The Benefits of Karate

There many types benefits that we can get in martial arts or in karate. One of the benefits of the karate include the physical and mental.

Physical Benefits include:

Improved reflexes and co-ordination
Increased performance in all physical activities
Increased strength and stamina so you feel great all day
Increased flexibility and weight control for better overall fitness
Cardiovascular workouts ( heart and lungs ) to keep you in top shape
Greatly improved balance
Ability to defend yourself

Mental Benefits include:

Improved concentration for better work and study habits
Stress reduction and the ability to relax
Confidence in knowing you can defend yourself and your family
Confidence in knowing how to deal with bullies and other confrontations
A positive attitude toward life through self-confidence and self-discipline
Self-esteem and your outlook on life
Respect for yourself and those around you
Motivation and an 'I Can Do It' attitude

The other benefit that we can get in this sport is our goals in life, the purposed for making this sport part of your daily routen in you life. So when you want to achieve this goal you must ready to commit the trials and the difficulty that you will be incouter in your trainee session. Achieving these goals are incredible confidence boosters. The one long term goal that all students have is to achieve their black belt.

Counting in Japanese

Karate is usually taught using the original Japanese terms, and that includes counting in Japanese. The second syllable is slightly suppressed, so "Ichi" becomes phonetically more like "itch!" and "Roku" sounds more like "Rokk".

Traditionally, in Kihon (training of basic techniques), students produce a Ki-Ai (Shout) at the 10th repetition of a technique. In partner training such as Ippon Kumite (one-step sparring), the speed and power of each technique is gradually increased, and the 5th repetition (in some Dojos the 3rd) is accompanied by a Ki-Ai at the final technique of both attacker and defender.

Counting

Ichi	One
Ni	Two
San	Three
Shi	Four
Go	Five
Roku	Six
Shichi	Seven
Hachi	Eight
Ku	Nine
Ju	Ten
Ni ju	Twenty
San ju	Thirty
Yon ju	Fourty
Go ju	Fifty
Roku ju	Sixty
Nana ju	Seventy
Hachi ju	Eighty
Ku ju	Ninety
Hiyaku ju	One hundred

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From the Word KARA

Karate or Karate-do is a martial art that can use as a self-defense into your self. The kara indicates that karate is a technique that permits one to defend himself with his empty hands and fist without weapon.

Kara means that, just as it is the clear mirror that reflects without distortion, or the quiet valley that echoes a sound, so must one who would study Karate-do purge himself of selfish and evil thoughts, for only with a clear mind and conscience can he understand that which he receives. This is another meaning of the element kara in Karate-do.

Next, he who would study Karate-do must always strive to be inwardly humble and outwardly gentle. However, once he has decided to stand up for the cause of justice, then he must have the courage expressed in the saying, "Even if it must be ten million foes, I go!" Thus, he is like the green bamboo stalk: hollow (kara) inside, straight, and with knots, that is, unselfish, gentle, and moderate. This meaning is also contained in the element kara of Karate-do.

Finally, in a fundamental way, the form of the universe is emptiness kara), and, thus, emptiness is form itself. There are many kinds of martial arts, judo, kendo, sojitsu ("spear techniques"), bojitsu ("stick techniques"), and others, but at a fundamental level all these arts rest on the same basis as Karate-do. It is no exaggeration to say that the original sense of Karate-do is at one with the basis of all martial arts. Form is emptiness, emptiness is form itself. The kara of Karate-do has this meaning.

Judo

Judo is a martial art that was born in Japan, and it is now known around the world as an Olympic sport. Judo was established in 1882 by combining jujitsu, a form of wrestling, with mental discipline. The roots of jujitsu lie in sumo, which has a long, long history; sumo is mentioned in the Nihon shoki (Chronicle of Japan), a document from 720 that describes the history of Japan from the mythical age of the gods until the time of Empress Jito, who reigned from 686 to 697.

From the twelfth to the nineteenth century Japan was ruled by the samurai, a class of professional soldiers. This provided fertile ground for various martial arts to develop. In addition to fighting with swords and bows and arrows, the samurai developed jujitsu to fight enemies at close quarters on the battlefield. Several different styles of jujitsu evolved, and hand-to-hand combat spread as an important form of military training.

The
era of samurai rule came to an end with the Meiji Restoration of 1868,
and Western culture began filtering in into Japanese society. Jujitsu
fell into decline, but the enthusiasm of one young man rescued it from
extinction. That man was Jigoro Kano, the founder of judo as we know it
today. Kano excelled in schoolwork but had an inferiority complex about
his small physique. So he became an apprentice of Yanosuke Fukuda, a master of the Tenjin Shin'yo school of jujitsu, when he was 17 and worked to become stronger. In May 1882, when he was just 21 years old, he took the best things about each jujitsu style and created a single new school. This was the birth of modern judo. At first he had just nine students, and the dojo (practice hall) measured just 12 jo (about 24 square yards).

Kano went to Europe in 1889 to introduce judo outside of Japan. A famous episode occurred aboard a ship during his voyage: When a foreigner made fun of Kano, he threw the man down but put his hand under the man's head to prevent him from getting hurt. This illustrated how judo combined practical fighting techniques with thoughtfulness for one's enemy. Kano always maintained a global point of view, serving as a member of the International Olympic Committee, and worked tirelessly to spread judo around the world.

Kano's dream came true at the Tokyo Olympics in 1964, where men's judo was recognized as an official Olympic event. Medals were awarded to competitors in various weight divisions, and Japanese competitors swept the gold in all except the open division, where a non-Japanese champion was crowned. This was a sign that judo had already taken root in countries outside Japan. Women's judo was introduced as a demonstrationevent at the 1988 Seoul Olympics and was added to the official programat the Barcelona Olympics in 1992.

Currently some 184 countries and regions are members of the International Judo Federation. The sport is particularly popular in Europe. In fact, many more people in France practice judo than in Japan. Japan is continuing to promote judo in other countries, such as by sending instructors to regions where judo is not so well known--like Africa and Oceania--and donating secondhand judo uniforms.