Life and history of Bodhidharma
Bodhidharma Bodhidharma, known as Dámó in China and Daruma in Japan, is credited with founding Chan Buddhism, which later became Zen Buddhism in Japan. Mysterious Beginnings. The accounts of Bodhidharma’s …
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Author: Gert Corfitzen Jürgensen
Value of Karate
Karate and Its Impact on Values, Discipline, and Self-Confidence. When delving into the world of Karate, beyond the flashy kicks and punches often depicted in movies, we discover a rich …
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Karate styles, take a slice
After 19-20 years of sportskarate, and standardization of Shotokan, I had to acknowledge that Shotokan no longer was an option for me. My personal development in Karate has stopped, and …
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Yoshitaka Funakoshi’s Shotokan
Yoshitaka Funakoshi Yoshitaka “Gigo” Funakoshi was born in Okinawa in 1906. Already from childhood, he was diagnosed with tuberculosis, which was also the cause of his death in 1945. Yoshitaka …
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Strength training – Yes or No!
Are you doing strength training alongside your Karate? If not, then maybe you should consider it. Strength training is essential for your development within Karate. The purpose of strength training …
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Application of Kata techniques
Kata was created to function in a perfect fight situation. Everything is predetermined. When we are attacked in a certain way, then we use a certain series of defensive techniques …
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Hidden techniques in Kata
Some instructors claim that Kata harbors hidden techniques, asserting that these were concealed during Karate’s integration into the Okinawan school system to prevent potentially dangerous injuries. The notion was that …
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Use of force
An important point to keep in mind in Karate is the use of force! If you practice Karate solely with force, your body will tense up. Making explosive attacks or …
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Interpretation of techniques (short version)
Most practitioners of Karate do not pay much attention to the whole technique. I think that is a fundamental mistake. Let us take Gedan-barai as an example; in most cases, …
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How to learn a Kata
Learning a Kata is a nuanced process that involves more than just mastering patterns and techniques. Here’s a step-by-step guide: Initial Learning. When starting with a new Kata, begin by …
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