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)

Karate For Beginners Front Leg Roundhouse Kick

A karate training exercise for kizami mawashi geri or front leg round house kick, covering close, medium and long range. This karate exercise can be practiced with a partner, by yourself or on a punchbag. When practicing karate for beginners, kicking with the front leg builds a strong supporting leg, which is very important, in all kicks. For some free karate moves on video visit karate classes online

Shotokan karate kata - Kanku Dai

Shotokan karate kata, Kanku Dai. This kata is an intermediate karate kata in the Shotokan karate system. The kata contains many of the karate moves and combinatiions, that are found in the heian kata series. The original name for Kanku Dai is Kusanku and the name derives from a Chinese martial artist, who taught the karate kata to the Oknawan karateka. Free Karate For Beginners Videos.

Learn Karate At Home - Kizami Zuki or Jab Punch

Next in this karate for beginners series, is Kizami zuki or Jab punch. The video shows this basic karate move without the snap back and the more advanced snap back from kamae.

Karate For Beginners - Soto Ude Uke or Outside Forearm Block

Soto Ude Uke, outside forearm block .

One of the first basic karate moves practiced in karate classes.

http://karateclassesonline.com has a series of free karate tutorials, covering the basic karate moves of the shotokan karate system. Learn karate at home with these videos, but they should be used in conjunction with dojo practice. Download this free kihon kata PDF
http://www.scribd.com/doc/25253662/Sh...

Hirokazu Kanazawa 10th Dan

The awesome Kancho Hirokazu Kanazawa 10th dan. One of the best karate masters ever!

If you are just starting to learn karate a home, this is the master to follow, awesome karate and a gentleman. Ossu

Karate For Beginners

Karate For Beginners - The Warm Up and Stretch

This is one of the most neglected parts of karate practice and it is a part of karate that you ignore at your peril.
Not only is stretching healthy, it also helps prevent injury during karate classes. Stretching should be practiced before and after your karate lessons.
My sensei said to me, 'the only time your whole body is stiff, is when you are dead!" and he is absolutely correct.
Keeping the body soft and supple should be a priority for all karateka.
But before you start stretching, it is very important to warm the body up. An example could be, gently shaking the legs and arms, gently swinging the arms, walking slowly, then speeding the walk up and finally into a slow jog. Obviously this is just an example, but this demonstrates a warm up before the stretch.
There are many stretches and to get the maximum benefit, these stretches should be held for anything between, twenty five seconds and three minutes. I also encourage our dojo members to hold the stretches longer in the summer and when they are practicing karate at home, as in the dojo, sometimes time is the enemy.
Stretching at the end of training should also be encouraged as this allows the body to warm down slowly, keeping the elasticity in the muscles.
If you wish to explore the different types of stretching, of which there are many, I have listed the different types of stretching below and a google search will uncover some incredible information on stretching.
1. Ballistic stretching is a form of passive stretching or dynamic stretching in a bouncing motion.
2. Dynamic stretching is a form of stretching beneficial in karate, utilizing momentum from form.
3. Active stretching eradicates force and its adverse effects from stretching procedures.
4. Passive (or relaxed) stretching is a form of static stretching in which an external force, like a karate partner, exerts pressure upon the limb to move it into the new position.
5. Static stretching is used to stretch muscles while the body is at rest.
6. PNF (proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation) stretching is a stretching system that was first used in the 1940s and 1950s to rehabilitate patients with paralysis.
Although stretching may feel uncomfortable for someone just starting to learn karate, persevere and very soon your karate techniques will take on a whole new level and meaning.

Linden has been training and teaching karate for over 30 years and loves to share his knowledge and experiences from the karate dojo. Supplement your karate training with these free online videos, karate lessons for beginners.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Linden_John

Learn Karate at Home?

Is it possible to learn karate at home? If you are thinking about starting karate, getting some online information, is a good idea. With some online tutorials, you will be able to understand what to expect if you attend a karate club.
But if you have some video instruction, I only recommend using them at the same time you attend classes conducted by a qualified karate instructor and the moves you practice, will be basics (kihon) or forms (kata).
Karate is an incredible art form that has developed over thousands of years of evolution giving us the karate we have today. There are thousands of karate for beginners classes starting every day, where people, young and old start to learn karate for the first time.
Karate classes usually start with a warm up, followed by a full body stretch. This alone is great for health and well being, keeping the body soft and supple is a fantastic thing, especially in your later years.
Next will come basic karate moves (kihon), blocking, punching, kicking, etc. These are practiced on the spot, or stepping forward, back and even at different angles in the many varied karate stances (dachi). These are the techniques you will be able to practice at home and get an idea of what karatedo (the way of karate) is all about.
So karate class training has the warm up and stretch, basics (kihon), next comes sparring (kumite). Now the word sparring is used loosely in karate because it usually means anytime you partner up to practice karate techniques. For example, you may partner up to practice a wrist grab and escape, this will be called kumite or sparring in the dojo (training hall). So try not to think that every time the word sparring (kumite) is used, you are going to partner up with a crazed black belt who is going to try and kill you!
After the warm up, basics and sparring, kata (forms) is usually practiced. Kata is a sequence of karate moves including, punches, kicks, strikes, jumps, spins, etc, that are strung together in a particular order, to create a pattern of techniques, similar to the gymnastics floor display.
To explain kata fully will need an article all on it's own, but to me kata is the most important element of karatedo. They say, kumite is the spirit of karate, but kata is the soul! And I agree.
So if you are practicing karate moves at home, trying to get a feel for karate, I wish you luck and urge you to attend a karate for beginners class as soon as possible. Good luck with your journey in the wonderful world that is karatedo! Ossu

Linden has been training and teaching karate for over 30 years and loves to share his knowledge and experiences in the martial arts. Supplement your dojo training with these free videos, karate lessons for beginners.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Linden_John

Karate For Beginners - Hit Them Hard!

