Ocala Karate and Fitness

Posts Tagged ‘Shorin Ryu Karate’

    Well its all finished!  All the stress and anxiety over last Friday’s testing is over and done with.  And I’d like to say what an excellent job all our members that tested did on Friday Night.  Everyone came out and gave 110 percent in Friday nights testing at Ocala Karate & Fitness.  www.ocalashinbukan.com

 From Ocala Karate & Fitness

We had around 23 members Test on Friday night for ranks ranging from Yellow, Orange and Green Belts in Okinawan Shorin Ryu Karate.  Ocala Karate & Fitness is Ocala’s only Licensed and Certified “Seibukan” school.  We offer Ocala a chance to train in Traditional Okinawan Shorin Ryu Karate.

From Ocala Karate & Fitness

 Okinawan Shorin Ryu was designed to be practiced over an entire lifetime.  The skills and lessons learned from Karate will continue to benefit our members through out the course of their life.  Not only does Okinawan Karate teach us how to defend ourselves from physical confrontations, but it also teaches problem solving and Self Motivation that can be applied to just about all aspects of life. 

    And it NEVER too late to start.  We have members that start at the age of 7, and some that start at the age of 53.  So if Karate is something that you have always wanted to try, but just never got around to it, it’s NEVER too late to start.  Our curriculum is set up to produce the ABSOLUTE BEST ! !  The only thing that is REQUIRED, is 110 Percent EFFORT !  Without constantly pushing yourself to do better- To be better- To be stronger- To be faster, you will never truly blossom into what you “Could” be.  And by teaching our members to do this very thing, it begins to spill over into life itself.  It changes the way we look at our daily lives.  If you don’t get up every morning and be the absolute best you can be, why bother doing anything.  If your not going to do it the best that you can, why do it only half as well as you could.  That’s the way you have to look at your Karate training.  Be the ABSOLUTE BEST you can be, and everything else will fall into place.  Just keep training hard everyone and one day you too will see what I am always talking about. 

 Check back in a few days and we’ll have pictures from testing posted for all to see.  Our Student of the Month Page will come online next month too.  And for those of you that have not registered for the Online curriculum don’t wait any longer.  There is so much useful information and video’s available to our website members to make training here at Ocala Karate & Fitness the absolute BEST martial arts studio in Ocala.  Once again, congratulations to everyone on a great test, and a SPECIAL congrats to our 2 members that tested in Kobudo directly after the Karate test.  You guys did great, and keep up the hard work. 

 Can’t wait to see everyone tomorrow night in class.  Get rested up, cause we have a lot to cover.

     Robby Bray

Seibukan Shorin Ryu Karate

What a Great day we all had training this Saturday with Sensei Dan Smith here at Ocala Karate and Fitness. Www.ocalashinbukan.com. I think all the lucky ones that attended would agree with me on how truly exciting it is to listen and learn from a real Karate Legend.
Our training day started out with a basic introduction to Seibukan karate. Seibukan karate is a lineage of Chotoku Kyan’s Shorin Ryu Karate. A devastating form of Okinawan Karate that can be traced back to over 700 years ago to its roots.
The day started out with some quick basic stretching, and then we jumped in to it. With most the focus being on the Seibukan punch. The punch was something that Kyan Sensei held great value in. He had a saying that the punch should always be gaurded like a treasure. And that was a part of his legacy that is still being taught today in Seibukan Karate.
So having said this, that is what we did for the first hour and a half of training. We punched. We punched, and we punched some more. Smith Sensei was very careful and focused as he walked around and fine tuned everyone on the floor. And by the end of the first phase of training, I witnessed an amazing change in everyone on the floor. Yes, they were all covered in sweat and very fatigued, but I saw something else happening to them. They were all changing. Their punches were now starting to take on a whole new look, and the power in them was noticeably increasing.   By the end of the training session, all the fortunate members that got the chance for Sensei Smith to personally critique and shape, had moved a mile in their Karate Training.

