Families that Kick together Stick together!!

Parents enjoy spending time with their kids and often look for creative and quality activities to do with them. Kicking a soccer ball in the back yard, going to the local park to play catch, listening to music or dancing together in the living room are all great activities to engage in with your child. However, consider for a moment, adding a Karate class to that list of activities. The Martial Arts, Karate specifically, offers a tremendous opportunity for families to participate together in the same class while doing something that is beneficial to all those who are involved.
The phrase, “A family that kicks together, sticks together", couldn’t be any more truthful. More and more families are discovering that practicing Karate together actually encourages interaction between parents and their children, promotes sharing a common interest and offers a number of healthy and fun benefits. So, you ask, how does practicing Karate provide these benefits?
Regardless of age and skill level, Karate is a challenging activity. It offers a great exercise routine, teaches practical self-defense skills and it provides a structured environment that caters to each individual’s ability. The mental, spiritual and philosophical side of Karate can also provide higher self esteem, confidence, respect for others, positive motivation and help with goal setting.
The benefits of practicing Karate are many. Here are just a few that may peak your interest:

FITNESS: Practicing Karate is an excellent workout that challenges the entire body and all of its muscle groups. Practicing Martial Arts burns more calories than most other activities other than swimming or running a 7 minute mile! Needles to say, it is a very good activity to maintain or improve your fitness levels and cardio-vascular strength.

SELF DEFENSE: Defending yourself is an important part of any practitioner’s study of the Martial Arts. It is becoming more important and critical to possess a fundamental understanding and skill level of self defense regardless of age. Learning “Anti-Bully” techniques and personal protection skills are just one aspect of the training.

CONTINUOUS LEARNING: Karate is structured in a very systematic and progressive fashion that promotes constant refinement. Each Karate student is encouraged to practice individually and to seek knowledge for self-improvement and constant personal development. This type of teaching leads to interpersonal discipline and a good solid work ethic. In a good Martial Arts school you will find that there is always something new to learn and always something different to practice. This progressive content is introduced systematically so as not to overwhelm the beginning students as well as provide a continuous challenge for the intermediate and advanced students.

Spirituality and Philosophy: The philosophies contained in the Martial Arts are both valuable and beneficial to children as well as adults. The opportunity to study and practice these philosophies as a family can lead to very open and positive dialogue between parents and their children.
Each of these different aspects of Karate and the Martial Arts have relevance to individuals of all ages, and consequently parents and children are finding this to be a very enjoyable and challenging family activity for all who participate. There is nothing more fun than having a training partner (Mom, Dad, Brother or Sister) to encourage you along the way. While training together, each individual will be able to bring their own view of the same activity to the overall experience, which then leads to better communication and understanding between all family members. This improved communication will help put the “quality” in “quality time”.
As you can see, enrolling in a Karate class is probably one of the best things you can do for your family. So, if you are stumbling over gift ideas for the holidays and want something that is unique, priceless and will last forever, then look no further than Academy of Karate located in Duarte. Start today and begin a journey that is well worth taking and that will bring you and/or your family improved health, fitness and fun.
If you’re interested in starting your journey in Karate and would like some useful information about the Martial Arts, feel free to visit Academy of Karate on the web at www.duartekarate.com or give us a call at 626-599-1633.
Just remember that a family that KICKS together, STICKS Together!

Duarte Shotokan Karate Academy - Promo Video

How to do a proper warm-up

FACT: A proper warm-up routine is one the most important ingredients of any physical activity, especially marital arts training. 

Although most sports like basketball, football, soccer, baseball or tennis utilize warm-up techniques that are specific to their sport, when it comes to martial arts this practice is not as common as one would think. 

It's not to say that the martial arts or its practitioners do not have activity specific methods to do a proper warmup routine, it's just that there are so many people that do not practice a standardize  warm-up method like most coaches or athletes of team sports do. 

For example: What actions do basketball players perform when playing? 

They shoot, pass, run, jump and shuffle side to side to name a few. So is it surprising that the warm-up routine of a basketball player resembles many of the actions they are about to perform in a game?

Shouldn't this be the case in a Dojo too?

Students stretching after a good warmup.

