Intro to Training Children

What is the best way to teach children martial arts?

Techniques taught improperly to children (and adults) will remain with them for years. These incorrect techniques must later be unlearned, a painful, indeed sometimes impossible, task. Teachers must not burden children with poor technique that they must unlearn later. Arguably, it might be better not to teach them at all until they are older. Teaching the technique correctly the first time avoids needless waste of precious training time later. (The old adage “practice makes perfect” is, in our opinion, very misleading. Practice makes permanent! Poor technique practiced continuously makes poor technique permanent—not a good idea.)

Step-by-step (component-by-component) progression of achievements as each new component is introduced and learned will motivate youngsters to continue, and help reduce or eliminate the fears of failure and embarrassment that often become self-fulfilling prophesies that can sometimes lead to children quitting karate-do altogether. This component-by-component gradual approach can help alleviate these problems. But this step-by-step process is aided by also using obstacles to force correct movement.

Learn more in our latest article.

Explore More about Karate-Do at a Traditional Karate Association

Are you looking for a karate association that promotes traditional Japanese martial arts? If so, SMAA is for you!

Members of SMAA bridge the gap between western and Asian martial arts, keeping the traditional spirit and practice of budo alive in the west. If you have an interest in aikido, iaido, judo, jujutsu, or karate-do, call (734) 720-0330 or submit a contact form to learn more about becoming a member!

The Difference Between Children and Adults: Learning Karate

How is teaching children martial arts different from teaching adults?

You can’t teach children karate-do the way you teach adults. This is because children’s brains and bodies are not fully developed, and children have had fewer lifetime learning experiences to draw from. Children are not miniature adults, so they must be taught differently. We would like to discuss some ways to teach children. Our ideas are meant for teachers who are not content to be occasional babysitters for small children, i.e., those who really want to teach. (We trust that includes everyone who reads past this point.)

Young people learn through contact with the world using their five senses. They see simply the task at hand. Because of this, the detailed physical movements necessary to perform correct karate-do techniques must be carefully broken into component parts and presented in a logical progression starting with the simplest, most fundamental component, followed by the step-by-step introduction of each subsequent component. Each component must be performed with a reasonable degree of competence before the next component can be introduced. What constitutes a “reasonable degree of competence” will vary with the child’s age and physical abilities. A five-year-old simply cannot coordinate physical movements as well as a ten-year-old.

Learn more in our latest article.

Explore More about Karate-Do at a Traditional Karate Association

Are you looking for a karate association that promotes traditional Japanese martial arts? If so, SMAA is for you!

Members of SMAA bridge the gap between western and Asian martial arts, keeping the traditional spirit and practice of budo alive in the west. If you have an interest in aikido, iaido, judo, jujutsu, or karate-do, call (734) 720-0330 or submit a contact form to learn more about becoming a member!

It Doesn't End at Your Rank, Part 2

Is earning a new rank the most important part of your martial arts experience?

If your primary focus is on the next rank, your ability will top out. Your attendance will spike just before tests but will fall off between them. Your focus and attention will lag during “consolidation” periods – those times when the very purpose of training is to repeat your top-level skills until they are hard-wired into your nervous system. There are ability and character transformations that can only be gotten through real immersive training. That’s why it’s so important to pick an art and a dojo that you like; there will be some heavy weather on the way to greatness, but starting in the plus column of love for your art will help you get you through. It’s also critical to constantly remind yourself of the big picture so the connection between determined practice and your personal mission is clear.

Some exceptional martial artists don’t need to be told this. They're gifted with the passion or energy or obsession to train intensely most of the time. But those who may lack passion from time to time, or who have gotten as far as we can on what comes naturally, may need a push to break through to the next level.

Getting past that intellectual understanding and into a true emotional understanding of the depth and joy possible in your training has to come from inside you. Commit completely.

Learn more in our latest article.

Looking for a Martial Arts Organization that Clicks?

SMAA could be right for you!

As part of the Shudokan Martial Arts Association, you can learn karate, aikido, iaido, judo, and jujutsu. If you’re ready to get immersed in your training at a traditional martial arts organization, call (734) 720-0330 or submit a contact form here.

It Doesn't End at Your Rank, Part 1

What is the most rewarding part of training to you?

