Okinawan Karate

So you are thinking of starting to train inof students and many instructors. You want to
okinawan karate. There are a lot of choices asbe sure if the school is going to be around for a
far as okinawan karate schools are concerned.long time if you are going to be devoting years of
Which school do you choose ? What is the beststudy.
school or system? If you are a parent, whatSome schools are run for profit while others are
okinawan karate school is best for your children?not. You could say not-for-profit schools are
Karate began in Okinawa, which is one of thecloser to the Original okinawan karate system
many islands which make up Japan. Okinawa waswhere karate was passed from father to son,
invaded by the highly organized samurai clansmaster to student. Of course, If we trained like
from the larger Japanese islands. The islandersthey did in original Okinawan karate, there would
developed okinawan karate to defend themselves.only be 1 or 2 students!
Okinawan karate was kept alive, passed downSo long as the karate school has the students
from master to student through the generationswelfare at heart, operating for a profit is not a
and eventually became integrated into the schoolbad thing. My own experience has been with
system for all of Japannot-for-profit schools, and I have had great
Original Okinawan karate wass divided into stylesinstructors but there are just as many dedicated
which were named after the cities in Okinawateachers in for-profit schools.
that they were developed in. Shuri-te, Tomari-teTrue okinawan karate is more about self defence
and Naha-te are all derived from cities in Okinawa.than tournaments and competition but competition
Okinawan karate is heavily influenced by Chineseis often important to young karate-ka. If you are
kung fu or kempo. Okinawans often traded withgoing to involved in tournaments then be sure the
mainland china and maintained friendly relations.school is affiliated with other karate organizations
Today, there appear to be a enormous numberand provides proper coaching and tournament
of karate styles. However, all are derived in oneinstruction. Many large governing bodies issue
way or another from okinawan karate. Oneteaching and coaching certification to karate
okinawan master, Gichin Funakoshi introducedjudges and officials. You want to be sure you or
karate to the japanese school system. Hisyour children will competing in a safe and
shotokan style became one of most popularcontrolled environment and not a slugfest or free
karate styles in the world. Often students wouldfor all. So seek out qualified people.
leave to create their own style. Many honouredOkinawan karate can improve your health and
their teachers instruction to preserve the art butwell being, develop great self confidence and life
often, students would have disagreements withskills such as persistence and self control. Do your
their teachers and move out on their own.research and find the club that you feel most
Regardless of original okinawan karate style orcomfortable with. If you are interested, try out a
mixture, it is important that the style has acouple of styles. See if okinawan karate is for
detailed curriculum, chance for futureyou. Most clubs will allow 1 or more free visits to
advancement to ranks above black belt and lotshelp you make up your mind.