Ocala Karate and Fitness

Posts Tagged ‘Dojo’

I’d just like to start off by saying that I really hope everyone is enjoying themselves as much as I am.  Ocala Karate & Fitness www.ocalashinbukan.com has turned out to be one of the best experiences in my life.  Rolling into the second half of our second year open, I can’t express with words what the dojo has accomplished and the plans that I have in place for where we are all going.   I am really excited about the fact that starting in September, we will be opening a Intermediate/advanced Adult Karate class.  This is really going to be fun now.  Ocala Karate & Fitness is just now getting its first wave of graduating beginner students into the intermediate level stage of their training.

These classes are going to not only be faster paced, but the difficulty level skill wise is going to jump substantially.  Remember me saying at one time that Ocala Karate & Fitness continues to push its members everyday, every month, and every year.  Well this is where a “BIG” push comes into play.  And all of these graduating members are ready.  Their basic fundamentals, which are the building blocks to “Karate” are all strong.

Also due to the overwhelming number of new members that has allowed us to grow so fast, we will be opening up another children class, and juniors class.  All of this will be happening over the next 60 days so be sure to stay tuned for updates on times and schedule.

Ryukyu Kobudo Tesshinkan "Philosophy of the heart"

Another SPECIAL thanks to our Ryukyu Kobudo members.  You guys are doing AWESOME !  By now most of you will agree that the Kobudo class is probably the most difficult and challenging class of all at Ocala Karate & Fitness.  Having said that, I would like to remind everyone that membership into the Kobudo class (Ocala Tesshinkan) is by invitation only.  In order to qualify for membership the following must now be met prior to invitation.

1. Must hold at least Orange Belt Level and be at least 13 years of age.

2.  Must demonstrate the ability to “REALLY” push yourself and excel.

3.  Must attend at least 6 Ryukyu Kobudo classes per month.

4.  Must demonstrate exceptional control and Attitude.

When an Ocala Karate & Fitness member meets all these prerequisites, membership into the Ocala Tesshinkan will be reviewed.  Acceptance into the organization will lead to a path that most Martial Artists NEVER get to experience.  I truly encourage all of our members to try and make it into the Ocala Tesshinkan.

Have a great weekend and we’ll see everyone next week.

Gambatte

Robby Bray

And we are officially over half way through 2010. Can you believe it? I sure can’t. This year is moving by sooo fast, but we couldn’t be happier with our members here at Ocala Karate & Fitness. www.ocalashinbukan.com We have been able to accomplish all of our goals so far this year and we are looking forward to the second half of 2010. This leads us to our topic of today. And that is ATTITUDE.
Attitude is the one element that really impacts and has serious influence over each of our lives. It has a tremendous effect over how we go through life day after day. It is key to determining how you are going to feel, day after day. Every morning when you get up, having the right attitude can change the whole day before you even get started.   Let me explain how Okinawan Karate can help.

First off.  Okinawan Karate is much more than a system of learning Self Defense.  Okinawan Karate is a way of LIFE.  Having said that, let me take it a step further.

All my members here at Ocala Karate & Fitness hear me say this over and over again in class.  Karate is a way of life.  This is due to the way that the Okinawans’  structured and cultivated this art.  You see, it all starts everyday when you walk through the door and enter the dojo.  “DOJO”  means “Place Of The Path To Enlightenment”  This should be everyone’s mindset upon entering the dojo.  This is where we make a BETTER you.

A Fresh Start

Upon entering the Dojo, and stepping out on the floor, you must focus on making yourself a little better than the last time you were here.  Every night you come in, focus should always be on making yourself a little better than before.  Not better than the person beside you, but better than YOU were.  Whether it be strength, balance, agility, is not important.  Just always, always strive to better yourself in one aspect.  If you continue to do this while training, it will have a positive effect on how you start approaching everything else in life.  You begin to take it from the moment you get up out of bed every morning.  Try to make your life a little better than it was yesterday.

Remember that the beautiful thing about life is that “EVERY” morning when we get up, we control our OWN destinies.  Every second of every day, we make decisions that effect what happens to us.  This is just ONE small example of how Okinawan Karate can change your life forever.  It creates a new “Positive” mindset on the dojo floor, which over time can be carried off the floor with you and into your life 24 hours a day, 7 days per week.  The first of our Dojo kun says what?  “To strive for the Perfection of character”   Think this through carefully, and start putting it to use today.   Stop back by in a few days and I will expand further on this Subject.  Everyone have a safe holiday, and we look forward to seeing everyone next week.  

