If you are a parent of a martial artist, a martial artist yourself or looking to enroll your child you don't want to miss this video. It will relieve many doubts about what the arts can do for you and your child1
A persons character represents their behavior and personality. It is how they act and react emotionaly, mentally and physically using mind and body. A persons character changes with their life experiences. The more a person uses life experiences and knowledge, the more they will grow in character.
Character in karate is used to define that a person can continually strive to grow emotionally and physically. It emphasizes the mind and body are developed together. A person can continually challenge themselves at any age and without regard to physical condition.
Sincerity
Sincerity is to be a real and genuine person who is free from falseness. In short, it is honesty. A person needs to be true and honest to everyone. It is to do the things a person has committed to and to admit to their own inabilities and to strive to grow in those inabilities.
The Japanese have often described sincerity as "Be faithful" or "Defend the paths of truth". In karate, sincerity encourages a person to be sincere and honest. Sincerity and honesty are a must in karate. If a lack of sincerity exists in karate, it will often lead to injury.
Effort
Effort is the exertion of physical and/or mental power. It is doing your best at all times to accomplish the desired task. Effort includes practiciing and working toward a desired goal without giving up. The little bumps along the way are learning curves to grow from but continued work can make the goal achievable.
A person must keep putting forth effort in karate or the training will go stale. Karate training is not an easy task and to succeed a person must give 100 percent at all times.
Etiquette
Etiquette is social behavior. It is how a person acts with regard to physical surroundings . It is proper actions used to show respect and courtesy in a given situation. A simple example is to say "please" and "thank you".
Karate requires etiquette due to the respect required on the training area to ward off injuries. Also etiquette shows respect to the martial arts, the sensei and the training area. The formal rules of etiquette are the foundation for training the mind and body to work together as one.
Self-Control
Self-Control is to exercise restraint and keep your own reactions under check. This includes reacting to a situation calmly and thoughtfully. It includes emotions and physical behavior.
Self-Control in karate is translated to have many meanings. The most favorite is by karate master Osamu Ozawa, "We shall be wary of foolishness". A person must control themselves to be able to indentify a foolish person and to not invite trouble through controlling our own behavior. Learning self-control is the first step toward controlling a confrontation.
Afterward
The first maxim, character, describes a persons personality. Sincerity, effort, etiquette and self-control are listed after character. These four all seem to be part of a persons character. They describe how our emotions and physical actions should be carried out within our mind and body. A persons sincerity, effort, etiquette and self-control are all part of a persons character.
Character - Continually striving to grow emotionally and mentally. No matter how old you are you can continue to grow as a person. "Polish up" your character and always try to become a better person.
Sincerity - Always try to be honest and truthful in all of life.
Effort - Truely trying to accomplish something. Always try to "do your best". Sometimes to accomplish something you have to practice (make the effort) to see it through.
Etiquette - The form of proper and sometimes formal behavior. In karate you always bow which shows courtesy.
Self-Control - Having control over yourself. Have control over your emotions will help you from getting mad at the drop of a hat. Have control over your body, just because you know karate doesn't mean you can just go around beating people up. You have to know when to fight and when to walk away in all situations of life. Control yourself and you can control many situations.
- Melissa Johnson Adult Karate Student - Hoopeston
Join us at the Hoopeston Lorraine Theater (324 E Main St.) on June 6th or 7th for the new Kung Fu Panda movie and get your first collector card!
Just by attending the movie you will receive the 1st Kung Fu Panda Collector Card of the 4-card series. Sign up at the table in the concession area for our free 2-week trial offer to start earning the other 3 cards.
When you come to class you will receive another collector card, come to 3 classes and get the whole set and it's all free!
Here are the cards in the series: 1st - Kung Fu Panda 2nd - Master Monkey 3rd - Master Shifu 4th - Master Tigress
Don't miss the opportunity to get all 4 cards, make sure you come to the movie on June 6th or 7th at the Hoopeston Lorraine Theater.
We have just added the Devon Theater in Attica and armed them with our collector cards so you can attend there and start collecting.
If you can't make it to either of the theaters just bring in your Kung-Fu Panda ticket stub to the karate school and we will honor your 2-week trial period.
