For Learning Karate Hartford CT Masters Are Among The Best

Saturday, March 8, 2014

By Jaclyn Hurley


Martial arts are tremendously popular everywhere in the world and people flock to it for many different reasons. There are a bewildering number of different disciplines to choose from, including aikido, judo and sumo, to name just a few of the most popular ones. All the various martial art disciplines have one common denominator and that is that no equipment other than the body is used. For those who wish to learn karate Hartford CT is probably one of the best places to go.

The name of this discipline is derived from a combination of the Chines characters kara, which means empty and te which means hand. The sport is believed to originate from Japan, but it has ancient roots in many eastern countries and there are particularly strong Chinese influences. However, the discipline only gained widespread popularity in the early nineteen twenties and it became a worldwide fad with the extremely popular martial art movies of the sixties and seventies.

It is true that this discipline is extremely physical but that is by far not the half of it. Students are required to develop their entire beings. There is a high focus upon mental discipline as well and students are taught that they need to be in control of their emotions at all times. Thus the discipline becomes a holistic one, instead of just a physical sport.

There are several schools of thought about whether the discipline is a sport or a culture. It is true that there are numerous competitions that seem to focus purely on the physical aspect of the discipline. Participants in such competitions are expected to perform katas and other movements and they are judged accordingly. However, many aficionados will argue that the discipline is not a sport but actually an entire new way of life.

There is a strict hierarchy among students of Shotokan. Beginners wear different color belts to show their status, until they achieve a black belt, the highest honor among those that wear belts. Thereafter students can achieve Dan status. Students can progress to a higher Dan rating by submitting to tests set by a panel of experts. It is possible to progress up to the sixth Dan in this manner, but thereafter higher Dan ratings are purely honorary.

People embrace Shotokan for different reasons. There are those that desire only to learn how to be proficient in physical confrontations but masters of the discipline regards such students with disdain. The true Shotokan student strives for growth and discipline and skills learned should never be used aggressively, although in certain cases students are allowed to defend themselves, using minimum force.

Those who wish to learn the discipline of Shotokan should be careful when they evaluate possible schools or clubs. It is an unfortunate fact that many clubs do not adhere to the true principles of the discipline. It is best to choose a school that is accredited with an official controlling body and that is managed by a reputable master. A simple internet search can help to narrow down the choices.

The disciplines and skill taught to students of Shotokan is universally applicable. Many students find that they are able to use their skills and attitudes to achieve success in other fields. The discipline is not aggressive and serious students often achieve a high level of maturity long before their peers do so.




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