Ocala Karate & Fitness Teaches the importance of Basics
Something I really want to stress to everyone that is involved in any martial art, but especially Okinawan Karate, is the importance of the basics. The basics, or Kihon, is something that seems to get over looked in almost all western forms of martial arts today. Whether it be the fast paced life style that we have grown accustomed to in this busy world that we live in, or just that we have really grown impatient as a society.
With technology advances moving at the rate that they are, we as a society have really grown to be impatient. When you think about how long it takes any of us at home to find information on line, its really no wonder. We have access to just about everything now at any time we want.
This is where Traditional Okinwan Karate can really benefit children, teenagers, and even adults. The reason for this is that there is no fast way or ancient secret to learning Karate. Only dedicated diligent study of the basics can produce the desired results that so many people come to Ocala Karate & Fitness in search of. So many times I hear people say: How do yo move like that? How did you get so fast? How can you remember all that? My answer is: It’s easy.
They always say Oh yeah, maybe for you. But they can’t understand that years ago, I was just like them. All I had to do was practice. Really practice. Not just wander in the dojo, put my Gi on and walk through the motions watching the clock and running out the door right when class was over. No, I had to really practice. I had to think everything through. I had to wait, and learn all the stuff that some might see as boring, or dull. But what most don’t realize is that stuff that so many people think to be boring and dull is so very important to training your body and mind to see and come to realize all the key points and fundamentals in karate.
Yes these stances make strong legs!
This is what develops those muscles. This is what develops the balance and coordination. It does not happen in a week, a month, even a year. It’s something that we have to bring into our daily life and embrace it as a life long practice. Do you notice changes in a month? Of course. Do you notice huge changes in a year? Absolutely. If you don’t believe it, be sure to video yourself in class the first month you start and then after about a year. You won’t believe the difference.
This is what we’re about at Ocala Karate & Fitness. We are about producing life long members. We want to touch people’s lives and offer them such improvements in overall health and fitness. Both mentally and physically. All I have to do is watch my Sensei when they come to Ocala, or when I travel to Okinawa and I see what I hope I will have at 63 or 65 years old. I hope I can move faster and look stronger than a healthy 35 year old when I’m that age.
Building Balance
Long days of training around the world
These are only a few items off the long list of benefits that can be achieved by practicing Okinawan Karate. So when ever anyone asks me what the secret is to learning Karate. I simply answer this with a direct quote that one of my Sensei once told me. He said the Secret to Okinawan Karate is in the EFFORT. “EFFORT IS EVERYTHING.”