This is why I really push for our members to take the opportunity to attend these workshops so they can take full advantage of all the tools that are available here at Ocala Karate & Fitness.  We are striving to bring Ocala the Absolute BEST in Okinawan Karate and Ryukyu Kobudo.  And it doesn’t get any better than Sensei Dan Smith.  With over 43 years of Direct Training with Zenpo Shimabukuro, Sensei Smith is one of, if not “THE MOST”, knowledgeable men on Okinawan Karate.  To get the chance to train with him directly, is one of those once in a lifetime chances.  And through Ocala Karate & Fitness, our serious members will get to do this several times through out the year.  If you missed out last Saturday, Smith Sensei will be doing another Seminar soon, so stay on the lookout for more information.

We will be posting pictures up here shortly on the event.  Once again, congratulations to all those that attended and really make an effort to start applying all that you learned from the Seminar into your daily class training.

Beginning TODAY !!

Keep up the great work.

Robby Bray

Well we’re closing in on the weekend here at Ocala Karate & Fitness and what a great week we had in class.  I’d like to start out by saying that I am really starting to see “real” progress in all of our classes.  Everyone’s hard work and time on the floor is starting to show.  No one outside of class realizes “Exactly” what it takes to do what we do here at Ocala Karate & Fitness.  www.ocalashinbukan.com

The amount of energy, time, focus, and dedication to really absorb this stuff is tremendous.  I think that has a lot to do with all the overall benefits that practitioners here begin to feel.  After all, the Okinawans’ designed this art to produce healthier people, not only physically, but from a total aspect.

Staying Healthy

You see it was their intention to maintain a “Healthy” society in whole.  Not just to produce some healthy individuals.  By getting everyone involved and on a training regiment that promoted healthy bodies, minds, and attitudes, they would be a great society that would be respected by everyone else in the world.  That is what we train for here at Ocala Karate and Fitness.

Having said that, I would like to invite EVERYONE to attend our first “OFFICIAL” Seibukan Training Day on Saturday, June 26th 2010.  This training event will be hosted by Sensei Dan Smith, 9th Degree Black Belt in Seibukan Shorin Ryu Karate.

Seibukan Shorin Ryu Karate

This is a very special event and everyone should try to attend.  Sensei Smith is only 1 of 2 foreigners to EVER be promoted to the rank of 9th dan on Okinawa Japan.  He has trained with Zenpo Shimabukuro 10th dan and president of the Seibukan, for over 40 years, and actually started his training on Okinawan with Zenpo Sensei’s Father, Zenryo Shimabukuro, Founder of the Seibukan.

All participants will be able to have their passport books signed and stamped after training to document this special event.  This is just the first of many special guests that will become available for Members here at Ocala Karate & Fitness to experience.

Also, the website membership should become available by the end of the weekend, so be on watch for link to the website.  Another HUGE step forward here at the Dojo.  This website will be a very valuable tool to all that are serious in their training.

I would also like to thank everyone in our Ryukyu Kobudo Class for putting in the extra time and effort in our weapons class.  This class is incredibly difficult and takes “Patience”  You guys are doing great.  It makes me smile to see to the class growing.  Slowly, but slow is good.  Especially when the quality stays high.

"Looking For A REAL Challenge?"

Hope everyone had as good a week as I did, and look forward to seeing everyone tonight.

Here we are halfway through Feb and this year is already lighting up fast !!  With the addition of our NEW Self Defense class, we have already added 10 new members to our program.  Here at Ocala Karate & Fitness, www.ocalashinbukan.com we not only have one of the highest quality programs around, but one of the most exciting new programs available.  At  Ocala Karate & Fitness you can not only take advantage of getting in shape and getting back to they way you used to feel, but also build the Self Confidence and peace of mind that so many of us now a days lack.

Ocala Karate & Fitness

With all the choices that we have now made available to everyone, there are no more excuses as to why you “can’t” be the person you remember being.

With our Shorin Ryu Karate, Cardio Kickboxing and Circuit Classes, Ryukyu Kobudo, and Self Defense Classes we have a perfect fit for you.  Our Karate Classes teach children from the ages of 7-9 , 10-13, and 13 and up.  With focus on stretching, proper balance, proper form, and mind set, these classes will not only get you on the right track, but have you feeling the best you have ever felt.

Then you can take to the next level and jump into the Cardio kickboxing or Self Defense Class, and not only burn some xtra calories, but learn how to make yourself safe and not become a victim.

