Sunday, March 9, 2014

If Interested In Karate Hartford CT Is The Best Place To Go

By Jaclyn Hurley


Martial art is a huge collection of disciplines that boast millions of participants and supporters all over the world. Among the many disciplines are judo, ninjutsu and sumo, for example, but there are numerous less well known disciplines that are nevertheless extremely popular in certain countries. For those that want to learn karate Hartford CT list among one of the places where many experts offer training of high standard.

This sport, or discipline as purists would want it called, is ancient but it has only gained popularity in Japan during the early nineteen twenties when the then minister of sport asked for a demonstration. In the nineteen sixties and seventies a series of extremely successful martial arts films launched the sport into the outer orbit of popularity. Young people flocked to training centers and that popularity remains to this day.

The discipline focuses upon the use of exact body movements that aim at defense or even counter attack. This is only part of the story, however, because it goes far beyond mere physical action. The philosophy behind the sport involves the development of the entire being. Physical action is only one part of it. A large part of it is mental and moral in nature. Students are expected to be disciplined and in control of their entire beings.

The discipline is practiced as a sport in many countries and there are numerous competitions and tournaments. Yet those that view themselves as purist insist that the discipline is not a sport at all but rather a culture that involves the development of the whole being. Serious students are expected to develop morally and spiritually in addition to the physical side of the discipline.

Students of Shotokan are rated on a regular basis and they wear different color belts to indicate their status. Once a student has achieved a black belt, he or she is ready to achieve Dan status. In order to progress to a higher Dan the student is examined by a panel of experts, all with higher Dan grading. Any Dan higher than six is given on merit or age.

There are many reasons why students choose this discipline. Some simply want to be fit and agile, while others are attracted to the holistic approach and the discipline involved in practicing Shotokan. Although there are competitions, masters of the discipline insist that the only contest is against oneself. That is why those students who wish to learn fighting techniques are discouraged.

Choosing a school should be undertaken with circumspect. It is probably best to only consider institutions that are members of authoritative controlling bodies. The internet is also a great source of information and internet forums can provide valuable insight about the reliability of a specific school or club. It is also important to remember that not all clubs adhere to the true principles of the discipline.

There are many benefits to practicing Shotokan. It teaches its students to make rational decisions and it places a high priority on self discipline. Students are required to respect their teachers and each other. These skills and attitudes often spill over in the everyday lives of those students, helping them to achieve better in other areas of their lives.




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