In October 1908, Master Anko Itosu wrote a letter, “Ten Precepts (Tode Jukun) of Karate,” to impress
upon the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of War in Japan, on the benefits of karate practice.

Ten Precepts of Karate

Karate did not develop from Buddhism or Confucianism. In the past the Shorin-ryu school and the Shorei-ryu school were brought to Okinawa from China. Both of these schools have strong points, which I will now mention before there are too many changes:
1. Karate is not merely practiced for your own benefit; it can be used to protect one’s family or master. It is not intended to be used against a single assailant but instead as a way of avoiding a fight should one be confronted by a villain or ruffian.
2. The purpose of karate is to make the muscles and bones hard as rock and to use the hands and legs as spears. If children were to begin training in military prowess while in elementary school, then they will be well suited for military service. Remember the words attributed to the Duke of Wellington after he defeated Napoleon: “The Battle of Waterloo was won on the playing fields of Eaton.”
3. Karate cannot be quickly learned. Like a slow moving bull, it eventually travels a thousand miles. If one trains diligently every day, then in three or four years one will come to understand karate. Those who train in this fashion will discover karate.
4. In karate, training of the hands and feet are important, so one must be thoroughly trained on the makiwara.[2] In order to do this, drop your shoulders, open your lungs, take hold of your strength, grip the floor with your feet, and sink your energy into your lower abdomen. Practice using each arm one to two hundred times each day.
5. When one practices the stances of Tang Te, be sure to keep your back straight, lower your shoulders, put strength in your legs, stand firmly, and drop your energy into your lower abdomen.
6. Practice each of the techniques of karate repeatedly, the use of which is passed by word of mouth. Learn the explanations well, and decide when and in what manner to apply them when needed. Enter, counter, release is the rule of releasing hand (torite).
7. You must decide if karate is for your health or to aid your duty.
8. When you train, do so as if on the battlefield. Your eyes should glare, shoulders drop, and body harden. You should always train with intensity and spirit, and in this way you will naturally be ready.
9. One must not overtrain; this will cause you to lose the energy in your lower abdomen and will be harmful to your body. Your face and eyes will turn red. Train wisely.
10. In the past, masters of karate have enjoyed long lives. Karate aids in developing the bones and muscles. It helps the digestion as well as the circulation. If karate should be introduced beginning in the elementary schools, then we will produce many men each capable of defeating ten assailants. I further believe this can be done by having all students at the Okinawa Teachers’ College practice karate. In this way, after graduation, they can teach at the elementary schools at which they have been taught. I believe this will be a great benefit to our nation and our military.
It is my hope you will seriously consider my suggestion.
Anko Itosu, October 1908

Karate Training – How Often Should I Practice?

Normally, someone new to Karate will attend one session per week in the beginning, as the student progresses this will obviously increase.
I personally recommend training at least two sessions per week, as soon as possible, but once per week is ok for the first three to six months, after this, a minimum of two lessons per week is essential.
There is so much to learn and practice, if after six months you are only training one session per week, not only will your progress be slow, you will also struggle to keep up with others in your class and because you will struggle there is a good chance you will become disillusioned and quit. In fact, I have never known anyone reach black belt from practicing one class per week.

These numbers obviously vary from person to person, we have members who go straight into unlimited training and members who only train one session per week but practice karate regularly at home, everybody is different and everybody has different circumstances.

The important point to remember is that if you Continue Reading

Shotokan Karate Soto Uke Outside Block

Soto ude uke, or outside forearm block is one of the basic shotokan karate moves. A difficult move to begin with because it contains both linear and circular arm movements, this karate move should be first practiced in shizentai (natural stance), with feet approximately shoulder width apart and toes facing forward as in the video below
 

Shotokan Kihon Gyaku-zuki

Shotokan's Gyaku-zuki is a very strong punch. Here is a video with some tips to help with this karate technique.

Karate Classes And Kihon

 Karate Kihon

Kihon is a Japanese word meaning “basics” or “fundamentals.

