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Karate will be one of the best things you can do for your Child
The self-image, self-confidence, self-discipline, and self-control your
child develops today will determine the level of happiness and success he or she will be
allowed to experience as an adult. Science has proven that authentic Japanese Karate can
aid your child develop all of the above qualities, and more, leading to a healthier,
happier, and more successful life. Japanese Karate training also gives children and teenagers something gravely needed in
today’s world - the strength not only to say "NO" to negative, potentially
harmful peer pressure but to also back up their words with deeds. Our young students
become the leaders of their peer groups, not the compliant followers who must do whatever
is necessary to appease the group, to fit in, to be accepted. Japanese Karate offers your
child benefits which are critically needed in today’s world. Learning a disciplined art like Japanese Karate will
help your child with:
Improved grades
Respect for others
Leadership skills
Increased concentration
Coordination and dexterity
Goal-setting and achievement
Things to consider when choosing a Martial Arts School
A martial arts school is a unique
thing within our society – more than a place for fitness and social
activity, it is a place designed to promote personal growth and to
enhance character development. When looking for the right martial
arts school for yourself or your child, we believe you consider the
following factors:
Single system
Look for a school that teaches
only one art - karate, judo, aikido, taekwondo, kung-fu, etc., not
several. An old martial arts proverb says that the hunter who shoots
at two rabbits misses both. As a beginner, you want to focus on one
thing and learn it well, perhaps before moving on to another art.
Also be leery of schools that
claim to teach karate but actually teach taekwondo, kung-fu, or any
of the other non-Japanese/Okinawan martial arts. Karate is a Japanese word that
refers only to a unique martial art of Japanese/Okinawan origin.
Taekwondo and kung-fu are totally different arts. Legitimate
taekwondo and kung-fu experts are proud of their art and would never
refer to it by another name, in this case karate. If a school
teaches taekwondo or kung-fu and calls their art or school karate,
be very leery. Ask yourself why a school would attempt to
misrepresent the art they taught.
Style
Style srefers to a way of
teaching a specific art – not to a differentiation between arts.
Karate, taekwondo, and kung-fu are different martial arts, not
different styles. In the same way, the Japanese/Okinawan arts of
judo, jujitsu, aikido, sumo, kendo, iado, yudo, etc. are different
martial arts, not different styles of karate. The major styles of
karate are Shotokan, Shorin Ryu, Goju Ryu, Shito Ryu, Wado Ryu,
Isshin Ryu, and Uechi Ryu.
Rank System
Most martial arts today utilize a
ranking system for its practitioners. In the Japanese martial arts
(karate, judo, etc.) the ranking system usually consists of black
belt and a variety of colored belts leading up to black belt. These
pre-black belt ranks usually start with white belt and end, just
below black belt, with brown belt. The ranks in between are
signified by several other colors that may vary from school to
school. Our pre-black belt ranks are as follows: orange, yellow,
blue, purple, green, and brown.
Black belt ranks range from 1st
degree through 10th degree black belt. Tenth level Black
Belt is generally reserved for the founder of the system, the one
person at the top of an organization of an art, or a life long
practitioner of the art. There are only a handful of true 7th,
8th, 9th, and 10th Degree Black
Belts in each martial art through out the entire world. And all
known legitimate martial artists at this level are above 50 years of
age.
National Organizations
Does the school belong to a
recognized national or international organization? Most good schools
are part of such organizations.
Instructor Credentials
All legitimate martial arts
instructors have credentials to verify their rank and/or any titles
they hold (master, grandmaster, etc). Some questions you might ask
include:
Where did they get their rank? Did they promote themselves? Or were they promoted by people
within their own organization who are beneath them in rank? A person
can’t give himself a BA, MA, or Ph.D degree, nor can they be
promoted to such a degree by someone who only holds a BA degree
themselves. In the same way, a person can’t promote themselves to
any degree of black belt. And they can’t be promoted by people who
aren’t qualified to make such a promotion. Unfortunately,
self-promotion and promotion by an unqualified “board” are very
common within the martial arts. To be considered legitimate, a
person must be promoted through their black belt ranks by someone
who is at least two black belt levels above them. Ask if the
instructor belongs to the same organization that issued their rank?
