always tension in the mind and body with new karateka discovering how to learn karate. Try to relax, focus on technique at first, not speed and strength.
2. Breathing. A lot of time should be allocated to correct breathing during your karate classes. Concentrate on breathing in through the nose and out through the mouth. Breathe in on the preparation of a karate move or transition between steps or moves and out on the techniques execution.
Breathing should be silent. Inhale using the lower stomach muscles, filling the lower part of the lungs first, when breathing out, try not to use the chest to breath.
There are different types of breathing that are practiced in karate, breathing in fast and out fast, breathing in slowly and out fast, breathing in fast and out slow and breathing in and out slowly. These different breathing techniques are mainly used in the practice of kata.
Being in control of your breathing will enable you to control your mind, if you can control your mind, you can control your body!
3. Start Slowly. Try not to rush when learning new karate moves. Getting the karate techniques right initially, will help stop bad habits forming.
Repetition plays a big part of all karate classes, so if you are making some bad mistakes in your technique, over time, you will become good at these mistakes! When this happens, the mistakes becomes very difficult to correct.
1. Relax. When someone first starts to learn karate, tension is everywhere. There is always tension in the mind and body with new karateka discovering how to learn karate. Try to relax, focus on technique at first, not speed and strength.
2. Breathing. A lot of time should be allocated to correct breathing during your karate classes. Concentrate on breathing in through the nose and out through the mouth. Breathe in on the preparation of a karate move or transition between steps or moves and out on the techniques execution.
Breathing should be silent. Inhale using the lower stomach muscles, filling the lower part of the lungs first, when breathing out, try not to use the chest to breath.
There are different types of breathing that are practiced in karate, breathing in fast and out fast, breathing in slowly and out fast, breathing in fast and out slow and breathing in and out slowly. These different breathing techniques are mainly used in the practice of kata.
Being in control of your breathing will enable you to control your mind, if you can control your mind, you can control your body!
3. Start Slowly. Try not to rush when learning new karate moves. Getting the karate techniques right initially, will help stop bad habits forming.
Repetition plays a big part of all karate classes, so if you are making some bad mistakes in your technique, over time, you will become good at these mistakes! When this happens, the mistakes becomes very difficult to correct.
Linden has been training and teaching karate for over 30 years and loves to share his knowledge and experiences from the karate dojo. Supplement your karate training with these free online videos, karate lessons for beginners.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Linden_John
Monday, 7 December 2009
learn karate moves
Can one really learn karate moves online? Karate training is becoming very popular, but very few practice karate seriously and the people who do, learn karate at home along side their dojo training. Karate for beginners consists of very basic karate moves, advancing to combinations and advanced techniques.
Check out these free karate for beginners videos.
Check out these free karate for beginners videos.
Sunday, 22 November 2009
Karate For Kids
My oldest child trains in karate and she loves it! She is only eight years old, but seems to pick the karate moves up faster than many of the adults.
Many parents ask, why learn karate?
To me, once you find a good karate club, it really is a no brainer. Fitness, self defense, confidence, flexibility, etc.
In this age of laziness, there is nothing better for kids than getting them to learn karate, in fact, there's nothing better for adults either.
Many parents ask, why learn karate?
To me, once you find a good karate club, it really is a no brainer. Fitness, self defense, confidence, flexibility, etc.
In this age of laziness, there is nothing better for kids than getting them to learn karate, in fact, there's nothing better for adults either.
Saturday, 21 November 2009
Why Learn Karate?
Why Do I Practice Karate?
You must enjoy you training, as I have said before, life's short, make the most of it!
I do not practice karate just for fitness, fighting, character building, socialising, a hobby, or any of the many advertised reasons.
I love karate, I practice karate because I want too and because of a combination of all the above reasons.
Why do you eat chocolate? It's not because it's healthy, it's not because you have too, I would hope, it's because you like it, well, that's the same reason I practice karate.
If I just wanted fitness, I would join a gym, if I just wanted fighting, I would practice no holds barred fighting, if I just wanted character building, I would join a monastery, if I just wanted socialising, I would go clubbing and if I just wanted a hobby, I would choose an easy one!