So, what is karate kihon and why do we do it?

Kihon is the basic karate techniques of stances, blocking, punching, striking and kicking.

Repetition of basic Karate kihon holds all the secrets!

Basic karate moves, or simple combinations, is all that’s needed to achieve a very high understanding of karate. But I must emphasise, when it comes to repetition, correct form, both physical and mental is essential. Bad habits can develop quickly and can take years of correcting and can even cause injury and that’s just the physical side, if the state of mind and attitude is wrong, it can unleash a whole plethora of problems, some of which, can never be fixed.

This is why I always recommend joining a really good karate dojo, but if you are unable to train at a karate dojo, then take heed of the words in this article and get your mind, body and soul right for karate!

An incredible inner focus and determination can develop, when practicing very basic karate techniques, over and over again. Levels of understanding continually reveal themselves, as your karate practice continues.

Here’s a quote from the late and great Bruce Lee ~
I fear not the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks once, but I fear the man who has practiced one kick 10,000 times.

Master Masahiko Tanaka 8th Dan, was once asked what the secret to his success was, he replied, ‘basics, basics and more basics!’

Learning Karate A Good Focus Pads Exercise

Here is a really good shotokan karate exercises that can be practiced on the striking pads. This exercise works on speed, distance, accuracy and timing. Starting with the left leg in front, the first person attacks with kizami-uki, gyaku-uki, then quickly pulls the left leg back, then immediately attack with a right leg mawashi-geri, landing with uraken, gyaku-zuki, followed by a left leg mawashi-geri, gyaku-zuki. As you land with the gyaku-uki, skip up with the right leg and finish with a left leg mawashi-geri and gyaku-zuki.

There are many other shotokan karate exercises that can be practiced on the focus pads, but this one does cover some important shotokan karate kihon fundamentals.

Shotokan Exercise Three Stance Combination

A simple shotokan karate exercise utilising three stances. Starting in kiba dachi with a left tate shuto, drive off the right leg and turn 45 degrees and perform a right arm gyaku zuki (reverse punch). Then strongly pull the right hip and body back at the same time as you pull the right gyaku zuki arm back. Then perform a left choku zuki (straight punch) in Kiba dachi (horse riding stance), immediately followed by a right choku zuki. Next, drive off from the left leg and turn 45 degrees and perform a left arm gyaku zuki (reverse punch). Then strongly pull the left hip and body back at the same time as you pull the left gyaku zuki arm back. Then perform a right choku zuki (straight punch) in Kiba dachi (horse riding stance), immediately followed by a left choku zuki. Then pull the left hip and left side of the body back as you perform a left shuto uke (knife hand block) in Kokutsu dachi (back stance), immediately start to pull the right hip and right side of the body back as you perform a right shuto uke (knife hand block) in Kokutsu dachi (back stance). Slowly return back to the starting position with a left tate shuto in kiba dachi, then repeat the exercise.

Shotokan Karate Exercise Front Kick Belt Training

Mae Geri (front kick)

The karate front kick, or mae geri is the first karate kick that is practiced. One of the common mistakes with front kick (mae geri), is to let the kick travel in an upwards arc. The kick wants to be traveling in a straight line on impact, just like a bullet. The path of front kick is a straight line as can be seen in the video below, where we are using our obi (belt) for a really good kicking exercise, that makes sure the path of the front kick is correct. Try to get the kicking foot to lightly touch the belt as it travels to the target and back. Mae geri is one of the first karate moves taught in karate classes, so if you are trying to learn karate at home, take your time with this karate technique because if you master this and understand the basic kicking principles, the other kicks will come very easily.

Karate For Beginners Shomen and Hanmi

Shomen and hanmi are explained to new karate students, but it sometimes takes a little while to understand. There are different explanations of shomen and hanmi. My karate instructor always referred to hanmi and shomen as, Hanmi = side facing and Shomen = Square facing.

Many shotokan karate dojo place tremendous importance on this area, but karate Sensei differ in the way they teach and practice shomen and hanmi, so please, if you are new to karate classes, ask your dojo sensei for an explanation of shomen and hanmi.

