Ossu

Shotokan karate is one of the most popular of modern styles. It is the most powerful and dynamic of the Japanese systems, and is generally considered to be the most comprehensive, both in the range of its techniques and the number and diversity of its kata.

Karate itself, originated not from Japan (as most people think) but from a tiny island called Okinawa. Okinawa is now a part of Japan but used to be a part of a small cluster of islands collectively called The Ryukyu Kingdom.

It has had a number of different names such as: Te, something i cant remember but it means Chinese hand and finally Karate, literally meaning empty hand.

As karate is primarily a striking art, I have always believed in punch bag, focus pad, kick shield and makiwara, training.

You may disagree, but one of my primary objectives with new and experienced karateka, is to encourage them to hit fast and hard. Not only is this an essential part of a striking art, such as karate, it's also good fun!

I am still shocked at how many karateka are not training with, punch bags, focus pads or makiwara!

I do not practice Shotokan karate just for fighting, I love everything about karate, kata, kihon and kumite, if I wanted fighting I would join a MMA gym, they take the best fighting techniques from all the martial arts and put them to practical use in the ring or cage.

Ossu

This is my first blog so sorry if it is a bit uh wrong.

The main problem I'd like to stress is why do we have Karate-do associations? There are hundreds of them, why dont we just have one or two. I really dont see the need for them all i meen the JKA and the WKF they are the two main associations so what is the need for, well all these:

Name Info
All Styles Karate Federation
Baska Karate
Bu-Bujin
Bushikai Karate Assoiciation
Central Scotland Karate Association
Federation Sankukai Karate Scotland
Grampian Northern Karate Association
Hokushin Karate Association

1 Dont forget that Karate-do begins and ends with rei or respect.

2 There is no first strike in Karate-do.

3 Karate-do stands on the side of justice.

4 First know yorself, then you can begin to know others.

5 Mentality over technique.

6 The mind must be set free.

7 Calamity comes from carelessness.

8 Karate is and goes beyond the dojo.

9 Karate-do is a lifelong commitment.

10 Apply Karate-do to all tasks. There lies its beauty.

11 Practising Karate-do is like pushing a cart up a hill: if you slack it will role backwards.

12 Never thing of winning its better not to lose.

Everybody’s different, some karate-ka like high kicks, some like low kicks, but which one is better?

Tae kwon do, perform very high kicks, that are fast and powerful, some karate groups only practice kicking below the belt and some practice both high and low kicking.

I believe it’s all down to the individual involved. I personally wouldn’t recommend high kicks in self defence, but then again, I’m sure there are people who do recommend high kicks.

Really, it doesn’t matter what someone says or doesn’t say, because when it comes to self defence, you will do, whatever you practice! So if you practice head kicks, day in day out, there’s a high chance, that if you kicked whilst defending yourself, in a self defence situation, the kick will probably target the head.