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  • Will My Martial Art Get Me To The UFC? - The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) has experienced a meteoric rise in popularity and ratings over the past couple of years. Love it or hate it, it looks like the UFC is here to stay.
  • Why Does It Take So Long To Get A Black Belt In Karate? - Many of you reading this article may already be well on your way to becoming a black belt in your chosen martial art. Some of you may just be starting out on your journey and others may have reached the coveted black belt and are now working towards higher degrees of the black belt. How long were you told it should take you to get the black belt? Two years? Three years? Five? Ten? Why does it take so long to get a black belt?
  • A Brief History of Karate - Karate is a martial art originating in the Japanese territory known as the Ryukyu Islands. It includes a variety of techniques includig punching, kicking, knee and elbow strikes and open-handed techniques such as knife-hands and ridge-hands. Grappling, locks, throws, and point strikes are also taught in some styles and in some schools.
  • The Most Common Reasons Why People Quit Karate - "Hey. Wait a minute! I only just started Karate and now you’re talking to me about quitting already. What do you think I am – an undisciplined, unmotivated loser or what?
  • Is Your Cup Empty Or Full? Why Bruce Lee Emptied His Cup On A Regular Basis - One of the core tenets of the martial arts is humility, but unfortunately some practitioners don’t seem to embrace these values and instead insist on being aggressive, arrogant and boastful. If you know someone like this you might want to show them this short story about a wise Zen Master that is told in ‘The Warrior Within’ by John Little. (Or, you can just send them this article)........
  • The Importance Of Effective Discipline In A Martial Arts Class - One of the main reasons parents enroll their children in martial arts is discipline. You have seen it before. A parent enrolls their child in your class expecting you to suddenly and indefinitely whip them into shape so that they never answer back or behave badly.
  • The Top 3 Tips To Get Your Child To Practice Karate At Home - So your child is enrolled in the martial arts, congratulations on taking a positive step for their overall growth and development. However you’ve noticed that karate practice is not as easy as it looks and you want to get your child to practice at home as well as in class. How do you do this without burning both you and your child out? After all you work hard all day and are probably paying good money for martial arts lessons so you naturally want your child to be successful. Here are three simple tips to get them to practice at home. 1.
  • Why Are Basics So Important In Karate? - “Do I have to practice this again? I know how to do it already. Why can I not learn the next punch and the next form? Do I still have to do the things that WHITE BELTS do?!?” Have you ever felt agitated with your instructor for having you drill basics when you already “know” them? You are not alone. “Basics again?” is a common question asked by karate students. In fact, you could probably handle some of the more advanced techniques but slow down “grasshopper”; your sensei has good reasons for drilling on basics.
  • Personal Observations On Karate After 25 Years Of Training - If you have been studying karate for any length of time now, you have probably come to realize many important insights from your training. From my own study of karate, I have come to notice many interesting lessons. I would like to share some of these insights with you in this article. 1.

  • The Five Core Ethics Of The Martial Arts - Many martial arts schools around the world promote a philosophy of self-improvement as well as an expected standard of technical skill. When you think about it, it is the philosophy rather than the technical skill that should influence every practitioner’s daily life. The martial arts philosophy, or at least the traditional karate philosophy, is called the Dojo-Kun. The Dojo-Kun is simply a five point ethical guide for training in the martial arts and for behavior in your everyday life and is sometimes called the “Student Creed” in English.
  • Is Your Little One Ready To Become A Karate Kid? - Beginner level Karate Kids seem to be getting younger and younger nowadays. What is the right age to start the martial arts? Is your little one ready to become a karate kid?
  • Karate – What Is It Really All About? - This question seems innocent and easy to answer. But the truth is that it is not an easy question to answer at all, because it must be answered on so many different levels. “What is karate really all about?” Is it about learning some punches, kicks and blocks? Is it about memorizing endless forms? Is it about self-defense? Is it about health and fitness? How about making friends and socializing?
  • Why Do We Have To Bow So Much? - In many karate schools around the world the traditional practice of bowing is being continued regardless of the country of origin and of whether the bow matches that country’s particular culture. The very act of stepping into a karate dojo or a Taekwondo dojang often means that you have entered into a mini-cultural experience that you never expected. Some people find these practices quaint and educational, others find them downright offensive. This article attempts to explain the primary reasons for bowing in traditional Japanese culture and therefore in your Japanese style of martial arts.