(They should. Many move upwards in rank by switching from
organization to organization.) Do their credentials seem to make
sense? Ones that may not are a 25-year-old instructor claiming a
high black belt rank (above 4th degree) or rank in
several different arts. Does the instructor have any teaching
certification beyond their rank certification? A black belt doesn’t
suddenly make someone qualified to teach. They must complete an
additional program to learn this skill.
Instructor Personality You should take special notice of
the instructor as he teaches. The instructor may not be the person
who greets you or even who gives you your first lesson or two –
often called introductory classes. You want to make sure the
personality of the instructor suits you and/or your children.
Sport vs. Self Defense
Do they offer, recommend,
or require competition? To be useful, students must be paired up for
dual practice. Do they utilize adequate safety gear for these
sessions? How much control is utilized? We do not, but some schools
require full or semi-full contact during paired sessions, which we
consider dangerous, especially to children.
Weapons If you are interested in
weapons training, be sure to ask if the school teaches them. Not all
schools do. The traditional Japanese/Okinawan weapons aren’t
actually weapons. They were farm and fishing tools used by Japanese
and Okinawan people in their daily jobs. And, since real weapons
were banned, they were forced to use these tools when attacked by
those with real weapons. At CKA, we offer training in these ancient
“weapons” to anyone interested. Mastery of each of these requires
different physical and mental skills. As such, they round a student
out. Some require greater concentration, others greater strength,
etc, making them a great training tool for children, who become
quickly bored.
Watch or participate in a class
Can you watch a class before you
or your children join? Many schools discourage observation. We
encourage it. We also offer an introductory class for a nominal fee
to allow potential students to get a feel for our school before
committing to a program.
Program length
It takes time to acquire skill at
self defense and develop the life changing qualities a good martial
arts school seeks to instill in its students - making them
healthier, happier, and more accomplished. (These qualities include
self control, self discipline, self confidence, and self esteem.)
Something acquired quickly is usually forgotten just as quickly. As
a result, most schools require a year commitment. However, there may
be other options. Inquire at the school.
Final Thoughts
Keep your eyes open and don’t be afraid to ask questions. It takes
hard work, dedication, time, and willingness to grow to achieve a
black belt in any art or system. And it takes the right instructor,
art or style, setting, and the support of ones fellow students to
reach that point. In some schools, students have a (negative)
competitive attitude towards each other, especially newcomers. Avoid
these. Some schools also spend most of their time entertaining
students, playing games, or teaching fancy techniques that don’t
work in real situations, such as fancy high kicks. You want a school
that will help you or your child reach their goals in life, not
hamper them. Make sure you feel comfortable with the school
(including the instructors and fellow students) before taking the
first step and making that commitment.
Can Adults enroll at CKA?
Absolutely Yes. Karate for Men and Women is fun yet challenging
and capable of honing you gradually into the best shape of your life. You will lose weight;
gain greater energy and stamina; develop a strong, toned, healthy body; and fight premature aging,
resulting in a longer, healthier life.
And, it is the perfect life-long activity. It can be practiced at any
age, does not require exceptional flexibility or natural talent, and requires no special
equipment, facilities, or other people to practice. Plus, it gives you the ultimate in
self defense.
the physical side of Traditional Japanese Karate - its awesome,
legendary fighting skills and total body mastery - is only the beginning. It also offers a
wide range of mental and spiritual qualities as well. These include self-control and
discipline to achieve success, mental calmness in emergencies, stress management,
confidence to enjoy more of life, and leadership skills.
It is also a great place to meet wholesome, new friends. People
who want a positive, healthy lifestyle for themselves and their families can find it
at California Karate Academy.
A Black Belt in Karate can help your Child's admission to a top College
CKA students are currently attending, or have attended, some of the most prestigious
universities and high schools in the world, including Stanford,
Harvard, MIT, USC, UC Berkeley, UC Davis, Harvey Mudd, CIT,
Georgetown, Dartmouth, Santa Clara, Bellarmine, Harker, and many
others. Admissions decision-makers at top universities and high schools are swamped with highly
qualified applicants. All have top grades and high SATs. How do they
decide who they will allow entrance? Well, they look for other
accomplishments that set some applicants apart from most of the
others. A black belt in Karate, especially from a world-renowned school like CKA (Santa
Clara Valley’s oldest martial arts school), makes an applicant
unique. It offers independent proof that the applicant is an
extraordinary person – someone who has achieved what few within our
society can claim – a black belt in Karate the martial art of legends.
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