I have had lots of people tell me why, for fitness, I should be doing this or that, for fighting, I should be doing this and that, I have been told I shouldn't be doing kata, because it doesn't help in a fight, but I don't care if it works or not. For character building I should do this. Linden you should do this, do that.
I say to most of them (in my mind, because I don't like to be rude), please go away, or words to that effect. I like what I'm doing, you go off and do what you want to do, I'm happy for you.
As everybody knows, in life there's always someone waiting to give you advice, waiting to let you know how you should be living your life, they can't wait to tell you their way and how you to can be just like them!
The hard part, is knowing the difference between good advice and poor advice. But remember good advice to one, can be bad advice to another.
I always listen to people's advice, the people that make sense to me, great, I'll take their good advice and implement it, the people who don't make sense, can take their advice and beep, beep, beep it!
I look for people that like training the same way as me. When you have a group of people that all want to practice martial arts the same way, not only is it a great feeling, it's also very powerful.
I do listen to people, but most of what I hear, I don't like. That's not to say that what they're saying is rubbish, it just doesn't make sense to me.
People should first determine what they want from the martial arts, the way to do this is to try different clubs, styles and instructors. It shouldn't take long to find the right martial arts school for you.
If you want to cage fight, mixed martial arts is the way, if you want slow gentle movement, Tai chi is probably the way, if you want to keep fit, go to aerobics, etc, etc.
So, in a nutshell, the reason I practice karate is because I want too.
Ossu
Linden Huckle
how to learn karate blog
You must enjoy you training, as I have said before, life's short, make the most of it!
I do not practice karate just for fitness, fighting, character building, socialising, a hobby, or any of the many advertised reasons.
I love karate, I practice karate because I want too and because of a combination of all the above reasons.
Why do you eat chocolate? It's not because it's healthy, it's not because you have too, I would hope, it's because you like it, well, that's the same reason I practice karate.
If I just wanted fitness, I would join a gym, if I just wanted fighting, I would practice no holds barred fighting, if I just wanted character building, I would join a monastery, if I just wanted socialising, I would go clubbing and if I just wanted a hobby, I would choose an easy one!
I have had lots of people tell me why, for fitness, I should be doing this or that, for fighting, I should be doing this and that, I have been told I shouldn't be doing kata, because it doesn't help in a fight, but I don't care if it works or not. For character building I should do this. Linden you should do this, do that.
I say to most of them (in my mind, because I don't like to be rude), please go away, or words to that effect. I like what I'm doing, you go off and do what you want to do, I'm happy for you.
As everybody knows, in life there's always someone waiting to give you advice, waiting to let you know how you should be living your life, they can't wait to tell you their way and how you to can be just like them!
The hard part, is knowing the difference between good advice and poor advice. But remember good advice to one, can be bad advice to another.
I always listen to people's advice, the people that make sense to me, great, I'll take their good advice and implement it, the people who don't make sense, can take their advice and beep, beep, beep it!
I look for people that like training the same way as me. When you have a group of people that all want to practice martial arts the same way, not only is it a great feeling, it's also very powerful.
I do listen to people, but most of what I hear, I don't like. That's not to say that what they're saying is rubbish, it just doesn't make sense to me.
People should first determine what they want from the martial arts, the way to do this is to try different clubs, styles and instructors. It shouldn't take long to find the right martial arts school for you.
If you want to cage fight, mixed martial arts is the way, if you want slow gentle movement, Tai chi is probably the way, if you want to keep fit, go to aerobics, etc, etc.
So, in a nutshell, the reason I practice karate is because I want too.
Ossu
Linden Huckle
how to learn karate blog
How To Learn karate
If you wish to discover how to learn karate, check out these free karate for beginners videos. They cover karate basics and etiquette.
Karate is excellent exercise for all ages, covering fitness, stretching, philosophy, self defence, etc.
Choose a karate school wisely, I recommend you trial a few karate classes before joining, you will soon know if the karate sensei (teacher).
Karate is excellent exercise for all ages, covering fitness, stretching, philosophy, self defence, etc.
Choose a karate school wisely, I recommend you trial a few karate classes before joining, you will soon know if the karate sensei (teacher).
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)