Let’s face it.  All you have to do is turn the news onto the local channel and see how our world is changing around us.  While everything used to be so easy and safe, now it is a totally different world.  Violence is all around us, and the only way to better prepare ourselves for it, is to simply “BE Prepared”.

So stop by or check us out online at www.ocalaselfdefense.com and see exactly how we can help you not only be a “better” you, but a Safer and more confident you as well.

Hello everyone,

We just wanted to say how Awesome 2010 has been so far for everyone here at Ocala Karate & Fitness.  www.ocalashinbukan.com All of the programs are filling up fast as everyone is starting to hear about all the exciting classes that we have to offer.  From traditional Shorin Ryu Karate to the Cardio Kickboxing / Circuit  class, or even our NEW SELF DEFENSE Program that offers classes in REAL Self Defense twice per week after the Cardio Kickboxing Class.  www.ocalaselfdefense.com

Self Defense Black Belt Program

So if your looking for a high energy, high calorie workout, AND the added benefit of learning how to defend yourself in real life situations, look no further.  This is the class for you.

Ocala Karate & Fitness is also a authorized wholesaler for Prograde Nutrition.  Prograde nutrition manufactures and sells some of  the highest quality of nutritional supplements available on the market.  From Pre and Post workout protein shakes, to Krill Oil and antioxidants, Prograde has the answer.  www.ocalakaratefitness.getprograde.com

This month marks the end of our first year in business here at Ocala Karate & Fitness.  We would like to say thanks to all of our members that have made all this possible.  This is why we push ourselves to the limit to give to Ocala the ABSOLUTE BEST Martial Arts and Fitness training facility open to the public.

The reason we are able to do this is because of 2 things:

1. We listen to YOU!   We listen to what everyone wants and then we MAKE it happen.  It’s that simple.
2. Our current Members dedication to their personal goals and achievements.  We help YOU get to where YOU want to be.

Anyone can do this!

So whether its losing weight, toning up, getting fit, increasing Self Esteem, Focus, or Self Defense, we are continuing every week to make ALL of our programs the Absolute BEST available in Ocala.  Stop by or give us a call at

352-694-6304 and let us SHOW you first hand, just how amazing our classes really are.

See you on the floor.

Robby an Jaime Bray

Hello everybody,

We just wanted to wish everyone a Happy New Year, and hopefully everyone had a great Christmas.  We’re all excited here, and can’t wait to get 2010 started!  We have big plans for this year with some NEW awesome programs that we’re getting started next week including our Self Defense Black Belt Program. www.ocalaselfdefense.com

Ocala Karate & Fitness is pushing into 2010 and will be once again showing why we are Ocala’s Premier Karate & Martial Arts Fitness training facility.  Our Cardio  class will break out first on Monday morning at 9:30 with 15 NEW calorie smoking, muscle toning exercises.

Kicking off 2010

So if your needing to get some of those holiday pounds off, and really need something to KICK your body back into over drive, this fast paced cardio frenzy is your ticket.  By switching out these different station on a regular basis, your muscles are forced to stay ramped up and in a high calorie burning state to ensure that your getting the most out of your work out.

This is why we strive every day, every month of the year to provide all of our members with the maximum benefits from their work outs.  Combine this class with our Shorin Ryu Karate class or Self Defense class, and now your giving your body and mind the best form of work out available.  www.ocalakaratefitness.com.

The New Year will be bringing in a ton of new material and drills for our Ryukyu Kobudo class too.  With several of our members training with us for almost a Year now, the Okinawan weapons class will begin seeing a fresh new variety of drills and applications to help push their understanding and knowledge of the “Bo” or staff to a whole new level.

"Kihon" or Basics

So anyone looking for a NEW challenge in 2010, this class is just what you have been waiting for.  The technical, physical, and mental difficulty that the Okinawan’s weapons class pushes on its members, deepens and broadens not only their understanding of this Okinawan puzzle, but teaches each one of its members so many important life altering lessons about their own personal development.

So many lessons can be learned and realized about: balance, flexibility, patience, discipline, and self esteem.  All KEY traits and self learned gifts that can help each member as a person, not only be a “better” person, but a “Valuable”  member of Society.

