Las Vegas Martial Arts Blog

shotokan karate katas

Is it possible to learn karate at home? When starting something new, researching online is always a good start. Researching karate online and offline, can only help, combining this with a proffesional karate school is the way to go.

Online karate classes should only be used in conjunction with practicing at a proffesional karate dojo.

Karate today, is very different from a hundred years ago, I would say the techniques are better today, but the attitude is not, I urge every karateka to try and embrace the true meaning of karatedo. Millions of people practice karate around the globe and every day, karate for beginners classes are starting, brining new people into the amazing world of karatedo.

Karate classes usually start with a warm up, followed by a full body stretch. This alone is great for health and well being, keeping the body soft and supple is a fantastic thing, especially in your later years.

Then we come to karate kihon, which is kicking, striking, punching, even locks and throws. These are practiced on the spot, or stepping forward, back and even at different angles in the many varied karate stances (dachi). It is these basic karate moves that will enable you to learn karate at home and help you on your karatedo journey.

So karate class training has the warm up and stretch, basics (kihon), next comes sparring (kumite). Now the word sparring is used loosely in karate because it usually means anytime you partner up to practice karate techniques. For example, you may partner up to practice a wrist grab and escape, this will be called kumite or sparring in the dojo (training hall). So try not to think that every time the word sparring (kumite) is used, you are going to partner up with a crazed black belt who is going to try and kill you!

After the warm up, basics and sparring, kata (forms) is usually practiced. I love karate kata! Kata has many karate moves, including jumps and spins, these moves are put together in a similar way to how the gymnasts perform their floor displays.

Kata is what karate is all about, a one person journey through karatedo, revolves around the karate kata. They say, kumite is the spirit of karate, but kata is the soul! And I agree.

So if you are practicing karate moves at home, trying to get a feel for karate, I wish you luck and urge you to attend a karate class as soon as possible. I wish you well with your karatedo journey! Ossu

Linden has been training and teaching karate for over 30 years and loves to share his knowledge and experiences in the martial arts. Supplement your dojo training with these free videos, karate lessons for beginners.

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Bassai Dai

Many styles of karate practice Bassai Dai, it translates as "To storm or penetrate a fortress". Although there are many different versions of bassai (passai), there is no mistaking that all the versions as Bassai, come from the original Passai kata.

On Okinawa, two versions of Passai were practiced initially, then the many variations that we have today, were developed.

Many believe there were two slightly different versions of Passai/Bassai, that both came to Okinawa via China. Sokon Matsumrua brought one version from China and the other was shown to Okan Oyadomari, by a Chinese martial artist, who lived on Okinawa.

The one we are referring to here, is the shotokan Bassai Dai, which many believe came from the Okan Oyadomari lineage.

When a karateka moves from 4th kyu to 3rd kyu, Bassai dai is usually the first kata taught. Bassai Dai, especially in Shotokan Karate dojo, is the karate kata many karateka use for brown and black belt tests.

If someone asks the simplest way to sum up Bassai Dai, I say watch someone who knows what they are doing, do the first move. A very strong move, driving forward off the left leg, with a knee attack and strike.

This karate kata also has some fast double block combinations. After the first move, there is a pause, then a 180 degree turn, with a double uchi uke. Uchiuke with the left arm is first, with a right uchi uke following the left.

Bassai dai is a very strong karate kata, but it is also great for fast changes in direction. Sensei and Sempai will shout for more hip rotation! So here is an excellent exercise for developing strong hip rotation.

1.First there is a right chokuzuki immediatley after the slow left handed tate shuto (blade edge of the hand), instantly followed by a right inside forearm block. Keep the body and hips sill and square, as you bend the right punching arm in preparation for the uchi uke.

2. So right before the uchi uke, you should be standing in shizentai (natural stance), with the right arm bent accross the body to the left side of the chest. Now, as you block, pivot strongly, 90 degrees to the left, into a very small front stance. Many karateka find this sequence difficult, but if you persevere, the benefits from this combination are many.

There are karate moves in Bassai Dai, that are not seen in any other shotokan karate kata. The hooking blocks to the sides, in a long zenkutsu dachi, the three blocks or strikes in horse riding stance. The strange slow movement at the end of the kata in shuto uke kokutsudachi, where you look one way, but move another.