You would think so. However in many cases there is no specific standard handed down from Sensei to student regarding "efficient/appropriate" methods of warming up.  Most practitioners just imitate their instructors during classes.  Most of the time they are not even taught how to perform a warm up at all. The funny thing about that is so many students are expected to just "know how" to lead a proper warm up at a certain stage in their training whether they were shown how to accomplish the task or NOT. 

Additionally, the idea that stretching is warming up your muscles is also quite common.

FACT: 

WARMING UP AND STRETCHING ARE NOT THE SAME THING.

So here are some of my personal views on performing a proper warm-up.

• Warming up is for the sole purpose of raising the temperature of your blood and to increase your heart rate and circulation to the point of at least %60 above your resting heart rate.
• Stretching is "stretching" and totally separate from the warm up.  "do not confuse the two as they are completely separate parts of your training.
• Stretching is for increasing flexibility, loosening and elongating the muscles and to increase the range of motion of your movements.  It is important to stretch "after" a proper warmup first.
• Warm up your body to the point of breaking a good sweat before stretching.
• USE FUNCTIONAL MOVEMENTS according to the techniques or movements you are about to perform. Example: MAE GERI, If you are to work on your kick, then you must perform exercises that will warm up the specific muscles necessary for the specified technique.

 Kick example would be: light kicking without over-extending, knee raises or light leg swings.

In comparison: Baseball players swing bats to get ready to bat. For punching, practice light movements of similar nature.

• Try a variety of actions that will serve the same purpose of the desired technique. Example: For hand techniques, rotate the shoulders, practice hiki-te lightly, punch or block lightly, use light resistance movements in similar action.
• Isolate the muscles you are about to use to perform. Example: Back-fist requires the biceps and triceps to snap in and out for an effective strike. So isolating those muscles in movements like curls or extensions is ideal to preparing for a back fist practice.
• Make sure to repeat movements at least 3 sets of eight to ensure an adequate amount of loosening and warming up has occurred.
• Start slowly then speed up your movements gradually. Do not go full blast until after the warmup, this also applies to (ROM) "range of motion"
• Warm up your body from HEAD 2 TOE or from TOE 2 HEAD. Never from the core to the limbs.
• Maintain proper movement in every action, avoid rotation of a joint that is not a ball joint like elbows or knees. Rotating your hips in moderation is okay but rotation of the knees is very damaging. SO DON'T DO IT!! 
• Change it up, try new routines regularly, Just as the mind gets bored of something, so does the body and its response to the routine lessens over time.

These are just some of my personal notes on properly warming up the body before Karate class or any other sport but not an end to all means. I would advise seeking out your own knowledge to implement in your your workouts while keeping an open mind and sticking to what makes sense. Taking note of someone else's personal experience in the matter hopefully will only help broaden your horizons.

Good luck and Good Training!!

OSS!

NEW Special offer! 9 weeks for only $99

NEWS FLASH!!

AOK is proud to introduce our best offer yet!!

Currently we are offering 9 weeks of unlimited classes to all NEW COMERS who are looking for a Quality Dojo at affordable rates.

Also included is a Karate uniform and a Sports Bottle (while Supplies last)

Come by for a visit and check out our classes, We are confident you will love them!
If you are still not sure, Just call to schedule a FREE Lesson on your first visit.

YOU have nothing to lose and EVERYTHING TO GAIN!

Give us a call at: 626-599-1633
or
email us at: info@duartekarate.com

Lost or Forgotten Karate Techniques - Part 1

I wanted to touch on a topic that I don't find many people discussing often. THE LOST or FORGOTTEN techniques of Karate-do.

Most dojos teach a very similar way and for the most part all offer the same curriculum, especially if they are of a Shotokan background.  What I like the most about Karate in general is that no one style of karate is limited in its vastness yet they are all so different and very compatible to each other at the same time. This leaves a lot of room for growth and learning within Karate as a whole.
The founder of Shotokan Karate - Gichin Funakoshi once said there is no style in karate.

No matter the style you are studying, all karate styles are considered very versatile and offer many types of techniques and principles.  Karate in its crude form is very diverse and complete.  It was originally intended and developed as a martial art for self defense and survival, not for sport and competition.

Unfortunately, most dojos today only focus on sport competition and or make their claim to fame for offering a JKA style of karate which is very limited to striking and kicking and not much else.