Stop by today or call us at 352-694-6304 and schedule an appointment to see how we can help you or a loved one, get ALL they can out of themselves.

Remember: “Effort is Everything”

Robby and Jaime Bray

     Well tonight was Ocala Karate & Fitness’s last Kids Karate Class and Our last Adults Karate and Okinawan Weapons class until Jan 3rd.  I would like to start off by saying  just how proud of everyone I am right now.  The accomplishments and personal achievements that our members have made this year is something to really take pride in. 

    All the hard work and drills are really starting to pay off now.  I am watching our members in class do things now that 3 and 4 months ago were totally unobtainable.  This is when you know that we’re doing something right.  The combination of our Shorin Ryu Karate classes, accompanied by the Cardio Fitness classes is not only getting our members in shape, but strengthening all the areas that matter most.  In the last week I have had two separate members come up to me after class and say that they no longer have any back pain. 

    I’ve had another tell me that over the last 10 years they have had terrible chronic neck pain and limited range of motion.  Now, she says that for the first time in as long as she can remember her neck does not hurt or feels stiff when she turns.  This is what Okinawan Karate is all about.  It’s about not only strengthening our bodies, but building strong posture and alignment.  The motions and postures or stances that our Karate was built around was designed for this very purpose. 

To allow us as practitioners to live long and healthy lives.  By building strength around our spine and core, it develops or re-develops our bodies in ways that allows us to benefit the most.  And these are just the things our members are noticing over the SHORT term.  We have not even been open a year yet, so these our members that have only been training for less than 12 months.  Imagine what you would feel like if you practice for say 3 years.  Or 5 years.  Or better yet, an entire LIFETIME. 

    This is what Karate is really about.  Not only learning how to defend yourself against physical attacks, but to defend yourself against life itself.  The longer you train and practice, the more you realize you need to practice.  It is a very humbling but at the same time enlightening experience.  So start your NEW YEAR off right and give us a call at Ocala Karate & Fitness or check us out on the web at www.ocalakaratefitness.com  and see for yourself why everyone is saying that we are Ocala’s Premier martial arts studio.  

  Stop by and see for yourself what we can do to help you.

    Happy Holidays from all of us.

   Sincerely

  Robby and Jaime Bray

Stop by and see us!

Well here we are winding up the year 2009 and man are we still having fun. Monday nights Karate class, I think all the members will agree was a blast! We got to focus on doing several of our 2 man self defense drills that really start getting our students used to body movements. This is just one more reason why Ocala Karate & Fitness is Ocala’s Premier Martial Arts Training Facility. www.ocalaselfdefense.com
What we mean by body movement is the ability to recognize a particular motion, detect which direction it is going, and react by moving away or around that motion in a defensive posture. After all, that’s what Okinawan Shorin Ryu Karate is all about.
Moving the target, (you) and disrupting a continous attack. The only way to get where we can recognize this action and react to it effectivlely, is to practice, practice, and practice. This too is the foundation on which Okinawan Karate was built upon.
By teaching our bodies, or more specifically our muscles to repond with out thought is what makes our Karate effective. The Okinawans figured this out a long, long time ago. By creating a reflexsive action, you can defend yourself with out thought.
This is just one of the many, many things we train to be able to perform here at Ocala Karate & Fitness. www.ocalakaratefitness.com

      We’re happy to see that 4 NEW members have enrolled this week and have taken advantage of our Christmas Special.  These new members have saved 160 bucks in total savings by enrolling this week.  Combine that with the FREE uniform, Free sparring gear set, Free carrying bag, Free T shirt, and Free boxing gloves, you can see why this is SUCH a great deal ! ! 

    Nothing makes us happier than to be able to get our new Members up and going with all their gear provided for them so they don’t have to keep spending more and more money every month.  One price includes all.  Your not going to find this deal anywhere else. 

   One more reason why Ocala Karte & Fitness is Ocala’s best Martial Arts Training Facility.  We are here to take care of our members.  So if your interested in enrolling hurry up and don’t miss out on this deal.  Because after Friday, it won’t be available again until December 2010.

