Okinawan Karate - the UnThinkable!

Karate ka training in shitai kori after learning the incredible martial art
allowing them to take strikes to vital areas on the body.

Martial artists who train in 'Traditional Arts', typically  discover roots and lineage of martial arts as they have been taught for centuries. Unfortunately, most are erroneous in their concept of what martial arts are, which were never designed for sports, competition, etc. Instead martial arts were designed for personal self-improvement, respect, and self-defense. 

Karate in particular, was never thought of as a sport and when sport karate was invented in the mid-20th century, many karate masters on Okinawa (where karate originated) strongly objected to this treatment of their art. Even jujutsu and judo were designed for self-defense with techniques for restraining a prisoner or stopping an armor clad samurai in his tracks. Neither were created for sport.

Hanshi Finley accepts full-force kick from
Shihan Gewecke at a dojo in Wyoming.

It use to be to train in martial arts, one had to swear an oath not to reveal the teachings of the art because of many secret techniques - such as how to reverse a technique on another martial artist, how to knock a person down with one strike, how to apply pressure points, and in some cases, killing blows were taught.

Not only has most sport martial arts watered down techniques and abused kata (forms), it has also done something else to martial arts - it has driven many people away from the original path - a way of concern and respect for others. Even so, there are some positive attributes - most of all, sport arts have brought in many more people into the arts because of competition and an easier curriculum. We all just pray that sport martial artists will retain their respect and concern for all others and remove their egos.

A traditional karateka is prepared at all times – for self-defense and courtesy!

Through time, a white belt turns black with age. As time continues, black wears to white - Now the journey has begun

You have a chance to train tonight and learn to be a better person – this is what should motivate us to train in karate.

Thrust without thrusting, think without thinking – this is mushin

“Karate begins and ends with courtesy” - Gichin Funakoshi

Few people know what karate is? It is Zen, a way of life that teaches traditions, positive affirmations with self defense & meditation and these are all incorporated in kata.

 "if there is no kata, there is no karate, just kicking & punching" - Shoshin Nagamine