|
The Genbu-Kai Difference |
|
|
| A Special Message from Sensei Demura |
| |
|
The
Meaning of Karate-Do |
| |
|
What is the meaning of Karate-Do? Why
do we study and train so hard? To find the answer, we must look to where
the spirit of Karate-Do originated - in the Samurai traditions of Japan
and Okinawa. In Japan, Samurai fought with swords. In Okinawa, Samurai
fought with fists. Their methods were different, but both were Samurai -
because both had the spirit of Samurai! |
| |
|
The most important part of being a
Samurai had nothing to do with which way they chose to fight. The most
important part of being a Samurai was the strength of character and
spirit. The Japanese word for it is "Setsu-gi" which means the following
things: |
|
Setsu
= manners, humility (being humble), having a good character |
|
Gi
= obligation, honor, respect |
|
This means that a Samurai honors the
understanding that people have a obligation to be humble and to develop
a strong character. In other words, a Samurai tries always to become the
best person possible. |
|
|
|
Students of Genbu-Kai have the same
motto - to be the best person possible. Another way to look at it is to
picture your body having a strong backbone. Persons who have a weak
backbone cannot stand straight, they cannot move well, their lives are
harder. Persons with strong backbones can hold their heads up straight.
They can use their arms to write, throw, pick things up, punch. They can
use their legs to walk, run, jump, kick. |
|
|
|
Having a character with a strong
"backbone" is even more powerful and important. If you don't have a
strong backbone to your character, it doesn't matter how smart you are
or how strong your body is - you will have no real strength, and no real
success in your life. However, if you do have a strong backbone to your
character, it doesn't matter even if your body is clumsy and
uncoordinated, and it doesn't matter if you are not as smart as someone
else - your strength of character will give you true success in your
life, the life of a good person. |
|
|
|
In Genbu-Kai, our goal is for every one of
our students to have a strong character backbone, for every one of our
students to have the successful life of a good person. It is the core of
our way, our Samurai spirit, the Genbu-Kai difference! |
|
|
|
Kumite
Training |
|
|
| We have many ways to study
Kumite (sparring) -
ways for every level of understanding and ability. Each kind of
Kumite helps us to build skills and technique. The ways in which we
usually train in Kumite are: |
|
|
|
Ippon Kumite
"One-Point Sparring" Calling out attacks (jodan zuki, chudan zuki,
mae geri, yoko geri), make one attack at a time. basic stances,
locking out the attacking and defending techniques. |
|
|
|
Nihon Kumite
"Two-Point Sparring" Like "one-point" except that, after the first
partner attacks, the second partner also attacks, and then the first
partner defends. |
|
|
|
Sanbon Kumite
"Three-Point Sparring" Three face attacks by the first partner, then
by the other partner, then three stomach attacks by one partner,
then the other. |
|
|
|
Jiyu Ippon Kumite
"One-Point Sparring" in a Free-Sparring Stance. Like
"one-point" except that stances and movements are more natural, and
not as locked out - but using good technique becomes even more
important. |
|
|
|
Jiyu Kumite
"Free-Sparring" Opponents move around and attack and defend quickly
and at will, using different techniques and combinations - using
good control and technique are extremely important when
free-sparring. |
|
|
|
Kata Training |
| Kata is a very important part of our training.
It helps us in many ways to improve our karate skills. First, we get
to practice our basic techniques - punching, kicking, blocking,
turning, stances. Second, we start learning about combining our
techniques into groups of movements, to help begin our understanding
of sparring. As our understanding of Kata improves, we are able to
look at it as a kind of shadow-boxing with many opponents at one
time. |
|
|
| The more we practice, the smoother and more
natural our movements become, the better our timing becomes. Our
bodies begin to find the rhythms of the Kata, and from that the
rhythms of fighting. As we continue to practice our Katas, we begin
to study how to use the movements from the Katas in fighting
situations, which we call "applications." |
|
|
| The more experienced we become, the more we
are able to use the movements when we spar, and to develop more
advanced applications from them, which we call "oyo." The most
important thing we can do with Kata is to practice, Practice,
PRACTICE! |
|
|
