Watching Karate
May. 9th, 2005 10:09 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
elfsSo, one of the other things I did yesterday was watch freinds of mine try out for their ext belt level in karate. I don't know much about karate and am under the impression that the standards and expectations for what a student can and should know are rather fractured and may have some dilution. Still, what I saw Saturday afternoon gave me the impression that there are still schools out there that teach effective self-defense. The black belts were especially impressive, tossing each other about the room.
Only one or two students showed little enthusiasm for the sport and seemed to be out of it. There was a test with a punching bag and many of the lower students took it as test of form, rather than a test of effectiveness, which was disappointing. Only a few were trying to strike body blows. On the other hand, during the sparring most showed a strong degree of competence at defending themselves from attacks in different patterns-- from behind, from above. A tiny slip of a girl, maybe ten, reached between her legs, grabbed her attacker by the knee and just floored him in one pull, and when he got up again she threw him over her shoulder.
Kouryou-chan got a little bored, and Omaha diagnosed it as hunger, so we had to leave before the full-on sparring began. While we ate, I asked both of the girls if they wanted to try that, and they said they would be willing to try. I think a sport where they're not directly in competition with someone else, and where they learn self-discipline and patience, would be good for both of them. Probably for Omaha and I too. Although I don't know if we'd be quite as ferocious with each other as J5nn5r and Desirae were; those two were clearly having too much fun.
Only one or two students showed little enthusiasm for the sport and seemed to be out of it. There was a test with a punching bag and many of the lower students took it as test of form, rather than a test of effectiveness, which was disappointing. Only a few were trying to strike body blows. On the other hand, during the sparring most showed a strong degree of competence at defending themselves from attacks in different patterns-- from behind, from above. A tiny slip of a girl, maybe ten, reached between her legs, grabbed her attacker by the knee and just floored him in one pull, and when he got up again she threw him over her shoulder.
Kouryou-chan got a little bored, and Omaha diagnosed it as hunger, so we had to leave before the full-on sparring began. While we ate, I asked both of the girls if they wanted to try that, and they said they would be willing to try. I think a sport where they're not directly in competition with someone else, and where they learn self-discipline and patience, would be good for both of them. Probably for Omaha and I too. Although I don't know if we'd be quite as ferocious with each other as J5nn5r and Desirae were; those two were clearly having too much fun.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
The instructor is more important than the art...
Date: 2005-05-10 01:18 am (UTC)For small kids, Judo might be better than Aikido, it more physical, less "hearts and flowers", and it teaches them how to fall properly. If that is the only thing they take from years of martial arts classes, it's worth it.
Now keep in mind, my generalization about Judo and Aikido is just that, a generalization. Different teachers have different personal styles and Aikido itself has various sub-systems ranging from the really rough and tumble to the more spirtial, where how you approach your technique is more important than actually being able to throw the Uke across the room.
One of the previous posters hit the nail on the head. The black belts you saw looked impressive because that is when you start learning the cool stuff. Before that you are just learning the basics.
Oh ya, I put "black belt" in quotes before because it means different things in different systems. In Tae Kwon Do you get one in about year or so. The system of TKD I took years ago required only 5 forms and some basic self defense moves.
The system of Kempo I'm now, requires at least eleven forms, 23 formal self defense combinations, basic falling, simple club and knife defenses, and some other stuff depending on your instructor. That's about four years of work for a steady student.
It's a great hobby, at least IMHO, with a lot of depth to it. I'm still learning. One of the things it has taught me is that I know a lot less than I thought I did 10+ years ago.