Martial arts refers to any specific way of defending oneself. It is very hard to classify martial arts, since they have existed as long as humanity has been around. The average person thinks of Asian martial arts, such as taekwondo or karate. That is because the arts styles have been most thoroughly evolved and documented in Asia, with more specific moves and disciplines associated with each region.
If you want to get started with martial arts, it's a good idea to become familiar with all of the possibilities. You may find that you want to go for a specific martial art because it fits your abilities better.
The first type of martial arts deals mainly with striking with the legs or arms. Wing Chun is a classic Chinese form of martial arts, and deals mainly with fist strikes., as well as some weaponry. Muay Thai is perhaps the most brutal type of martial arts, as you will see if you watch any of the modern professional competitions on TV. Its strikes are characterized by being fast, brutal, and made by the 2 hardest parts of the body - the elbows and the knees. Another one is Taekwondo, the Korean martial art that is one of the most popular in the world. It is characterized by numerous kicks as the main form of striking.
Another type of martial sports focuses on throwing the opponent, or grappling them in order to incapacitate them as quickly as possible. If you are American, the first thing that should come to mind is wrestling. On the other hand, with the Asian arts you have many different disciplines.
Judo is extremely competitive, with the focus being to subdue the opponent right away, by using throws, holds, and chokes. It is of Japanese origin, and is another martial art with a huge following in the western world. Jujutsu is probably the most technical martial art, with great attention given to the distribution of force when blows are made.
Finally, there are many more types of martial arts that aren't about close combat. There are forms that focus on weaponry, such as kendo and fencing. There are still others that are not even violent, but more introspective. They focus on the health and spirit of the person. These styles have had influences on western cultures as well, from Chinese medicine to acupuncture. Martial arts can be used for many things, from self defense to health. So look into it, and see if you could stand to benefit from learning an art.
Here is an article by Laura Saunders that I thought was very worthy of sharing Karate's Benefits with you.
Read below: Admit it. When the going gets tough at home, we‘ve all plopped the kids in front of the television and breathed a sigh of relief. Finally, we can get started on dinner, maybe check email or sort that massive pile of laundry.
But when your five-year old yells at you ‘Mom, Kids Rule!‘ or your ten-year old horrifies you with language that would make a sailor blush, you realize there must be something amiss with what these ‘family programs‘ really teach our kids. And sadly, its happening all over the media today, from sports to cartoons, and our children are learning things that we, as parents, vowed we would never teach them. Old fashioned values like respect and self-discipline, seems to have been forgotten, replaced by the dreaded ‘bling bling‘ pop culture of today. Just the thought of your angelic three-year old morphing into a designer-clad, smart-mouthed, money-worshipping, me-obsessed, lay-about is enough to make any parent consider that threatening military school brochure, but there is a solution out there to consider. Martial Arts training.
From Ninja Turtles to The Karate Kid You and your kids have all seen the flying kicks, battle cries and mighty chops of their favorite TV characters, as they beat the bad guys to submission ‘ but, you may ask, how on earth can these acts of violence teach my child anything worthwhile? First, know that what you see on television (save perhaps the Karate Kid) is a far cry from what real martial arts are all about. The fact is, martial arts training is based on non-violence. Originating in Asia (mainly Japan, China and Korea, although Thailand and Vietnam have their own practices as well), martial arts range from a variety of types and styles, all of which are based on well-rounded, moral teachings. The beauty of learning martial arts is that it encompasses not just the physical aspect of the ‘sport‘, but mental and emotional lessons as well. Comparing that to other kid‘s activities and sports, where fierce competitiveness and ‘winning at all costs‘ seems to be the order of the day, it‘s not surprising that many children grapple with issues of self-esteem and misplaced aggression. Now imagine your child actually learning valuable life lessons, skills that he will take throughout life, laying the foundation for a happy, well-adjusted and fulfilled adult life. If only karate for kids was popular in the 70‘s, when I was growing up!
The Advantages ‘ Karate, and other martial arts for kids, builds confidence and self-esteem as well as self-discipline, respect, concentration and courtesy. ‘ Many martial arts schools also offer leadership courses for kids, in conjunction with their karate for kids programs, or similar lessons. ‘ Martial Arts is ideal for children who do not do well in team sports, giving them the ability to flourish this activity, while combining physical and mental practices. ‘ Many do not realize this, but it is a fact that martial arts training are safer than most school sports. ‘ Children with special needs, such as ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder), learning difficulties and hyperactivity are often recommended to participate in martial arts for kids because of the clear benefits in its structured training techniques.