  • The Number One Reason You Should Stick With Your Karate Training - There are many reasons that people first get started in the martial arts. Usually the reasons are for self-defense, health and fitness, discipline, confidence, self-control and spiritual growth among others. Most of us have heard about these benefits of the martial arts, yet despite knowing the potential rewards of karate, it is not always clear why we should stay on the path for the long term. I would like to let you know what I believe is the number one reason for you to continue with your karate practice. Before I do that let me give you a very quick rundown of my own personal karate experience. I have been practicing the martial arts, specifically traditional Japanese karate, for more than 25 years.
  • Kihon, Kata And Kumite: The Three KS Of Karate - The educational system often talks about the ‘Three Rs’ of Reading Writing and Arithmetic. To a casual observer, one might say that the education system was flawed from the very beginning by the fact that it can’t spell! In Karate, however, we can spell, and the three Ks really are three Ks – Kihon, Kata and Kumite. Let’s look at each one and explain what it is. Kihon means Basics. Basics are the fundamentals of our art or style. In Karate, basics are our punches, our kicks, our blocks, our strikes and our stances.
  • How Do I Make The Most Out Of Each And Every Training Session? - If you’re reading this article then you have probably already begun your study of the martial arts and in all likelihood have progressed through the first few belts. You now understand what karate is about and you are fully familiar with your weekly training schedule. The question that you may still have though is “How do I make the most out of each and every training session?” The following are some suggestions to help you answer this question. There are several things that you can do to maximize your overall training experience, all of them are easy to implement, and will help you take your karate to the next level.
  • For Karate Instructors: The Art Of Effective Feedback In Class - If you want to become a successful and influential instructor, you will have to become a master of not only the martial arts but also of interpersonal skills with your students. The Art of Effective Feedback will become a cornerstone of your relationships with your students and of the ultimate success of your students within your program. Practice this advice and reap the benefits, ignore it at your peril!
  • The Real Secret To Developing An Effective Personal Training Plan For Karate - If you are a member of any serious martial arts school with a reputable instructor then you will have no doubt heard in class the words “Be sure to practice at home.
  • Karate Instructors: Six Simple Steps For Scheduling Your Classes - One of the most important elements of a martial arts school’s operations is the class schedule.
  • How To Chunk Your Karate Instruction Curriculum So You Don’t Overwhelm Students - In order to ensure the success of your students in their quest for the Black Belt it is important to give them everything that they need one piece at a time. If you have been teaching for any length of time you have probably figured out that all of the required material in your martial art can often be overwhelming to the best of students. Therefore, it is critical to deliver your curriculum in bite-sized content chunks. How do you do this? This article will give you the basics – one-step at a time!
  • How To Get Past The Fear Of Taking Your First Karate Belt Test - OK, so you’ve stuck with your karate training for a couple of months already. You enjoy learning all of the punches, kicks and blocks, you’ve learned your first form and you also know some basic partner work drills.
  • Which Martial Art Is The Best? - I’m often asked the question “Which is better, Karate or Taekwondo?”; “Which is stronger, Judo or Kung Fu?”; or more direct questions such as “Could you beat a Mixed Martial artist in a fight?” Thanks to the current popularity of the UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) we are seeing a showcase of different styles being pitted against one another.
  • What Should I Look For In A Good Karate School Or Instructor? - With the increase in popularity of the martial arts more and more people are searching for a good karate school and a good instructor. There are many great schools and instructors out there and unfortunately there are as many not so good. How do you tell the difference? What should you look for in a good instructor since the instructor in most cases is the school? Most prospective students think that the most important thing to look for in an instructor is content knowledge. They want their instructor’s karate to be dynamic, powerful and impressive in every way.
  • The Importance Of Having A Beginner’s Mind As A Karate Instructor - As karate instructor or high-level practitioners of the martial arts, it is often useful to remember where we came from and how we got to where we are. Our journeys were not always easy and our students deserve to know about our own mistakes and experiences to illustrate that we too are human and went through many of the same struggles that they are faced with in their practices. Here is one such story from my own development as a martial artist.
  • The Hidden Costs Of Choosing The Wrong Style Of Martial Arts Karate - 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 a problem? Should you know which style you practice? Are clearly lineated styles even important? The easy answer to all of these questions is yes and no. Unfortunately there are hidden costs involved in choosing the wrong style of martial arts. Here’s why: · Choosing a style based on popularity rather than something that fits your personal strengths Just because a style is the most popular thing going doesn’t mean that it is right for you.
  • How Karate Instructors Can Motivate Students In Three Easy Steps - If you’ve been a karate instructor for any length of time you will no doubt know that your success in retaining your students comes down to one key factor – keeping your students highly motivated to continue training. How do you do this while still maintaining your focus on delivering a high quality program? The majority of karate clubs have a wide range of students usually starting at around age 4 and going all the way up to 74 or older.
