Kategori

Ads Here

Monday, June 23, 2014

Interesting Facts About Karate

By Leigh Metopher


Karate is an ancient martial art that originated on the island of Okinawa in Japan. The word karate actually means "hand," and while punching and striking are important components of karate, kicking and knee strikes also important elements that students will learn during their training.

In Okinawa, karate was developed during the 1300s in the years of the Ryukyu Kingdom. It wasn't brought to the mainland of Japan until after the turn of the 20th century. However, it quickly became very popular and within 15 years of its arrival, a karate club was established at Keio University and just ten years later, most Japanese universities had clubs devoted to karate. Karate became popular in the United States after World War II. Soldiers stationed in Okinawa were exposed to karate and began taking lessons and developing an interest in this art. In 1945, the first American school of karate opened in Phoenix and today, there are thousands of dojos throughout the United States.

There are many different types or styles of karate. For instance, you might hear a practitioner say they are a student of Kyokushin karate or perhaps Shotokan karate. There are more than one dozen different types of karate, not to mention the fact that karate skills often are incorporated into mixed martial arts.

As you probably know, as you progress in your study of karate, you work to earn different levels of belts. In order to reach each new belt, certain skills must be mastered. Beginners have a white belt, and these students are working toward earning a yellow belt. From there, the progression moves from orange to green, and then you attempt to earn a purple belt, a brown belt, a red belt and with much hard work and commitment, a black belt. There are also degrees of black belts for those who continue to progress in the art.

While it's always encouraged to work hard and move up in the ranks of belts, karate is not just about earning belts or fighting. Many people confuse martial arts with aggression, and certainly one will learn how to fight during karate training. However, the goal is not aggression but self-control and self-defense. The focus is on improving your mental focus, self-confidence and overall physical condition. Karate teaches discipline and teaches one to respect yourself and others.

For those seeking a school of martial arts in Carlsbad or a school of martial arts in Encinitas, Team Mai might be just what you need. Students from age four and up are welcome to take classes, and the focus is always on learning respect, improving discipline and instilling a sense of confidence in each student. Through karate classes, your child will learn crucial self-defense skills as well as improving their physical ability and improving their overall self-esteem.




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment

Featured Post