     Don’t forget January is our launch date for our NEW Self Defense program too.  We can’t stress how excited we are about this class.  We are Ocala’s ONLY Licensed and Certified Self Defense Black Belt Program.  Spots on the floor our already begining to fill as we have spread the word around about this PURE Street Self Defense class that is going to give you the confidense and ability to feel safe no matter where you are. 

     Well we sure hope everyone has a Happy Holiday and lood forward to hearing from you soon.  Contact either Jaime or Robby Bray at 352-694-6304 for more information on anyone of our programs.

                                                                     Happy Holidays

                                                             Robby and Jaime Bray

Hello everyone,

With the end of the year approaching quickly, and the New Year right around the corner, Ocala Karate and Fitness is trying to make it a little easier for those that have been trying to decide to join our program this month or next month.  We’re happy to announce that anyone joining between December 9th and December 31st 2009, will have their membership and registration fee waived.

That’s right !  Between now and the end of the year, we are waiving the 40 dollar registration/membership fee.  Now I know that’s not a whole lot of money, but during the Holidays 40 bucks can make a difference.  AND all new members will still get their Karate Uniform’s Sparring gear, Gear Bag, and T Shirt Free by enrolling in our Black Belt Program.

This program is just what the doctor has ordered for anyone and everyone trying to get fit, lose weight, and get themselves back to where they used to be.

Getting Fit has never been easier

This program is really a win, win situation, so don’t waist time and miss this awesome deal.  Check us out on line at www.ocalakaratefitness.com and see why everyone is saying that Ocala Karate & Fitness is Ocala’s #1 choice in Martial Arts.

It features classes in Shorin Ryu Karate, Ryukyu Kobudo,(Okinawan Weapons) and our Calorie ripping Cardio Kickboxing Circuit Fitness Class.  This membership will not only have you ready for DUAL Certifications, a BLACK BELT in Shorin Ryu Karate and a BLACK BELT in Okinawan Weapons, but will also have you in the absolute best shape of your life.  Both physically and mentally.  You’ll have strength, balance, flexibility, and be Cardio fit.  This is what separates our programs at Ocala Karate & Fitness from everyone else.

Don’t forget to ask about our NEW SELF-DEFENSE BLACK BELT PROGRAM that is launching in January.  This class is just one more reason why we are Ocala’s leader in the martial arts.  www.ocalaselfdefense.com

So don’t make the same mistake by saying you’ll get around to it.  Make the decision now, and come on down and get registered.  Even if you don’t start until after the New Year, register so you can take advantage of this smoking end of the year deal.

Everyone have a safe Holiday and we look forward to seeing you soon !

Merry Christmas

Robby & Jaime Bray

   Well we are very blessed here at Ocala Karate & Fitness to have all the local Ocala support with all of our Karate and Cardio programs that we have to offer.  Even through these hard time, the support that the local community is showing is truly amazing.  I feel that our Karate and Cardio programs are proving their worth and value in gold.  When we first opened the doors 9 months ago, I heard how crazy I was from many people. 

     “Why in the world you open a new business in this horrible economy?”  I must have heard this a million times.  But Ocala has shown that even through these truly difficult times, the benefits of our programs are worth their weight in gold.  Our members are getting leaner, fitter, and in better shape than they have ever been in their lives.  I have had so many of our members tell us how they’ve lost weight, gotten stronger, more flexible, and just truly feel good about themselves.  The best they’ve felt in years.

Working out has never been more fun !

     Whether their sweating it out in our cardio circuit class, or kicking and punching their way to a healthier life in our Shorin Ryu Karate or Ryukyu Kobudo (Weapons) class.  Our members are having the best time of their lives and getting fit at the same time.  This was the sole purpose for opening the doors up 9 months ago.  To provide all of Ocala and Marion County with a “Real” Martial Arts Fitness Center. 

Getting fit is what we're all about !

     Starting next week, we are launching our new LITTLE DRAGONS karate class.  This class will be geared for all of our youngest students ages 4-6 and will be a blast!  This class will focus on building all these little guys and gals for our children’s karate class. (Ages 7-10)  Teaching balance, coordination, focus, group activities, and mental discipline, upon graduating this class, our Little Dragons can enter directly into our children’s class.