They say Bassai dai is a 'typical' shotokan kata, I agree, Bassai Dai is very shotokan!

Linden has been training and teaching karate for over 30 years and loves to share his knowledge and experiences from the karate dojo. Download a free bassai dai shotokan pdf and supplement your karate training with these free online videos, karate lessons for beginners.

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The meaning, teachings, and whole point of martial arts is definately not violence. The intent of martial arts is, and has always been, to train, educate, and improve the mental health and physical well-being of the participant. It has always held true that some have used the martial arts against people in violent acts, but this is clearly against the majority of their original intents.

Whilst there are many legends concerning the origin of the varying martial arts styles, it can be largely observed, even during recent history, that they are generally respected, and not usually feared in normal situations. This indicates that most martial arts-related violence has more to do with the circumstances under which the violent acts were committed than with the fact that martial arts techniques were used. Unlike guns, knives, and other lethal equipment, martial arts are not material tools to be utilized for violent purpose, but rather a structured method of bodily movement used as a vehicle both for self-defense and self-betterment. Therefore, the responsibility and intent of any positive or negative action lies with you!

Even in televised MMA martial arts tournaments where contact is allowed and to the casual observer, the intent seems to be to bloody the opponent as much as possible until he or she submits, the fighting is not used to impart lethal or long-lasting damage. Although violent actions such as strikes, sudden movements, and blocks are all commonplace, violence as intent is not, so martial arts might not entirely fit the profile of a violence-oriented activity.

Martial arts like Taekwondo, Judo and Karate all have rich cultural backgrounds, steeped in the rich history of Zen Buddhism, Confucianism, and Shinto philosophical traditions. These largely forbade use of martial arts for negative intent, or unwarranted violence. Taewkondo was created to be a form of self defence, which is reflected in both the style and the equipment used for training. It is the national sport of South Korea, and the name approximately translates to “the way of foot and fist.A great way to train is to engage in a friendly 'sparr'. Practice targets, pads and sparring blocks can help you train with live targets that don’t get hurt!

Martial arts are not designed to be used for violent gains and when this uccurs then they are in the worng hands. How violent a form of martial art is depends entirely on the practitioner - a violent student will make the study of martial arts a violent one, whereas another student may use the same discipline to enhance peace and inner harmony.

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One of the major discussions that people have is whether they should pick Korean Taekwondo or Japanese Karate? After all, they are considered the most popular fighting styles in North America. Well, It depends. Your choice should depend on what you feel more comfortable with.

Japanese karate evolved on the island of Okinawa from the Chinese martial arts, and actually cover a wide variety of disciplines now, and most of these disciplines are considered to be of Japanese origin. Modern Korean Taekwondo evolved from Japanese karate when the Japanese occupied Korea before and during the Second World War. There are currently two styles of Taekwondo known, one is with the International Federation and one is with the World Federation. Taekwondo gained in popularity after it was included as a sport in the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul.

Since we’ve established that Karate and Taekwondo both tend to have similar colored uniforms and a belt system derived from Judo in the 1800s, we have to ask ourselves: What are the main differences?

For one thing, one major difference is in the proportions of punches and kicks. Karate tends to focus more on being able to hit someone with your fist, and anywhere from 60-75% of your attacks come from being able to hit someone with your fists of rage, or blocking. Whereas in Taekwondo, the focus is more on your kicking style. Indeed the majority of your attacks will instead be from kicking. One bonus of this is that you will burn off more calories in Taekwondo, because moving your legs requires more action than moving your arms. Taekwondo also emphasises kicks to the head more than karate, and jumping kicks are more common, but often the forms used in Korean forms are simpler and shorter.

Both Karate and Taekwondo have a colored belt system that progresses from white (beginner) to black (instructor level). Generally both have white uniforms. The Korean uniforms are more of a V-Neck and in Korea, they may add black trim for black belts. Americanized schools have actual colored uniforms, including black, blue and red. The straight answer to the question of which one you should take is that both have their pros and cons. Many black belts of varying degrees actually study both disciplines, in order to get the best results from both of these disciplines.

So in conclusion, think about what you want to study and don’t exclude the other discipline entirely, then pursue your passion and take what you learn. Martial arts is about improvement, and both of these styles will make you a better person in the long run.

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