Karate is a Japanese martial art whose physical aspects seek the development of defensive and counterattacking body movements. The themes of traditional karate training are fighting and self-defense, though its mental and moral aspects target the overall improvement of the individual.

Karate is one of the most dynamic of all the martial arts. A trained karateka is able to coordinate mind and body perfectly, thereby allowing the unleashing of tremendous physical power at will. Karate is also one of the most widely practiced martial art forms in the world. Martial arts rely on acute physical coordination and mental focus. They were developed in Asia (primarily India, China and Japan) over the course of several thousands of years.

Okinawan Kobudō is a Japanese term that can be translated as “old martial way of Okinawa“. It is a generic term coined in the twentieth century. Okinawan kobudō refers to the weapon systems of Okinawan martial arts.

These systems can have from one to as many as a dozen weapons in their curriculum, among the rokushakubo (six foot staff, known as the “bō”), sai (dagger-shaped truncheon), tonfa(handled club), kama (sickle), and nunchaku(chained sticks), but also the tekko(steelknuckle), tinbe-rochin (shield and spear), and surujin (weighted chain). Less common Okinawan weapons include the tambo (short stick), the hanbō (middle length staff) and the eku (boat oar of traditional Okinawan design).

Point fighting considers the first touch and nothing else beyond that. But point fighting does serve as an incredibly valuable training method. The ability to close and create distance quickly is an enormous advantage in a professional fight because distance kills every technique.

Point fighting is playing tag from a fighting stance, and the points are entirely subjective and depend on what the judges see. You could try introducing electronic scoring and vests but that tends to remove all resemblance to an actual fight. There are lots of different kinds of point fighting with their own rules, for instance most karate styles allow foot sweeps and the WKF allow throws and limited clinch work.

Competition should be executed as its name implies, Light Contact Fighting in a Continuous Manner. Under no circumstances should light contact continuous fighting simulate full contact kickboxing. Utilizing well-controlled techniques, ring craftsmanship and combination skills, competitors should attempt to “outscore” rather than “overpower” their opponent. Competitors will fight continuously until the referee’s command to STOP.

All techniques must be well controlled. Techniques should not “strike through” or “push through” the target. Striking with excessive contact or uncontrolled striking of any kind will lead to disqualification. Emphasis must be placed on both punching and kicking techniques. Punching or “boxing” only, for an extended period of time without throwing kicks will downgrade the judge’s evaluation of your performance.

Combat may be armed (using weapons) or unarmed (not using weapons). Hand-to-hand combat (melee) is combat at very close range, attacking the opponent with the body (striking, kicking, strangling, etc.) and/or with a melee weapon (knives, swords, batons, etc.), as opposed to a ranged weapon.

In Kobudo the weapon is simply used as an extension of the body. Nearly all basic Karate-Do moves can be duplicated with a weapon in your hand, therefore, the perfection of basic moves is a necessity for weapons training. The most useful weapons for present day training are either the bo or the jo, usually made from oak.

There are a variety of martial arts styles that offer excellent learning opportunities, which satisfy various student needs fitting personality, temperament, and physical well-being. There are many benefits to the specific styles of martial arts provide their students.

Martial arts schools or dojos offer classes consistently each week making it more available for convenient training than self defense courses specific for women, which may rely on a certain number of enrollees before class can be held. Sometimes coordinating dates and times for a short self defense course can be difficult to conveniently coordinate, even when hosting a course for a group of friends.