Karate in Action.

Striking

First, karate is primarily a striking art, though not exclusively, like Tae Kwon Do. "Striking" generally refers to quick thrusts like kicks and punches that are aimed at disabling or quickly stopping an attacker. Other martial arts styles like jujutsu are in direct contrast to karate, as they emphasize using ground techniques and wrestling strategies in order to counter an oppontent.

Karate generally functions by teaching its students to defend themselves from strikes using blocks, and then to counter-attack with strikes that will disable the opponent. Karate can include other types of strategies like locks and throws. If you see two martial artists fighting each other through punches and blocks, there is a chance that you're watching karate.

You'll that weapons in karate can be employed, but they are often related to farm tools, as the original practioners of karate were banned from using weapons, and instead training using the tools they had at their disposal.

Goals and Philosophy

Like other martial arts, karate generally has a goal of promoting self-discipline and the ability to defend yourself from an attacker. Karate's method of doing so generally relies on blocks and strikes, rather than directly using an opponent's weight against them, as you often see in jujutsu. Karate is generally a "standing up" form of combat, as opposed to "on the ground" fighting. Mixed martial arts can incorporate both of these types of fighting styles, so karate could be included in the mixed martial arts.

Should you study karate?

The only one who can really tell if karate is for you is you. If you're an aspiring martial arts student who wants to learn a style of fighting that includes standing-up kicks and punches, karate is probably for you. But there are other styles out there, including jujutsu, Tae Kwon Do, wrestling, and grappling. If you're really interest in martial arts, it's best to go with whichever discipline you'll enjoy the most, as this is the discipline you're likely to stick with over the long haul.

Photo Credits: Szift

Originally posted 2009-12-01 03:53:33.

Karate Footwork

Spend time practicing just your footwork. If you really want to build up your footwork skills, spend time practicing just your footwork. Former professional football cornerback Deion Sanders reportedly would spend time having his hands tied so that he could isolate his other body movement when covering wide receivers. Isolate your own skills in this way - spend some time just focusing on this one area of your karate skills and you will find that you are vastly improved when you bring it all back together.

Know when to plant and gain leverage. When people think about footwork, they often think about remaining shifty and light on their feet. But footwork is also about gaining leverage and using your body weight to deliver a solid strike to your opponent. Know when to plant your feet - and how to do it - when it's the time to strike. Karate often emphasizes striking, so be sure to ask your instructor if you're still unsure about how this is accomplished.

Practice footwork in 360 degrees. Karate is not two-dimensional. That's why you'll want to work on your footwork to the point where you can move forward, backward, and in all directions you can in order to maximize your mobility and adaptability. If you have strong footwork, you'll have an advantage against any opponent who hasn't studied this area of their lives and put in considerable practice. You'll also be quicker, with a more unpredictable presence in the mind of your opponent.

Learn about shuffling. Footwork is about utilizing minimal movement for maximum gains. This means that you don't want to step and jump everywhere you go - you should be ready to shuffle at the right times. Consult your karate teacher to learn more about proper shuffling techniques and, if you're not satisfied with the answers, continue researching this yourself and possibly look for an instructor who knows what you're asking about.

Photo Credits: mikebaird

Originally posted 2009-11-10 03:57:11.

Styles and Countries

Many martial arts beginners think that the most popular martial arts form is karate because it is much more prevalent in countries like America due to classic movies such as the Karate Kid, and the media attention that has followed these movie productions.  However, karate really is not as globally popular as you would think.  While it is frequently practiced in America, its popularity across the world does not reach as far.  Depending on the country, there will be a different, more popular martial arts form.  For example, you would find the Judo style prevalent in Japan, the Muay Thai popular in Thailand, and the BJJ frequently practiced in Brazil.

Karate

The art of karate was in fact founded by farmers in Japan.  When the Samurais tried to constantly invade their land, they invented this technique as a form of defense.  Later, the fighting style expanded to all areas of Japan, causing the details of the method to be varied per individual island, such as the residents in Okinawa who had their own karate variation called Okinawa Karate.  The two major emphases on all of these techniques are the elaborate punches and kicks that are exerted and that it is primarily a form of self-defense.

Tae Kwon Do

Another popular form that many know well is Tae Kwon Do.  This style has its roots in Korea and emphasizes powerful kicks and punches, with one of its most popular moves being the roundhouse kick.  This kick is used almost ninety percent of the time as a last resort move to win during in sparring matches.  And the Tae Kwon Do martial art is a great style for any person who has a preference for kicking or would like to learn to kick better.  The styles are represented by three different organizations--the World Tae Kwon Do Federation or WTF, the International Tae Kwon Do Federation or ITF, and the American Tae Kwon Do Association or ATA.  The WTF is on the Olympic level, the ITF is not Olympic but still is used by several countries, and the ATA is only located within one country.

Judo

The next highly popular martial arts style is Judo.  The Judo technique is extremely popular on the islands of Japan and is also considered an Olympic sport.  Interestingly, this style was used as a substitute to Jujitsu back in the early 1800s.  Since Jujitsu was extremely harsh and resulted in many injuries, Judo was created so that those who wanted to learn the style, but did not wish to get hurt seriously hurt. They could practice a technique that was more safe.

Originally posted 2010-03-22 03:19:30.

Kung fu.

If you're a kung fu student and want to prepare your body for what's going to be coming to you, you need the right exercising habits. After all, you wouldn't do squats to prepare for a ping pong tournament, would you? Here are some very important ways to train for your kung fu pursuits.