A beginner to shotokan karate will be told that hanmi (side facing), is used for the basic blocks in front stance and shomen (square facing), is used for the two basic punches oi zuki (stepping punch) and gyaku zuki (reverse punch).

Shotokan Stances Kokutsu Dachi

Many shotokan karateka find this karate stance the most difficult. Kokutsu dachi should be roughly two shoulder lengths, front foot facing directly forward and back foot facing 90 degrees to the side. The front leg slightly bent and should not be locked straight. The back leg is bent strongly, but naturally, do not force the knee outwards. 70% of the weight should be on the back leg and 30% on the front and the heels should be in a straight line.

Jyu Ippon Kumite Brown belt sparring Exercise

Jyu ippon kumite is a karate exercise that is practiced at brown belt or 3rd kyu. It involves single karate attacks from an attacker, and a defense and counter from a defender. Jyu ippon kumite is an integral part of shotokan karate and is need at karate exams from brown belt to black belt.

Karate For Beginners Do You Use Punchbag?

Punchbag training is a very important part of my karate, some people prefer makiwara, whick I also like, some people like focus pads and kick sheilds. Whatever your preference, your karate training shoulkd include hitting something! Maybe your karate classes use a lot of striking equipment and maybe they do not, if your karate dojo do, then great, if not, then set yourself up at home and start hitting things! The benefits are incredible, learning karate at home should be a priority, so go get em! :)

Brown Belt Shotokan Karate Kata Jion

Jion is a brown belt shotokan karate kata. Some karate classes have this particular karate kata as one that is needed when attempting shodan (black belt 1st dan). Jion is quite a basic kata, but also has several more advanced combinations. This kata is very strong and linear in style.

Jion (translates as: "Temple" or "Temple of love and goodness")

Karate Moves Gyaku zuki 3 Karate Moves in 1

Gyaku tsuki or reverse punch is one of the basic karate moves, but contained within gyaku tsuki are two other powerful strikes, they are 1. ura tsuki (upper cut) and 2 tate tsuki (vertical punch). if you are practicing gyaku tsuki correctly, these two extra karate techniques will come easily.

Karate for beginners – How to Kill Or How to Live?

The founder of shotokan karate, master Gichin Funakoshi, said, ‘The ultimate aim of the art of Karate lies not in victory or defeat, but in the perfection of the characters of its participants’.

Other Karate sensei preach Ikken Hissatsu (To kill or finish with one blow), which is correct?
I once witnessed a no rules fight between two karateka (someone who practices karate) and there was a referee. One of the karateka wore his karate suit, the other just shorts and you could tell that the fighter wearing shorts had trained in other disciplines.
The guy in the karate uniform had a look that I can only describe as ‘monk like’, he looked very calm and relaxed. The guy in the shorts looked like a wild animal who had not eaten for a week.
This is what I saw.
At the start of the fight the fighter in the shorts (let us refer to him as ‘shorts’), took up a balanced stance, both hands up and open, chin down.
The fighter in the karate uniform (let us refer to him as ‘karate suit’), put all his weight on his back leg, arms out to the side and half closed his eyes, like he was meditating. I knew what was going to happen, but part of me hoped it would not.
Shorts launched himself at karate suit, who remember, had all his weight on his back leg. I remember karate suit trying to do a pathetic kick off his front leg, shorts hit him so hard and fast, they both hit the deck hard, while they were falling, shorts was still throwing these wild punches, all targeted to karate suits head, once they hit the floor, shorts continued a barrage of wild swinging punches, as each punch connected, shorts eyes opened wider, he could smell blood and he was going in for the kill!
There was blood everywhere and karate suit was asleep, if it was not for the referee, karate suit would probably be dead, because shorts had no intention of stopping.
So the ref stepped in and saved karate suit, shorts was still trying to kill karate suit as the ref pulled him off, shorts then proceeded to run around screaming and punching his fists into the air, he reminded me of one of the zombies out of the movie, ’24 days later’ (of course, modern day zombies are not like they were, they now move with the speed of Usain Bolt!)
Five minutes later shorts was still out of control, eyes wide and rolling, body pumped and breathing heavy. At the same time, our friend had started to come around, he was sitting, but unable to stand.
So which fighter would you rather be?
Neither! I hope you shouted. I would like to think I have the animal instinct of shorts and the ‘monk like’ attitude of karate suit, but someone like the great Randy Couture has taken this to a whole new level, that man is in control!
After all, what is the point of having a Ferrari California, if you cannot keep it on the road?

