Train for success with a Karate Course!
Karate courses teach one of the most popular forms of martial arts across the world. People who practice karate train for great stamina, discipline and fitness. Like many Eastern martial arts, it also encourages members to practice being mindful of others and apply what they know to everyday life.
A course in karate is an excellent and exciting alternative to many other exercise classes and can also be a great option for people interested in self-defence classes.
What is Karate?
Karate developed in the Ryukyu Kingdom of Japan, similar to traditional fighting skills, but with heavy Chinese influence. With the boom of martial arts films in the 1960s and 70s, the sport reached a global audience. In 2016 the International Olympics Committee’s executive board announced that
Karate would be included in the 2020 Summer Olympics. Karate can be either an art form, a self-defence technique or a combat sport. Traditional karate is based on the idea of self-development. Modern forms of the sport however, prefer to emphasise the mental discipline of the sport:
- Perseverance
- Fearlessness
- Virtue
- Leadership skills
Karate is a sport of fitness and competition. Despite the name Karate (‘open hand’) however, some forms of the sport include the use of weapons.
What types of Karate can I learn on karate courses?
There are two forms of karate courses on offer; Cheng Hsin and Bujinkan Ninpo Budo Taijutsu. The different schools of karate will provide students with different end goals.
Cheng Hsin
Cheng Hsin karate is inspired by Tai Chi, Aikido, Judo and Western Boxing and uses many techniques that involve the elbow and knees as well as using complex evasive patterns. If you have never studied karate before, Cheng Hsin can help you get to grips with the fundamentals of the sport. If
you are already an experienced practitioner and would like a new challenge, then the focus on personal fitness might appeal.
Cheng Hsin can help students to mix their consciousness with the study of mixed martial arts. This interaction of the two skills will help to master the art of karate. Zen thinking will provide insight, while physical skill will offer the chance for feedback. The mental training you undergo as part of the
courses will stay with you for life.
Bujinkan Ninpo Budo Taijutsu
Like most forms of Karate, Bujinkan helps with personal fitness and health while concentration on learning the fundamentals of self-defence. It focuses on relaxation of the mind and on natural body movement. The training includes techniques such as evasion, striking, joint-locking and throwing and utilises weaponry. It is a style of karate that is suitable to all ages. Bujinkan karate is the closest form to the ancient ninja arts of Japan, so if you have an interest in learning the techniques most often shown in films, this style of karate might be the right choice for you.
What can I expect to do with a course in Karate?
A course in Karate alone will not get you a job (unless you are applying to be a ninja). It can help make a big difference to your everyday life however. With the focus on physical fitness, it will keep you in great physical shape, while also helping you to gain body confidence and happiness with your
appearance.
The mental aspect of karate, where you become self-aware and gain the ability to think critically can be of great help outside of the classroom too. Analytical skills are useful in most aspects of life, not just sport. If these skills could be helpful for you, enrol in a karate course today and start on your
path the fitness and enlightenment.
Search for Karate courses in Courses.ie’s national course finder.
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