  • Lesson Planning For Karate Instructors: Four Main Components Of An Effective Lesson Plan - As a karate instructor, you no doubt understand the importance of lesson planning. Developing an effective lesson plan is of vital importance, especially for new instructors. However, even for a highly experienced instructor it does not hurt to revisit some basic lesson planning principles. There are several main components that are critical to the overall lesson content of karate at all levels. These components are: · Element, which includes basic training, forms, and partner work; · Type, which includes quality, quantity, fun, and serious;
  • To Compete Or Not To Compete, Some Important Questions To Ask! - A significant number of people get into karate to be able to participate in tournaments. Are you one of these people? Or did you start karate and then discover that you’re actually pretty good and you want to test your skills against different opponents? Either way this article looks at some simple ways to see if you’re ready for tournament participation. Here are the questions you should ask yourself and your instructor: Do you have any idea what a tournament is and how it is run?
  • The Karate Belt Rainbow: What Do The Different Colors Really Mean? - 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 answers to all your questions about colored belts. Different colored belts used to designate rank are a relatively modern innovation created by Master Jigoro Kano, the founder of Judo back in the early 1900s. Master Kano felt that there should be a visual progression of the belts as a way to tell what level a practitioner was and also as a way to implement a specific hierarchy within each Judo club.
  • Five Common Mistakes That New Karate Instructors Make - 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 progression of your style. This is a great honor but it is not without its pitfalls.
  • Karate Lesson 1: Developing Discipline And Self-Control - My most influential teachers always said the most important karate lesson was whatever fostered greater discipline and self control. They wisely pointed out, that with this foundation in place, everything else follows in natural order. I'm glad that people have started to ask about discipline and self control in karate, because it is not inherently obvious how the practice of punches and kicks can lead to improvement in these areas. In fact it almost seems like a paradox that the practice of martial arts could possibly develop calm, assured and highly disciplined individuals.
  • Five Simple Tips To Karate Instructors For Making Each Lesson Different - Have you ever felt like you are teaching the same thing repeatedly? Have you been frustrated by using the same old practice drills every week? Do you sometimes sense that your students are getting bored or are losing interest? Often one of the biggest challenges for a martial arts instructor is coming up with different ways to present the same material and create varied lessons each week. Finding a balance between teaching the required content and making classes fun and different is not always easy. Rest assured that you are not alone.
  • Is Karate Practice A Viable Option For Your Family? - If you’re like any good parent you no doubt enjoy spending time with your kids and sharing some quality activities with them.
  • The Dos And Don’ts Of Karate Etiquette - Have you ever walked into a karate school and wondered what all of the rigid hierarchy and bowing is all about? Are you currently a new member of a karate studio and are wondering what all of the foreign words and chanting means? Or are you an avid student who still wonders what it all means when you enter your “Mini Martial Arts Experience” every Wednesday evening at 6pm?
  • Karate Uniform, Karate Gear: What Does Your Karate Kid Need For Her First Class? - 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 into the martial arts. So what equipment, uniform and gear do you need to buy for the first class -- and how much should it cost?
  • Is That Karate School You Are Thinking Of Joining A Mc Dojo? 4 Warning Signs That It Is! - The term Mc Dojo has come to be quite popular nowadays in the various martial arts business and trade journals and is a derogatory term used to describe certain types of martial arts schools.
  • Your Journey To A Black Belt In Karate: Top 10 Training Tips For Reaching Your Goal - The primary goal of any beginner or intermediate student of karate is usually to attain the coveted black belt. The black belt represents technical excellence, high ethical standards and the ability of a student to endure a strict and rigorous training regimen. To those “in the know,” people with black belts are seen as being more than just average practitioners.
  • Karate - Empty Hand - In the world of martial arts, karate is a relative new comer. Although its roots go back over 1,000 years to the Shaolin province of China, karate as it is today was not developed until the early twentieth century in Okinawa, Japan. It was during that time that four martial arts masters developed the forms of karate that are still taught today. These are called Okinawan karate. They are: Goju-ryu, Shito-ryu, Shotokan, and Wado-ryu. Thought these four karates have many similarities, they are distinctively different. Later, in the 1950's a newer form of karate was developed called Kenpo karate. Based on the forms found in Okinawan karate, it was a much more complicated form of karate.
  • Sample UC Personal Statement - With convention comes conformity; with conformity comes the fall of the individual. Individual beliefs and ideals, however, are vital to the very basis of the society we as humans thrive in.
  • Karate - The Way Of The Empty Hand - Karate (空手) or karate-dō (空手道) is one of the most fascinating martial art in the world today. For me, there is not any martial art that is as flexible and enjoyable as sport.

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