Gambatte

Robby Bray

      Something I really want to stress to everyone that is involved in any martial art, but especially Okinawan Karate, is the importance of the basics.  The basics, or Kihon, is something that seems to get over looked in almost all western forms of martial arts today.  Whether it be the fast paced life style that we have grown accustomed to in this busy world that we live in, or just that we have really grown impatient as a society.

     With technology advances moving at the rate that they are, we as a society have really grown to be impatient.  When you think about how long it takes any of us at home to find information on line, its really no wonder.  We have access to just about everything  now at any time we want. 

     This is where Traditional Okinwan Karate can really benefit children, teenagers, and even adults.  The reason for this is that there is no fast way or ancient secret to learning Karate.  Only dedicated diligent study of the basics can produce the desired results that so many people come to Ocala Karate & Fitness in search of.  So many times I hear people say: How do yo move like that?  How did you get so fast?  How can you remember all that?  My answer is: It’s easy. 

      They always say Oh yeah, maybe for you.  But they can’t understand that years ago, I was just like them.  All I had to do was practice.  Really practice.  Not just wander in the dojo, put my Gi on and walk through the motions watching the clock and running out the door right when class was over.  No, I had to really practice.  I had to think everything through. I had to wait, and learn all the stuff that some might see as boring, or dull.  But what most don’t realize is that stuff that so many people think to be boring and dull is so very important to training your body and mind to see and come to realize all the key points and fundamentals in  karate.  

Yes these stances make strong legs!

     This is what develops those muscles.  This is what develops the balance and coordination.  It does not happen in a week, a month, even a year.   It’s something that we have to bring into our daily life and embrace it as a life long practice.  Do you notice changes in a month? Of course.  Do you notice huge changes in a year?  Absolutely.  If you don’t believe it, be sure to video yourself in class the first month you start and then after about a year.  You won’t believe the difference.

      This is what we’re about at Ocala Karate & Fitness.  We are about producing life long members.  We want to touch people’s lives and offer them such improvements in overall health and fitness.  Both mentally and physically.  All I have to do is watch my Sensei when they come to Ocala, or when I travel to Okinawa and I see what I hope I will have at 63 or 65 years old.  I hope I can move faster and look stronger than a healthy 35 year old when I’m that age.

Building Balance

Long days of training around the world

    These are only a few items off the long list of benefits that can be achieved by practicing Okinawan Karate.  So when ever anyone asks me what the secret is to learning Karate.  I simply answer this with a direct quote that one of my Sensei once told me.  He said the Secret to Okinawan Karate is in the EFFORT.  “EFFORT IS EVERYTHING.”

        I just wanted to say how great everything here is going at the dojo.  We couldn’t ask for a better group of people that have come in looking to make real changes in themselves and already seeing it happening.  Nothing makes us smile wider, than to see our members progressing through their training the way everyone is right now.  I was looking around in class last night and watching how far everyone has come in such a small amount of time.  This is what being an instructor is all about.  Seeing every one’s hard work and time on the floor training beginning to show itself.  Our classes are very fast paced and filled with energy.  These are the classes that really allows our members to absorb their material and see how it applies to real life situations.  Whether it be self defense, or just basics.  The way everyone is starting to move with speed and direction now shows me that balance, and coordination is being developed within the class.  Combine that with the strength and accuracy our members are demonstrating with their techniques is the perfect combination for true physical, and mental strengthening here at Ocala Karate & Fitness.  I know in the beginning it can really be confusing and overwhelming for most, but this is just a small taste of the many, many rewards that are already being earned. 

     With all the new drills and classes that we are now moving into, I only see brighter days ahead for everyone.  Between the Karate, and Kobudo, (Okinawan Weapons) our members are finishing the year out with their heads held high.  A feeling of accomplishment that can only be understood by those that have gone before, and taken the same path.  It is great to see our new advancements this month: Daniel, Josh, Codie, Luke, and James take their new belts and proudly move forward.  All the sweat and hard work is paying off everyone, so keep it up.  Remember that this is all being done for no one but yourselves.  The hard work that you put in IS and WILL continue to be rewarded with all the skills that you continue to build upon.  So continue to push yourselves, and when given the chance, help your fellow members.  If you see someone looking discouraged or confused, reach out to them and let them know that not too long ago you too were standing right where they are.  Walking the same path, and just as you had, they too have someone to lend a helping hand.  Pat them on the back or shoulder and let them know what a good job they are doing.  One of the most rewarding things in any martial art is to know that you helped someone get better.  Always Remember: It’s not about who gets there first.  Its about who gets there with the most.   Think about that carefully.