Kung fu is about action, but remember that action requires rest. Before you go off and exercise four hours a day, every day, remember that your body needs recuperative time in order to adjust to the new demands you place on it. When you work a muscle, you place demands on that muscle and your body is forced to adjust during a rest period by adding more strength to your muscle. Kung fu will constantly remind you that action is important, but remember that conscious action and conscious relaxation - relaxation aimed at improving yourself, not relaxation as a crutch - will help your body become strong and powerful.

Keep your breathing in tune with your mind and your body. Breathing has a powerful place in kung fu, so it will be important for you to exercise in conjunction with how your mind and body feel. If you can focus all of them onto the task at hand, your discipline will improve and your exercising will be more effective. Concentrate on breathing well; ask your instructor if you want some tips.

Understand that strength is something that is maintained, not built. Sure, you build muscles, but if you want to embrace the full discipline of a kung fu student, you'll need to remember that strength is maintained by constant action, not by building something in one day and expecting it to last a lifetime. This means your exercising will need to be a regular habit, as will your striving to improve yourself.

If you stop going to the gym, your muscles weaken from less frequent use. Your life is often like this in other areas as well, so remember this powerful lesson.

Photo Credits: mK B.

Originally posted 2009-12-22 03:55:03.

Muay Thai

The martial arts have been developing for thousands of years, so it makes sense that in today's culture, you can find so many disciplines and sub-disciplines within the "martial arts" realm. But what kind of martial arts define what is going on today, and what are people interested in learning? Some of the answers may surprise you. Here are some of today's most popular martial arts, and the countries of their origin.

Muay Thai. Famously associated with Thailand - heck, it is called "Thai" land - Muay Thai is a type of fighting style that you'll hear a lot about if you tune into today's mixed martial arts events. It is similar to kickboxing in its style and makes an emphasis that just about any limb or part of the body can be used as a weapon against your opponent.

Brazilian jiu-jitsu. If you haven't heard of Brazilian jiu-jitsu, then it's probably fair to say that you don't pay much attention to mixed martial arts. Brazilian jiu-jitsu is a vital component to many fighters' style, including fighters like B.J. Penn and Wanderlei Silva. Country of origin? Brazil, of course, where it continues to thrive.

Tae Kwon Do. Loosely translated as "the way of the fist and foot" or the art of punching and kicking, Tae Kwon Do is traditionally associated with South Korea, coming to more popularity after the end of World War II. In the United States, you'll be able to find a variety of Tae Kwon Do classes, even if there might not be any Karate classes to sign up to!

Karate. Speaking of Karate - originating in Okinowa - one of the world's most famous martial arts emphasizes fighting without weapons. If you find yourself in a self-defense situation with no weapons, then your body and the world around you have to become your weapons. That's the philosophy behind Karate, which is a style of martial arts practically synonymous with the phrase "martial arts" in the first place.

Judo. Also originating in Japan, Judo is a type of fighting that emphasizes using an opponent's strength and weight against him. You'll find this kind of strategy also emphasized in the always-popular jiu-jitsu. Judo also emphasizes submissions and locks as part of someone's weapons against opponents who may be more powerful than yourself.

Photo Credits: loura

Originally posted 2010-01-05 03:39:09.

Ultimate Fighter

Brazil. Brazilian jiu-jitsu has quickly become one of the most popular forms of martial arts on the planet, and if you're serious about mixed martial arts, then you need to be in Brazil, at least at some point in your life. The name of the country is in the fighting style! You can't miss by going to Brazil in order to shore up what UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) fans would call your "ground game." This isn't the prettiest style of fighting - at least not for an audience - but it can help you gain advantage over an opponent who has you on the ground.

Japan. There is perhaps no place more famous for martial arts than Japan, the birthplace of Karate, which more accurately was generated in Okinowa. Although Karate itself has expanded to find homes all over the world, including in Canada and the United States, Japan is its birthplace, and sometimes there's no replacing that sense of history than by traveling to where it call began. You won't find any shortage of martial arts in Japan, and if you're a serious martial artist, you'll probably find yourself traveling there at some point, whether you originally planned on it or not.

The United States. The United States is, quite simply, where martial artists come to make it. Cities like Las Vegas provide arenas for some of the world's most popular martial arts events. If you want to make it as an Ultimate Fighter, you're going to have to go to Las Vegas at some point. If you want to find the best teachers around the world, many of them are in the United States, where the demand for martial arts training is high.

Photo Credits: Kaloozer

Originally posted 2009-11-26 03:42:42.

Karate Primer.

First, karate is primarily a form of martial arts that focuses on striking, much like Tae Kwon Do. Striking refers to blows you rein down on an opponent through the use of the legs and the arms. Punching, kicking, and blocking are emphasized heavily in karate. If you want to know how to both throw a punch and block a punch, studying karate would be the right discipline to choose. It also introduces more elements than a martial art like boxing in that you can use your feet and legs more aggressively.

Karate also incorporates locks and throws, which gets closer to a more Brazilian jiu-jitsu style of fighting without fully embracing it. You might think of karate as learning how to fight at a medium distance: you aren't locked fully with your opponent, but you aren't shooting arrows at them, either. In karate, you can get close enough to "throw" an opponent, but this isn't always the primary way of fighting.

Karate emphasizes self-defense. By teaching you how to strike and block strikes, it gives you an ability to read a situation and adapt through a variety of self-defense techniques. In other words, you learn how to defend yourself. You learn to strike back so you can disable your opponent, as well as how to take them aground so that the fight can end.

Like many martial arts, much of karate emphasizes self-discipline and confidence that allows you to carry yourself in a more assertive way, hopefully leading to a decrease in the amount of people that want to attack you in the first place. Through training and dedication, you can give off the energy of "someone who knows Karate" and avoid fights before they happen, which hopefully leads to a greater amount of peace both in your life and throughout the world.

Photo Credits: tomer.gabel

Originally posted 2009-08-06 05:36:31.