If you are looking to learn karate online, then supplement your karate training with these free online videos, karate lessons for beginners. http://karateclassesonline.com

Karate For Beginners A Basic Combination Using Empi Uchi or Elbow Strike

The video below is taken from karateClassesOnline karate dojo, check out their Special $1 Trial offer.

At most shotokan karate dojo, these basic elbow strikes are practiced early on in a karateka's training.

Here is a very basic karate kihon four elbow strike combination, starting from Zenkutsu dachi – gedan bari (front stance – downward block), then moving into Kiba dachi (horse riding stance) and back into zenkutsu dachi (front stance).

The elbow strikes are ~
1. Mawashi empi Uchi (round elbow strike)
2. Age empi uchi (upper elbow strike)
3. Yoko empi uchi (side elbow strike)
4. Ushiro empi uchi (back elbow strike)

Beginners Karate Classes Online - A Distance Exercise

Although this is not reall a beginners karate exercise, it is still very basic, so I have included it here.

When someone firsts starts karate for beginners classes, getting the right distance can be a struggle. When looking at how to do karate for beginners, this area needs a lot of effort.

Here's a distancing karate exercise video, with the one person using, kizami zuki (jabbing punch), gyaku zuki (reverse punch) and oi zuki (stepping punch) to attack. The other karateka counters with kizami mawashi geri (front leg round house kick), kizami yoko geri kekomi (front leg side thrust kick) and ushiro geri (back kick).

The Difference Between A Man of Do (The Way) and a Little Man

Many years ago, my sensei told me a story,

A student once asked his sensei, "What is the difference between a man of Do (the way) and a little man?"

The sensei replies, "It is simple. When the little man receives his first dan black belt, he can hardly wait to run home and shout at the top of his voice to tell everyone that he has obtained his first dan. Upon receiving his second dan, he will climb to the rooftops and shout to the people. Upon receiving his third dan black belt, he will jump in his car and parade through town blowing the horn, telling one and all about his third dan".
The sensei continues, "When the man of Do (the way) receives his first dan, he will bow his head in gratitude. Upon receiving his second dan, he will bow his head and his shoulders. Upon receiving his third dan, he will bow at the waist and quietly walk alongside the wall so that people will not see him or notice him".
In this materialistic world, karate-ka who follow the way, are few, but to me, the above story epitomises a good martial artisit. The older I get, the more I realise, character is everything!

Ossu

Linden Huckle

karatedo 

                                                                                                                                     

Seiunchin Karate Kata Video Performed by Michael Stevenson

Seiunchin Karate kata video, performed by Michael Stevenson, who just returned from the Hayashi-Ha all Japan karate championships, where he not only competed, but managed to train with some great karate masters, including Shihan Akio Minakami. Michael and James Towle, made the journey to Japan and had some fantastic karate classes before the karate championships.
The great Soke Teruo Hayashi (1924-2004), was the founder, headmaster and president of "Hayashi-Ha Shito-Ryu Kai School of Karate-do" and "Japan Kobudo Kenshin-Ryu-Kai", it has its headquarters in Osaka, Japan.

karate Moves Kizami Zuki Partner Exercise

Kizami zuki or jabbing punch, is an extremely important karate move, one which many karate classes neglect. Kizami zuki is the closest weapon to an opponent and the fastest. Karate classes should really focus on this punch. Boxers MUST have a good jab, it really is an important karate technique.