Kitsap Karate by Butokukan

12/07/2018

What if you don't want to be a 'martial artist'?

Think of karate as a study in kinesthetics. You learn to move around your center or core to maximize the effectiveness of your block or strike. You will move your body through a full range of motion, gain flexibility, coordination, and stamina. At the same time you will be leaning many very effective self defense strategies. It can be a lifetime activity.
Karate is good exercise- range of motion, aerobic activity, balance, flexibility, coordination, muscle tone, generates endorphins and all that good stuff. Anyone in reasonable health and physical condition can benefit- even an old guy like me. I know It keeps me off the couch and with energetic and positive people. It's not a team sport. You may work with a group, but you're not in a competition. Just do the best you can with what you have to work with.

10/22/2018

I was pretty grumpy when I went to my physical therapy and attitude adjustment class last. All the nasty politics and terrible things happening to people were depressing. Sensei Hess had the class but no doom and gloom can withstand his high energy, positive attitude. Seldom criticism, lots of positive feedback.
He’s been working with swift foot switching followed up by a variety of deceptive techniques. We worked through some of the basic kata followed by a few exercises: pushups, assorted crunches, stretches and planks. Got rid of my lower back pain. He really likes target pad drills. That’s where your partner moves pads about and may call the type of technique to use while moving about and changing distances. Sensei Bishop pushed me hard. He has a very effective way of encouraging me to keep my block up. A two minute session can be a very long time. Good endurance check. Another one of Sensei Chuck’s favorites to close out class are kicking drills. That’s where partners grasp hands facing each other and do a series of 30 or so of the three basic kicks, then switch and do them with the other leg.
Stress relieved, I slept well.
For those of you of a certain age who have thought karate is something you might like to try someday, don’t let the above deter you. We adjust instruction to your abilities. Classes are small with two to three blackbelts that provide individual coaching as needed. You can try out up to four classes, no charge or obligation to see if this works for you.

Check our website: KitsapKarate.net

Coming in no particular order:
What we teach kids
Why standard martial arts classes are not effective in teaching women self defense
The philosophy behind our class structure
A review of "The Gift of Fear" and "Prefense"

Since 1973, Kitsap Karate by Butokukan has been providing instruction in Karate and the martial arts in the Port Orchard, WA area.