Ocala Karate and Fitness

Posts Tagged ‘Sweat’

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

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

        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.