| The best course of action to take sometimes isn't | | | | with assistant referees at the side of the sparring |
| clear until you've listed and considered your | | | | area. Sparring matches are typically divided by weight, |
| alternatives. The following article should help clue you in | | | | age, gender, and experience. |
| to what the experts think is significant. The most | | | | Training is important in Karate as well as concentration |
| important thing is to study with an open mind and be | | | | because while it may be easy to create a centered |
| willing to revise your understanding if necessary. | | | | being when inside a martial arts gym, the same cannot |
| Karate (空手) or karate-dō | | | | be said of situations and circumstances outside. |
| (空手道) is one of the most | | | | Controlled breathing is one key to being one with the |
| fascinating martial art in the world today. For me, there | | | | universe and to center oneself with nature. |
| is not any martial art that is as flexible and enjoyable | | | | In studying karate-dō |
| as sport. Karate as a martial art was developed and | | | | (空手道), it is important to |
| diversified in Japan. Karate is NOT an expression of | | | | remember that along with building physical strength to |
| aggression. Karate is not about violence at all. It is | | | | be able to defeat your opponent the mental capacity |
| about respect, disciplin of mind and body, confidence, | | | | should also be developed. Just like in any art, it takes a |
| control of oneself, and ends with courtesy and leads | | | | lot of practice and discipline to perfect the art of |
| to Wa-No-Michi (peace in one's life). | | | | Karate (空手). The important thing is the |
| Ankō Itosu (糸洲 | | | | one who wants to get into the art should have |
| 安恒, Itosu Ankō, Itosu Yasutsune | | | | determination to give honor to the art by performing it |
| in Japanese) is considered by many the father of | | | | in the best way possible. |
| modern karate, although this title is also often given to | | | | It seems like new information is discovered about |
| Gichin Funakoshi (船越 | | | | something every day. And the topic of martial art is no |
| 義珍 Funakoshi Gichin) because the | | | | exception. Keep reading to get more fresh news |
| latter spread karate throughout Japan. | | | | about martial art. |
| Modern karate training is commonly divided into kihon | | | | The Ultimate Collection of Martial Arts and |
| (basics or fundamentals techniques: blocking, punching, | | | | Self-Defence eBooks Pack you will find here: - This |
| striking, and kicking), kata (formal exercises which | | | | extremely rare Collection will help you become a |
| combine basic karate techniques - blocking, punching, | | | | master in Martial Arts... |
| striking, and kicking - into a series of predetermined | | | | So now you know a little bit about karate-dō |
| movements. ), and kumite (sparring). | | | | (空手道). Even if you don't know |
| A karate practitioner is called a karateka | | | | everything, you've done something worthwhile: you've |
| (空手家). The karateka must | | | | expanded your knowledge. |
| apply proper karate techniques, demonstrate correct | | | | Enjoy, and in the words of Gichin Funakoshi: |
| power and speed, and, above all, exercise good | | | | " The aim of training reflects the precept expressed |
| control -- contact is prohibited. The karateka may | | | | by the words - although the doorway is small, go |
| freely engage his physical and mental powers, but | | | | deeply inward... Once a kata has been learned, it must |
| must strictly control his attacks -- contact is prohibited. | | | | be practiced repeatedly until it can be applied in an |
| The karateka must be well-trained and disciplined | | | | emergency, for knowledge of just the sequence of a |
| enough to make a powerful blow that stops just | | | | form in karate is useless... Train systematically, without |
| before it reaches its target. | | | | becoming impatient... Develop gradually, advancing |
| Karate competition has three disciplines: sparring | | | | steadily, one step at a time... " |
| (kumite), empty-handed forms (kata), and weapons | | | | Copyright © Anne-Marie Ronsen |
| forms (kobudō kata). Competitors may enter | | | | You have permission to publish this article electronically, |
| either as individuals or as part of a team. Evaluation for | | | | in print, in your ebook or on your web site, free of |
| kata and kobudo is performed by a panel of judges, | | | | charge, as long as the author bylines are included. |
| whereas sparring is judged by a head referee, usually | | | | |