Ocala Karate and Fitness

Posts Tagged ‘Kobudo’

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

I was talking some of my members the other night in class and they were all asking me different questions of how Karate has helped change me over the last several years.

Let’s see . . . how has Karate effected me over the last say . . .20 years?  This much I can tell you.  Everyone lists all the positive things that Karate can do for us.  The list always looks something like this:

-Learn Confidence

-Learn Balance

-Learn Self Defense

-Build Strength

-Learn to focus

-Build reflexive response time.

… and the list goes on and on and on.  While all these benefits are without a doubt learned and developed through a GOOD Karate Program, the reality is this.  Okinawan Karate teaches each one of its students everything they need to know about THEMSELVES.

Hard work and sweat go a long way.

A top notch Okinawan Karate Program will help build all the above mentioned AND More! !  Through a very well structured system, Okinawan Karate starts with what we call the basics.  These basics are designed to slowly build strength, Speed, coordination, Balance, and here’s a big one.  Structured Focus.

What many perceive as just punching or kicking or jumping up and down the floor, is actually a simple way of showing each one of us EXACTLY what our strengths and weakness’s are.  These drills systematically show us what, and then HOW to improve these areas.  By revealing our weak areas, we then know exactly what we need to work on.

Yes these stances make strong legs!

Okinawan Kobudo Adds a Whole New Challenge!

This is why so many people start a Karate Program and eventually drop out.  Why?  Because it is very hard for each of us to realize how unbalanced we are.  And when we are showed this . . . its really hard for some people to swallow.  That is why the ones that stay, and WANT to improve themselves both physically and mentally experience all the rewards that they hear Karate can provide for them.

Case in point.  I have a handful of members now that on a routine basis tell all my new members that start out.  “Its okay.  Don’t get frustrated or disappointed you are not able to do a particular thing as well as the senior members.”  They say this because each of my seniors are now able to see just how far they have evolved since they started.

This is the part I enjoy most as a teacher.  To be able to see these  guys and gals really begin to glow in class.  You can almost physically see there Self Esteem begin to radiate from them.  And the best part about it is this.  There is no limitation to Okinawan Karate.  The MORE you train, the better you will get at whatever that particular exercise is teaching.

I’ll have more on this next time.

-Robby Bray

To Learn REAL Karate Takes PATIENCE ! !

 EVERYONE TESTING SHOULD BE PROUD ! ! !

  I’d just like to start this out by saying I have never been MORE Proud of a group of our members during testing.  You guys, and gals, did GREAT! !

  Okinawan Karate is something that takes SO much dedication that most people don’t realize how much time and focus it takes to learn everything required to advance to the next level.  Everyone had a great test and should wear there new belts with PRIDE. 

  Testing started and 6:00 and last about 45 minutes.  We had around 14 members testing, and once again, everyone did a fantastic job.  Remember, at the early stages of our training only limited knowledge is demonstrated.  So if you mess up a little or step with the wrong foot, it’s a big concern right now.  Later on in your training as you advance to intermediate and advanced levels, it becomes a different story.  At that point in your training the foot work and technique is much more critical and REQUIRED in order to advance.  Www.ocalashinbukan.com

   Afterwards, we had 4 of our members stay and test for their next rank in Ryukyu Kobudo.  For those of you not familiar with this, Kobudo is the use of ancient weapons.  Ryukyu Kobudo is an incredibly difficult art to learn and takes many, many years of hard work and dedication in order to properly utilize these Okinawan weapons with a basic level of proficiency.    However,the rewards and benefits that a regular student of Kobudo learns from this practice are PRICELESS.  

All it takes is a little "Effort"

    Through Kobudo, the student learns more about themselves and their body than anything else.  Once one understands themselves, and how to make their own body generate these incredible levels of power, their Karate is then amplified.  It’s a feeling that only someone practicing this art is capable of understanding.  Before I started studying Kobudo, I had no idea that I could get so in tune with the way my body works “together” to generate power.  Learning to make many muscle groups work together, without exerting too much energy is the key. 

  For more information on Ryukyo Kobudo and the Ocala Tesshinkan, feel free to contact me anytime. 

