Why Most Traditional Martial Arts are Outdated
Posted January 30th, 2009Armando Sainz asked: There was a time when the karate man was looked upon with respect and feared. A time when, if someone said they were a black belt, it caused others to be impressed. You can say that karate has become outdated. But what has really happened is that karate has become exposed. There [...]
Wado Ryu Karate – General Background
Posted January 29th, 2009Thanaseelan asked: History:Hironori Ohtsuka (1892 – 1982) was the founder of the Wado Ryu system of Karate. He commenced training in shindo yoshin ryu jujitsu at the age of 6, and at the age of 30, he began training under the supervision of Gichin Funakoshi (the founder of Karate-do) before founding the Wado Ryu system [...]
Karate Yells – From Feeble Squeak To Fearsome Roar
Posted January 28th, 2009Yoshi Kundagawa asked: One of the first things I learned when I started taking karate (other than knuckle pushups) was the famous karate yell.My white belt class spends a great deal of time bowing to the master, crouching in a “Karate Kid” style stance, and punching the air while grunting.These alternating punches end with a [...]
The Myth of the Ultimate Martial Arts Drill
Posted January 28th, 2009Sensei J. Richard Kirkham B.Sc. asked: There seems to be a prevalent myth that a common martial arts drill is some kind of ultimate drill. That if you become adept at this drill, you’ll be able to defend yourself in any type of attack in the street. Martial arts instructors have developed drills to improve [...]
Karate Uniform, Karate Gear: What Does Your Karate Kid Need For Her First Class?
Posted January 28th, 2009Paul A. Walker asked: So you got your kid enrolled in your local martial arts school, congratulations! This is the first step to a rewarding journey for both you and her. You probably have a few worries about what lies ahead but at the same time you’re probably really excited to see your child get [...]
Blending Soft Style Wing Chun with Hard Style Martial Arts
Posted January 27th, 2009Calasanz Martinez asked: I am one of those martial artists who have broken away from my traditional routes and have created my own system. It is not an easy road and there are many people who resent this breaking of tradition. But my love for the martial arts, and my drive to seek truth and [...]
The Karate Belt Rainbow: What Do The Different Colors Really Mean?
Posted January 27th, 2009Paul A. Walker asked: You have probably already realized that martial artists use different colored belts to designate rank. Has it always been this way? Is there a specific order to the belt colors? What about all of these stripes that you keep seeing? What do the different colors really mean? Stand by for the [...]
Only Real Martial Arts Stop Rapists
Posted January 15th, 2009Chris Pizzo asked: One of my favorite stories to tell is about the time my brother-in-law’s girlfriend got her black belt in karate…She had her big flashy test…kicked the bag…sparred other girls (and a couple of guys that looked like girls!) with the foam booties and gloves on…did her kata with the appropriate “snap” in [...]
Five Common Mistakes That New Karate Instructors Make
Posted January 8th, 2009Paul A. Walker asked: Becoming an instructor in a martial arts school is often a really exciting time because in many ways you feel like you have made it. In order to teach others you must have already mastered the basic content and now is your chance to “give back” your knowledge and continue the [...]
The Hidden Costs Of Choosing The Wrong Style Of Martial Arts Karate
Posted January 8th, 2009Paul A. Walker asked: A lot of people nowadays are getting into the martial arts and choosing a school without even knowing which style of martial arts the school teaches. Some schools are not totally clear on what their style is as many are practicing and teaching a hybrid mix of multiple arts. Is this [...]