I do not condone violence but if you are attacked, diffuse the situation if possible, but if it comes to it, hit hard! Doesn't matter if it's karate for beginners, same philosophy applies. The article below goes into a bit more detail.

Karateka! You Can't Restrain Them, Just Hit Them!

A lot people seem to forget that Karate is a striking art, they believe, that because you practice karate, you should be able to control and restrain an aggressor without hurting them. Rubbish!
Please remember, I am only talking physical, all martial artists should try and avoid confrontation, or diffuse a situation without fighting, karate practice, naturally develops (I believe) this skill, I have talked my way out of many situations, situations that could have easily turned very nasty.
If all else fails and the doodoo hits the fan, you're going to have to fight.
If someone attacks a karateka, then they should get both barrels, the karateka didn't ask to be mugged, attacked, picked on, or robbed.
If the situation gets to the point when the only way out is to fight for your life, then do what you do best, hit them hard and fast. Leave the restraining for the police, that is what they have been trained to do, controlling a situation without hurting anybody is what the police do and they're good at it. Karateka are good at avoiding confrontation and hitting things (or should be).
A quick story,
One of my best friends has a large karate dojo nearby, several years ago some parents came to him and said their son was getting severely bullied at school, both parents were in tears, it was really quite serious, anyway, my friend said he'll see what he can do.
Eighteen months later the parents came back, they were not happy. Their son had obviously got to the point where he could take no more bullying and he fought back.
He severely kicked the living daylights out of the bullies, the parents were called into the school because of what had happened. They approached my friend and said that they were not happy because their son should have used minimal force and restraint, instead of battering these bullies. My friend reminded them of the time they first came to him, they then just sat there quietly.
People do not understand reality, people will attack with no regard for life or outcome of their actions, if you get attacked by someone like this, you cannot use restraining techniques on these people, you have to use extreme violence, end of story.
Here's hoping you never end up in a nasty situation, but if you do, you must be ready to do, what you need to do, to survive.

For A Great Karate Resource Site That Has Hundreds Of Videos And Articles, Visit http://www.shotokanunleashed.com

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Black Belt is Not Important But it Means Everything!

Recently, we had two karateka pass 3rd kyu (brown belt) and I said to them,
'Congratulations on passing your brown belt, you are well on your way to black belt. Now your karate gets easier but it is harder and black belt is not important but it means everything!'
Many questions and emails later I decided to write this article, hopefully this will explain better, the point I was trying to get accross.
For a beginner to shotokan karate, it is all very confusing, both arms moving together as in gedan barai (downward block), one linear in movement and one circular, then both arms stopping at the same time, but one traveling more distance than the other, for someone new to karate, this alone, is a challenging exercise.
However, after several thousand repetitions and a few years of dojo practice, this exercise becomes second nature and is no longer a brain ache!
Ask a brown belt if performing gedan barai is difficult, they will look at you like you are trying to trick them, because to a brown belt, gedan barai is 'white belt stuff'. Ask a godan (5th dan) the same question and you will probably get a very different answer.
In the UK we have our football leagues, with the premier league being as good as it gets and everyone trying to enter that top league. Next comes the Championship league, then league 1, league 2, etc.
Now a premiership player may come into league 2 and find the football very physical, but technically no where near that of the premier league.
This is so true with karate also.
In my quote I was talking about going from purple/white belt to brown, but below I will talk about going from brown to black, it is the same, but on a higher level..
A brown belt trains very hard, their training is very physical and I totally agree with this type of training, but a black belts training is much more technical, the hard physical training is still there, but the technical side of karate now starts to kick in.
It is common to see a new black belts training change, before black belt the karateka was strength technique and spirit, but mainly strength and spirit. Once black belt, the same karateka steers a lot more effort to technique.
A new black or brown belt has trained for several years, their fitness levels are up and they are used to the hard physical training, compare this to a white belt who has just starting to learn karate and has not participated in any physical activity for several years. The white belt struggles in every class, not just with technique, but fitness also. Take the black and brown belts, they have gone through several years of physical and mental conditioning, so the physical side of karate is much easier for them to deal with.
Ossu
Linden Huckle

Linden Huckle lives in the UK and has been training and teaching karate for over 30 years. Watch some free karate for beginners videos now at learn karate online.

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Karate For Beginners

Welcome to karate for beginners! I hope to bring you quality information, including videos, articles, podcasts,pictures,documents and all the top karate information out there.

For starters, check out these karate for beginners free videos, they cover chokuzuki (straight punch), rei (the bow), Yoi (ready position),Age uke (upper rising block) and more!

These karate moves for beginners, cover the fine detail in the karate basics.

Ossu
Linden
The Twenty Guiding Principles of Karate: The Spiritual Legacy of the Master