Post by Paul Bedard on Dec 31, 2010 4:56:03 GMT
In the ISKF instructor trainee program, which is the same as the JKA program we have to do a series of written reports. I asked Steve Hyland if sharing these on this site might be of use & he encouraged me to do so, so if you will bear with me I`ll try to do my best at writting these subjects. Do to the length, they might have to be done in two or three parts.
Before I start, I must say that I have used many resources to aquire this information & for the most part this is just me summerizing information that is readily available. Although I`ll use endnotes & bibliography, if I`m guilty of plagiarism it is due to my inexperience at writting.. Here goes:
What is Karate
Simply put, Karate is an empty handed form of self defense utilizing the hands and feet to overcome an opponent. To the casual observer this translation would seem correct, however this would be like saying that the sun is a big fireball in the sky that provides the earth with light and heat. Technically correct, but far from an adequate description. It is my goal that the next few pages provide a better description of what Karate is and what it means to me.
Karate is a martial art that has deep roots in the island of Okinawa outside of Japan. Martial arts are basically the way of the warrior. There are many different martial arts such as: Kendo, Judo, Aikida, Kyudo, Jujitsu, Iaido etc... All are different but share many similarities, mainly physical and mental ( spiritual ) development.
Karate is actually two words in one: `Kara` ( empty ) `te` ( hand ), hence the term empty hand.One can get very involved in just understanding the meaning of these two words. I will try to describe what they have come to mean to me.
`Kara` is the mental or spiritual as mentioned earlier. One might think that it just means that the hands were `empty` of weapons, that would be physical. `Kara` also means the absence of selfish or evil thoughts or troubles, worries, past or future, only to have total concentration to the task at hand with a clear mind and conscience. In karate training we do techniques over and over many times to develop a reflex action or as it has come to be my understanding action and/or reaction without thought, only focus. I cannot propose to be an authority on `Kara` as this requires a lifelong study.
`Te` is the physical. `Te` actually means hand, however as mentioned earlier karate practitioners also use their feet. This is also very simply described. As a karateka ( practitioner ) develops his personal arsenal he/she learns that the whole body can be used as a weapon, as mentioned the hands and the feet, but also the fingers, the toes, knees, elbows, hips, shoulders, forearms, shins, even the head can be a physical weapon. These can be segregated even more by striking surfaces, top, bottom, sides, etc.., and angles; front, back, straight, circular, etc... As with `Kara`, the study of `Te` or using the human body as a weapon can be a lifelong pursuit.
I hope this is not to boring. Do to the size of this report, I`ll stop here and carry on in` part two`
Osu
Paul B
Before I start, I must say that I have used many resources to aquire this information & for the most part this is just me summerizing information that is readily available. Although I`ll use endnotes & bibliography, if I`m guilty of plagiarism it is due to my inexperience at writting.. Here goes:
What is Karate
Simply put, Karate is an empty handed form of self defense utilizing the hands and feet to overcome an opponent. To the casual observer this translation would seem correct, however this would be like saying that the sun is a big fireball in the sky that provides the earth with light and heat. Technically correct, but far from an adequate description. It is my goal that the next few pages provide a better description of what Karate is and what it means to me.
Karate is a martial art that has deep roots in the island of Okinawa outside of Japan. Martial arts are basically the way of the warrior. There are many different martial arts such as: Kendo, Judo, Aikida, Kyudo, Jujitsu, Iaido etc... All are different but share many similarities, mainly physical and mental ( spiritual ) development.
Karate is actually two words in one: `Kara` ( empty ) `te` ( hand ), hence the term empty hand.One can get very involved in just understanding the meaning of these two words. I will try to describe what they have come to mean to me.
`Kara` is the mental or spiritual as mentioned earlier. One might think that it just means that the hands were `empty` of weapons, that would be physical. `Kara` also means the absence of selfish or evil thoughts or troubles, worries, past or future, only to have total concentration to the task at hand with a clear mind and conscience. In karate training we do techniques over and over many times to develop a reflex action or as it has come to be my understanding action and/or reaction without thought, only focus. I cannot propose to be an authority on `Kara` as this requires a lifelong study.
`Te` is the physical. `Te` actually means hand, however as mentioned earlier karate practitioners also use their feet. This is also very simply described. As a karateka ( practitioner ) develops his personal arsenal he/she learns that the whole body can be used as a weapon, as mentioned the hands and the feet, but also the fingers, the toes, knees, elbows, hips, shoulders, forearms, shins, even the head can be a physical weapon. These can be segregated even more by striking surfaces, top, bottom, sides, etc.., and angles; front, back, straight, circular, etc... As with `Kara`, the study of `Te` or using the human body as a weapon can be a lifelong pursuit.
I hope this is not to boring. Do to the size of this report, I`ll stop here and carry on in` part two`
Osu
Paul B