Modern Karate schools don't typically offer the type of training that will directly enhance a student's ability to defend themselves as quickly as many people think. BUT WHY?

-Whatever happened to falling techniques, grappling, low kicks, round punches/strikes, choke holds,  joint manipulation and all the other techniques that karate originally consisted of in its arsenal of techniques to be taught?    

-WHY is it that many dojos don't study or practice Karate like this.
-Why does Traditional Karate appear to be limited to only punching, kicking and blocking?
-Why is Kata practiced for tournament competition but not always studied for its practical application of techniques?
-Why isn't Karate as popular as it used to be?
-Why do many students give up their karate training long before "black belt" most of the time?
-Why do so many people deem Karate as not as effective as other arts anymore?
-Why are so many people gravitating to MMA Gyms or BJJ schools instead of traditional karate dojos?

I believe these things are both directly and indirectly related to the fact that many karate techniques have been LOST or FORGOTTEN.  OR in a nutshell just don't exist anymore. OR the average Karate instructor does not teach or does not know these so called forgotten techniques.

EXAMPLE: When asked where to go if to improve your grappling skills? What is the answer? Almost always a person will reply with: Go to a BJJ school or a wrestling gym.
OR
What is the best style to train under for developing powerful punching skills?
The general answer is typically a Muay Thai or Boxing Gym.

THE GENERAL REPUTATION of a Karate dojo today is that is teaches mainly kids and that it is not really the best for self defense anymore but more for discipline, confidence and respect.

 Self esteem and exercise for kids is the general reputation nowadays.

-What do we need to do to change and improve on this stereo-type?
-What do we as Karate enthusiasts need to do in order to re-educate the masses about the effectiveness and completeness of Karate?
-What do we need to do to improve the image of Karate and its perceived value?

My goal as a Sensei and Dojo Owner is to promote REAL Karate-do not only in a light that is ideal for all ages but also as an effective and complete form of self defense.

TEACHING effective grappling, Joint locks, throws and Take downs are all part of the big picture for Karate. FOR MANY unfortunately these essential techniques are either LOST or FORGOTTEN. 

Please feel free to leave a comment below

Part 2 coming soon.....

 

 

Tournament Season and Team Jackets

ARE YOU READY FOR 2011??

The upcoming Tournament season is upon us and our TEAM Jackets will be arriving right in time!!
There are several events AOK will be attending, To name a few:

TMAI Championships
Nikkei Games
Kabota Cup
Disney Martial Arts Festival
US OPEN
Ozawa Cup
Fontana Karate Dojo Championships
Adlawan Karate Championships

We will have an updated list of all the events we will be attending in 2011 with dates and venues.

We will be hosting TEAM TRYOUTS in JANUARY, So Get ready, Only the Best of the BEST from our Academy will be on the team.. ARE YOU READY?

See you all after the holidays,

Oss!

Nikkei Games Success!!

The 2010 Nikkei Games at Cal State Long Beach was a total Success for students of the academy of Karate as AOK earned an amazing tally of 13 medals. 

Many of the athletes were not seasoned competitors but with some good training sessions at the dojo and lots of tournament preparation, the results were more than tremendous.

AOK's final medal count was 2 GOLD, 4 SILVER, 7 BRONZE!

Congratulations to all who participated and to all of our loyal supporters who came out to cheer our team on as many competitors they made their competition debut.

AOK west hills also participated in the Games earning 3 bronze medals all for the Hojati Family.

What makes this even more special was the SURPRISE participation of Shihan Bruce Hojati.

Shihan Hojati just coming off a gastric bi-pass surgery less than 9 months ago and 120 pounds lighter stepped into the ring after 12 years of absence from competition.

Shihan Hojati performed the Kata Goju Shiho Sho and did very well considering the odds were against him.  Shihan Hojati also demonstrated some vigor and courage by stepping it up in the Kumite division by winning his first 2 matches and placing 3rd in what was a very challenging group of
talented and tough participants.

Congratulations Shihan! For your display of leadership and spirit. You are not only a true Karate-ka but an huge inspiration to myself and all those who know you well and understand the challenges you have been through in recent years.

Oss!

Shihan Hojati's Kata Performance
Goju Shiho Sho