Download Student Guide - North Wind Martial Arts & Fitness

KARATE JUTSUOn the surface, Karate (empty hand art, empty hand, open hand) is an art of pure punching,blocking and kicking from a series of stances that will enhance the power of the striking orblocking technique. Does this mean that the art of Karate is nothing more than that?Certainly, this is enough to fill a life with dedication and training. Karate is, however, morethan just a punching, kicking and blocking art. Karate includes throws, take downs, shoulderdriving, hip driving and a complex series of foot movements that will enable a Karate person todefend against any non-projectile weapon. Many schools practice Karate as a exercise routine,using many difficult punches and kicks. Other schools try to teach their version of a mysticalOriental philosophy that does nothing but confuse the potential student and disgust the trueKarate-Ka. Karate is the combining of the mind and the body into one well-coordinatedmachine. Karate, at its best, is a combative "ART." Karate, at its worst, is an exercise in asenseless attempt to understand intellectually what is mostly an exercise for the spirit and thebody. Even if a student trains properly and strives to achieve the motor responses necessaryto use Karate as a combative art, only a handful will achieve true combative excellence. Ofthese, only one or two will be able to teach the knowledge they have learned. Karate Jutsu isthe physical science of Karate, and is what must be learned first. Once the physical aspect ofkarate is learned than the arduous task of learning the philosophy, history, and spiritual aspects(Do) of the art begins. It is my belief that warriors are born, not made. While a study of thediscipline of karate can be useful for the shy, reticent person, these people rarely becomewarriors. They can become tougher and certainly able to take care of themselves, but rarely atrue warrior. What is a warrior? What qualities do they have? A warrior is, according to AndoSensei, a student of the physical arts as well as the fine arts. He must be willing to both fight andteach. Honor, integrity, sacrifice, humility, and perserverance are the most important aspects ofhis or her existance. A love of life and a respect for anothers life is important also. Balance in allthings must be achieved by the warrior, and the student of war. Karate do or jutsu teaches usthe warrior principles.