    Lastly, I just want to say thanks to everyone in our Self Defense Program for really turning this class into what it is becoming.  For those of you that have not seen it yet check out the video.  This Class is AWESOME ! ! www.ocalaselfdefense.com 

 Hello Everybody,

  I just wanted to say how excited we are here at Ocala Karate & Fitness.  www.ocalashinbukan.com  Next week marks our FIRST official Year in business and man are we growing.  Ocala Karate & Fitness is Ocala’s Premier martial arts school.  If you don’t believe it just stop by anytime and see for yourself. 

  We offer more variety in our programs and have more to offer than anyone else in town.  We teach AUTHENTIC Okinawan Karate and Kobudo, but also offer if not the best, one of the best Cardio Fitness classes available.  New this year, Ocala Karate & Fitness has introduced its Self Defense Black Belt Program and what a class this has turned out to be.  www.ocalaselfdefense.com

  This class has really turned into a popular class as it hits on “real Life” self defense skills and situations that could really make the difference between a bad situation, and a really, really bad situation.  We’ve been going for 1 month now, and everyone in this class needs to really buckle their seatbelt, because next week we really start turning it on!

Ocala karate & Fitness Self Defense Program

  Our Juniors class now has hit about 12 members and is growing at a rapid pace too.  This class is for ages 11-13 and is really a fun class.  These junior guys and girls are not only benefiting from all the core principles that Okinawan Karate and teach, but also are beginning to learn some real Self Defense skills that will always be available to them if ever needed. 

    These are some of the life building skills and benefits that can only learned at first class martial arts training facility.  At Ocala Karate & Fitness we specialize in doing just that.  Teaching Karate and Fitness.  We are NOT an after school pick up or daycare center.  We take pride in doing what we do best, and that is teaching Okinawan Karate to those who truly wish to learn some of these amazing Life Changing exercises.

  So whether your looking to learn yourself, or to put someone you care about in class, call us today at 352-694-6304 and find out for yourself just how we can help you create something special. 

                                                                                                      Until next week

                                                                                     Robby and Jaime Bray

Hello everyone,

     First off I’d like to say thanks for all the continued support at Ocala Karate and Fitness.  Every one’s dedication to their own training and goal accomplishments have really made the studio soar over the last few months.  I could not be happier with the awesome group of members that are now training on our floor almost every night of the week.  Whether it’s in Okinawan Karate, Kobudo, or Cardio Fitness, the Ocala Shinbukan is quickly becoming “The place to Train.” 

     Many of our members and students ask me questions on a day to day basis.  One of the most asked questions however is this.  “What does Karate really mean?”  Now that’s a tricky question because the translation of the Kanji Characters that make up the word literally mean “Empty Hand.”  But just to say that is what Karate means is really just scrapping the surface.  Let me explain.

     Having trained for the last two decades, I have seen what Karate does and how it changes us individually.  I can remember starting out and feeling like a fish out of water.  Everything is new and exciting.  There is literally so much information to learn and we all just can’t wait to learn it.  We spend hours and hours training on the floor trying to get the techniques down.  Trying to remember how to say them and when to use them.  Then after several months of stretching and sweating, we get a whole new set of things to work on.  Only now, the things we were working on a few months ago that at the time seemed really difficult and confusing suddenly start to make a little sense.  Our balance and physical strength and endurance, both physically and mentally is getting better.  Everything is starting to evolve and take on a new feel.  Our eye hand coordination is getting better.  Our reflexes are getting faster.  We are beginning to move quicker and have greater control over our selves.  And this process continues month after month, year after year.  Every year you will look back and think, man did I used to do it like that, or I can remember when I had the hardest time with this particular thing.  These are the building blocks or basics that we as Karateka are always building upon.  Because this is what Karate means to me.  “Journey”  It’s a road that you follow and travel that really has no end.  You just get on it and go. It twists and turns and takes you in directions that you never could possibly imagine, or for the most part, even know was there. 

     So to me the word “Karate” means Journey.  Because that is exactly what it is.  A life long journey that goes places unless you are on the road you never would have or will ever get to.  It’s a road of tremendous rewards and accomplishments.  And the truly amazing part of it is . . . unlike all other roads, this one has no end.  No finish line.  So always remember it’s not a race.  If you try and travel it too fast, you might miss a few things along the way by taking a short cut.  So just sit back, buckle your seat belt, and enjoy the ride.  It’s the best trip I ever started. 

                                                                            Gambatte

                                                                               Robby Bray

        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.