| In the world of martial arts, karate is a relative new | | | | learn how to block or evade an oncoming attack, then |
| comer. Although its roots go back over 1,000 years to | | | | counter with a punch or kick of your own. With just |
| the Shaolin province of China, karate as it is today | | | | your empty hands and feet you can protect yourself |
| was not developed until the early twentieth century in | | | | and overcome an opponent regardless of how much |
| Okinawa, Japan. It was during that time that four | | | | bigger or stronger they are. |
| martial arts masters developed the forms of karate | | | | Although karate is classified as a fighting art, its guiding |
| that are still taught today. These are called Okinawan | | | | philosophy makes it clear that its purpose is self |
| karate. They are: Goju-ryu, Shito-ryu, Shotokan, and | | | | defense. The karate philosophy states that karate |
| Wado-ryu. Thought these four karates have many | | | | never attack first. In fact, students are taught that the |
| similarities, they are distinctively different. | | | | best defense is to avoid the conflict completely. It is |
| Later, in the 1950's a newer form of karate was | | | | much better to talk your way out of the fight, or even |
| developed called Kenpo karate. Based on the forms | | | | to run away to avoid the fight, but when all else fails, |
| found in Okinawan karate, it was a much more | | | | and the use of force is inevitable, you must be ready |
| complicated form of karate. | | | | to act quickly and decisively. |
| Borrowing heavily from the forms and techniques of | | | | Karate is built on respect both toward others, and for |
| other martial arts such as kung fu and jujitsu, karate | | | | yourself. As you learn karate, you will notice your |
| focused on providing a means of self defense without | | | | feelings about yourself changing. The workouts |
| the use of weapons. In fact, the name karate means | | | | required to become proficient in the techniques and |
| "way of the empty hand". Although advance karate | | | | katas will make your body stronger, you will have |
| students do learn to use weapons in their fighting | | | | more endurance, and you will have lower body fat. |
| routines, the emphasis is on fighting with an empty | | | | You will soon begin to feel better about yourself |
| hand. | | | | physically. |
| When you first learn karate, you are taught several | | | | You will also begin to see changes psychologically and |
| basic techniques. You will be required to practice these | | | | emotionally. Not only will you gain confidence from |
| techniques in class and on your own, until you can do | | | | knowing that you have the knowledge to use your |
| them without hesitation. The moves should come | | | | empty hand to protect yourself and drive away an |
| quickly and smoothly. After these beginning techniques | | | | attacker, but you will begin a pattern of success based |
| are learned, more techniques are added, and you begin | | | | on effort and self discipline. |
| to learn how to put the individual techniques together in | | | | Learning karate - the way of the empty hand - is an |
| a series of choreographed moves, called kata. | | | | excellent way to not only learn to defend yourself, but |
| In learning the different katas, you learn how to | | | | also as a way to build yourself up physically and |
| transition quickly form one technique to the next. You | | | | emotionally. Find a school near you and give it a try. |