Kung-Fu Master or Ninja Warrior? Before you sign up Junior for the first martial arts class you see, take some time to check out the different methods available, and match it with what you know would suit your child best. This is a good way to avoid any problems that may sprout from a conflict of your child‘s personality and the training techniques. Is your little Zach a sensitive soul? Then maybe a class that doesn‘t center on sparring (full-on kicks and punches training) but rather, slower, defensive maneuvers would fare better for him. Kids with an aggressive streak, however, may prefer the more forceful moves and thrive in competitive sparring.
Here‘s a quick primer on the kid-friendly martial arts training you‘re likely to find: Martial Arts From Japan Karate ‘ Uses defensive and aggressive moves ‘ Centers on building strength and endurance ‘ Involves chops, punches, kicks, strikes, blocking and sparring ‘ May use weapons
Jujitsu ‘ Uses defensive and aggressive moves ‘ Involves lots of sparring‘ Teaches a fair amount of weapons training
Aikido ‘ Uses a more ‘spiritual‘ and harmonious style in redirecting the aggression of the attacker as the form of defense, using throws, pins, rolls etc. ‘ Taught on the premise of disabling an aggressor without attacking, through your individual inner energy ‘ Does not involve sparring or competitions
Judo ‘ Uses gentle, ‘wrestling-like‘ movements ‘ Considered one of the safest methods of martial arts ‘ Emphasizes physical control as well as mental development‘ Engages in competitions
Martial Arts From China Kung-Fu ‘ The generic term referring to Chinese martial arts with a variety of styles‘ Involves attack movements as well as defensive techniques ‘ Teaches kicks, punches, chops, throws, falls, grappling, katas, leg sweeps and blows among others. ‘ Engages in sparring competitions
Martial Arts From Korea Taekwondo ‘ Competitive in nature, involves techniques using elaborate footwork and unique high kicks. ‘ Emphasizes strength, force and attack methods. ‘ Engages in lots of sparring and competitions.
Choosing The Right Instruction If you have an idea of the type of martial arts class you‘d like your child to participate in, the next step would be to find the right school. Finding the right class that not only matches your child‘s and your needs, in terms of teachers you feel comfortable with, the price, facilities and so on, are all important factors.
Say you‘ve found a local place that specializes in Karate for Kids. What are the things you should look for? 1. Good Instructors Check out their qualifications, teaching methods and watch carefully how they interact with the other children. It should be a fun learning experience! 2. Space and Safety Obviously you would want to entrust your child in as establishment that is safe, well-maintained, and clean with ample space as well as decent facilities and equipment. 3. School Values Different martial arts schools inevitably go by different values, for instance, one kid‘s karate class may handle aggression in one way, while a judo class would have a different approach. Take some time to observe which school‘s ideals match your family‘s principles. 4. Prices and Schedules Prices for martial arts training can vary according to school and location, so make sure you the instruction you choose represents fair value. Finding the most effective way to fit martial arts training into your family‘s lifestyle is also essential, knowing what works best with your schedule and other activities.
Baby Blackbelts Starting your child young in karate training is ideal (children as young as the age of four are usually accepted, as it is also a good way to hone fine motor skills), and lots of parents have found that in as little as a year, their children who were involved in martial arts had noticeably gained positive traits such as increased self-esteem, respect and overall physical fitness. Many parents also opt to join a martial arts training program themselves, making it a great bonding experience for the entire family.
About the author: Laura Saunders is a successful freelance writer, mother of two, and a martial arts practitioner who has written articles for http://www.best-karate-equipment.com, your online guide to karate uniforms and karate training equipment. Copyright 2005 Best-Karate-Equipment.com
A Letter to Parents
Character
Join us at the Hoopeston Lorraine Theater (324 E Main St.) on June 6th or 7th for the new Kung Fu Panda movie and get your first collector card!
Martial arts refers to any specific way of defending oneself. It is very hard to classify martial arts, since they have existed as long as humanity has been around. The average person thinks of Asian martial arts, such as taekwondo or karate. That is because the arts styles have been most thoroughly evolved and documented in Asia, with more specific moves and disciplines associated with each region.
Here is an article by Laura Saunders that I thought was very worthy of sharing Karate's Benefits with you.