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Message from Sensei Demura, the Chief Instructor of Genbu Kai
The Meaning of Karate-Do
What is the meaning of Karate-Do? Why do we study and train so hard? To find the answer, we must look to where the spirit
of Karate-Do originated - in the Samurai traditions of Japan and Okinawa. In Japan, Samurai fought with swords. In Okinawa,
Samurai fought with fists. Their methods were different, but both were Samurai - because both had the spirit of Samurai!
The most important part of being a Samurai had nothing to do with which way they chose to fight. The most important part of
being a Samurai was the strength of character and spirit. The Japanese word for it is "Setsu-gi" which means the following
things:
Setsu = manners, humility (being humble), having a good character
Gi = obligation, honor, respect
This means that a Samurai honors the understanding that people have a obligation to be humble and to develop a strong
character. In other words, a Samurai tries always to become the best person possible.
Students of Genbu-Kai have the same motto - to be the best person possible. Another way to look at it is to picture your body
having a strong backbone. Persons who have a weak backbone cannot stand straight, they cannot move well, their lives are
harder. Persons with strong backbones can hold their heads up straight. They can use their arms to write, throw, pick things
up, punch. They can use their legs to walk, run, jump, kick.
Having a character with a strong "backbone" is even more powerful and important. If you don't have a strong backbone to
your character, it doesn't matter how smart you are or how strong your body is - you will have no real strength, and no real
success in your life. However, if you do have a strong backbone to your character, it doesn't matter even if your body is
clumsy and uncoordinated, and it doesn't matter if you are not as smart as someone else - your strength of character will
give you true success in your life, the life of a good person.
In Genbu-Kai, our goal is for every one of our students to have a strong character backbone, for every one of our students
to have the successful life of a good person. It is the core of our way, our Samurai spirit, the Genbu-Kai difference!
Kata
Kata is a very important part of our training. It helps us in many ways to improve our karate skills. First, we get to practice our
basic techniques - punching, kicking, blocking, turning, stances. Second, we start learning about combining our techniques
into groups of movements, to help begin our understanding of sparring. As our understanding of Kata improves, we are able
to look at it as a kind of shadow-boxing with many opponents at one time.
The more we practice, the smoother and more natural our movements become, the better our timing becomes. Our bodies
begin to find the rhythms of the Kata, and from that the rhythms of fighting. As we continue to practice our Katas, we begin to
study how to use the movements from the Katas in fighting situations, which we call "applications."
The more experienced we become, the more we are able to use the movements when we spar, and to develop more
advanced applications from them, which we call "oyo." The most important thing we can do with Kata is to practice, Practice,
PRACTICE!
Kumite
We have many ways to study kumite (sparring) - ways for every level of understanding and ability. Each kind of kumite helps
us to build skills and technique. The ways in which we usually train in kumite are:
The Meaning of Karate-Do
What is the meaning of Karate-Do? Why do we study and train so hard? To find the answer, we must look to where the spirit
of Karate-Do originated - in the Samurai traditions of Japan and Okinawa. In Japan, Samurai fought with swords. In Okinawa,
Samurai fought with fists. Their methods were different, but both were Samurai - because both had the spirit of Samurai!
The most important part of being a Samurai had nothing to do with which way they chose to fight. The most important part of
being a Samurai was the strength of character and spirit. The Japanese word for it is "Setsu-gi" which means the following
things:
Setsu = manners, humility (being humble), having a good character
Gi = obligation, honor, respect
This means that a Samurai honors the understanding that people have a obligation to be humble and to develop a strong
character. In other words, a Samurai tries always to become the best person possible.
Students of Genbu-Kai have the same motto - to be the best person possible. Another way to look at it is to picture your body
having a strong backbone. Persons who have a weak backbone cannot stand straight, they cannot move well, their lives are
harder. Persons with strong backbones can hold their heads up straight. They can use their arms to write, throw, pick things
up, punch. They can use their legs to walk, run, jump, kick.
Having a character with a strong "backbone" is even more powerful and important. If you don't have a strong backbone to
your character, it doesn't matter how smart you are or how strong your body is - you will have no real strength, and no real
success in your life. However, if you do have a strong backbone to your character, it doesn't matter even if your body is
clumsy and uncoordinated, and it doesn't matter if you are not as smart as someone else - your strength of character will
give you true success in your life, the life of a good person.
In Genbu-Kai, our goal is for every one of our students to have a strong character backbone, for every one of our students
to have the successful life of a good person. It is the core of our way, our Samurai spirit, the Genbu-Kai difference!
Kata
Kata is a very important part of our training. It helps us in many ways to improve our karate skills. First, we get to practice our
basic techniques - punching, kicking, blocking, turning, stances. Second, we start learning about combining our techniques
into groups of movements, to help begin our understanding of sparring. As our understanding of Kata improves, we are able
to look at it as a kind of shadow-boxing with many opponents at one time.
The more we practice, the smoother and more natural our movements become, the better our timing becomes. Our bodies
begin to find the rhythms of the Kata, and from that the rhythms of fighting. As we continue to practice our Katas, we begin to
study how to use the movements from the Katas in fighting situations, which we call "applications."
The more experienced we become, the more we are able to use the movements when we spar, and to develop more
advanced applications from them, which we call "oyo." The most important thing we can do with Kata is to practice, Practice,
PRACTICE!
Kumite
We have many ways to study kumite (sparring) - ways for every level of understanding and ability. Each kind of kumite helps
us to build skills and technique. The ways in which we usually train in kumite are:
- Ippon Kumite "One-Point Sparring" Calling out attacks jodan zuki, chudan zuki, mae geri, yoko geri), make one attack
at a time. basic stances, locking out the attacking and defending techniques. - Nihon Kumite "Two-Point Sparring" Like "one-point" except that, after the first partner attacks, the second partner also
attacks, and then the first partner defends. - Sanbon Kumite "Three-Point Sparring" Three face attacks by the first partner, then by the other partner, then three
stomach attacks by one partner, then the other. - Jiyu Ippon Kumite "One-Point Sparring" in a Free-Sparring Stance. Like "one-point" except that stances and
movements are more natural, and not as locked out - but using good technique becomes even more important. - Jiyu Kumite "Free-Sparring" Opponents move around and attack and defend quickly and at will, using different
techniques and combinations - using good control and technique are extremely important when free-sparring