questions and answers

1. Is Karate Violent?
2. Will Karate make my child more aggressive ?
3. Won't  Karate techniques make someone dangerous?
4. Will I have to bow and pray to a golden Buddha  ?
5. What is so special about your school?
6. Is Karate good exercise?
7. Will I have to sign a big contract obligating me to years of study?

Is Karate violent?

The average person, having been strongly influenced by the mass media, has an image of karate as being a violent sport. The practitioners are often viewed as using karate as a convenient vehicle for violence. In reality, however, nothing is further from the truth.

Karate gradually evolved in Okinawa (not Japan, as many people believe). Okinawa, the largest of a string of islands south of Japan, is today the poorest prefecture of Japan, however culturally and historically Okinawans have their own traditions.

Nonviolence is part of the Okinawan life style. In fact the Okinawan people have had a long standing reputation for being among the most peaceful people in the world. Even Napoleon, upon hearing about Okinawan nonviolence, remarked, "I cannot understand a people not interested in war!"

To many, the practice of karate and nonviolence is paradoxical. However, to those of us who are long-term practitioners of karate there is no paradox. A mother, for example, who might normally be a peace-loving person, will typically fight ferociously to defend her child. Life is precious to her, especially the life of her child, and most of us would not deny her the right to preserve her life and the life of her child. In fact we would not think that her defensive actions contradict her peaceful nature.

The true karate practitioner is also nonviolent who would not use karate skills for any reason other than for the preservation of precious life, and then s/he would apply these skills as a last resort. The difference between a typical mother and a mother who also is a karateka is that the latter will defend her child with far greater skill based on steady training. Furthermore, this skill and training gives her more presence of mind to make better, reality-based decisions allowing her to choose what level of force she needs to control the attacker(s). If she chooses to negotiate she'll be negotiating from a position of strength rather than bluff. Often potential predators will sense this and back off if they think their prey is competent.

Shijin Gushiken, a highly accomplished karate master in Okinawa, summed up his philosophy as "having a skilled fist but never using it."

© 1997 Bernd Weiss

www.armchair.com

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Will Karate make my child more aggressive ?

Karate training has been shown to make kids and adults less aggressive. Karate teaches people how to focus their energy in a positive direction, it lowers levels of stress, and it engenders a positive mental attitude. Most people who feel anger are angry out of a feeling of powerlessness, impotence , worthlessness, etc. Karate directly addresses these issues in a positive way.

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Won't karate make someone dangerous ?

I always say that the safest person to be with is a Karate student. This is because the Karate student is carefully trained to know when and If martial techniques are an appropriate response to a violent situation. Karate students, through stringent training, learn to use their skills only when there is no alternative. Karate students are trained to be good citizens first, and Martial Artists second.

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Will I have to bow and pray to a golden Buddha ?

Karate, as any physical endeavor, has its training ritual based on specific protocol, exercise, and ritual. Usually, Japanese Martial Arts are very stringent in their discipline. This is because Japanese people highly value perfection of their arts, whether it be Karate, Tea Ceremony, flower arranging, etc.

Old Greenwich Karate stresses physical, mental and spiritual interaction. There are no specific religious overtones.

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What is so special about your school?

At Old Greenwich Karate, we emphasize the " Art" of Karate, rather than "Sport" of Karate. Historically, Karate was used to train kids and adults to be good citizens, as well as good Martial Artists, in a non-competitive atmosphere. Sport Karate, on the other hand, emphasizes the competitive aspects of Karate. Sport Karate is great, but should not be confused with the traditional Art of Karate, in which the primary goals emphasize self-control,  self-discovery, good citizenship, self-confidence and self-improvement. 

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Is Karate good exercise?

Karate is the best exercise. It is aerobic, it uses resistance training, it teaches proper breathing technique, it keeps the student stretched and flexible, it enhances balance, its fun, it reduces levels of stress. And as an added bonus, the student learns self-defense !

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Will I have to sign a contract?

Positively not! Most legitimate schools charge month to month. You can quit any time with no financial penalty !

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