You’ve played the game full out and your gains are starting to stack up. You’ve risen past getting discouraged by small obstacles, and have actually realized that almost all obstacles are small when you’re focused on extreme learning. You’ve started to pay attention without judging. When all these factors come together and you put them into play consistently over several months or years, you’ll notice a new depth to your training … even your will to train comes from a deeper place.

Congratulations! That’s called “character.” It’s one result of consciously getting yourself on the path to becoming exceptional. So let’s talk about rank.

The exceptional martial artist keeps rank in its proper perspective. The momentary joy of getting a new belt or certificate fades. Don’t go for that.

The deep internal joy of learning and doing great martial arts changes you forever. Go for that.

Getting a new rank can be very motivating. It’s recognition from your instructor or your system that you’ve worked hard and learned key aspects of your martial art. It’s something of a Catch-22, however; getting new belts (or sashes, or whatever external emblems of progress your system uses) is nice, but if you only focus on training for the next belt, you’ll be an amateur forever.

Learn more in our latest article.

Looking for a Martial Arts Organization that Clicks?

SMAA could be right for you!

As part of the Shudokan Martial Arts Association, you can learn karate, aikido, iaido, judo, and jujutsu. If you’re ready to get immersed in your training at a traditional martial arts organization, call (734) 720-0330 or submit a contact form here.

The Application of Riai

In our last blog, we talked about the meaning of riai. Now that we know what it means, what does it
look like in practice?

If you don’t understand the core principles behind the art, your techniques won’t look coherent. You’ll be doing something, but there won’t be a unity or cohesiveness. The techniques will look like disparate, unrelated actions. It will look choppity-chop.

So, if you were going to attack someone, what was the biggest worry? His sword hand, his right hand, would grab his sword and cut you in retaliation. Hence, you’d grab his right hand first, nullify it, and then punch him, kick him, slap him or dance with him. Whatever. Maybe, if you grabbed him with your left, you could draw out your own sword with your right hand. Just don’t give the guy a chance to draw his sword out.

The fear of the opponent drawing his sword out was why a lot of attacks in jujutsu begin with a wrist grab, and why it carried over into aikido. That’s what an attacker might do, way back in the old days.

Seen in that light, the reason why so many attacks by uke in aikido are those large, somewhat “unrealistic” swings with a knife-hand is that they replicate a sword attack.

The riai, therefore, can be superficial: it can mean, well, here’s the guy grabbing your hand. So you turn, twist his wrist and throw him. That’s what it means. Period. End of story.

Or you would have to dig deeper and deeper. WHY is uke going for your hand instead of trying to wrestle you down? Because in principle, in the old days, if his right hand was free, he’ll just take out his dagger or sword and stab you.

Just as kote gaeshi is a foundational technique in aikido, there are foundational techniques in other martial arts that, if properly understood, will enable an understanding in the riai not just of that technique, but of the entire curriculum.

Read more in our latest article.

Understand Riai, Get Certified in Martial Arts

If you’re committed to understanding the riai of your art, you can earn a martial arts certification at SMAA! To get started or ask questions, call (734) 720-0330 or submit a contact form here.

The Meaning of Riai

Have you heard the term “riai” in your martial art?

What does it mean?

My trusty Nelson kanji dictionary defines the two kanji that make up the word as meaning “reason,” or ri- (“principle”, “truth”) with “coming together, meeting, or harmonizing” (-ai). In other words, in budo, riai are the underlying principles behind a technique. That’s as simple an explanation as I can give, and in most cases, that’s enough. Riai, in a way, is similar to the word bandied about frequently in karate-do schools: bunkai (“analysis,” “reduction,” “parsing”). However, as the Nelson translated meanings make clear, they are somewhat different.

In any case, on a superficial level, riai is simply an explanation of the “meaning” of a technique, or waza.

Okay, Grasshopper, you’re waiting for the other shoe to drop right now, right? It can’t be as simple as all that.

So here it is: that definition of riai is good enough for most students. Certainly, for the average middle-class, suburban kid taking a “kurrottee” class in a shopping mall dojo, it’s plenty sufficient. We’re talking about students whose willingness to alter his/her mental, emotional, and spiritual attitudes to delve further into the culture and ethos of combative arts as precariously limited, after all. There’s nothing wrong with stopping there and letting them enjoy the experience, if that’s what the dojo is aiming for.

Read more in our latest article.

Understand Riai, Get Certified in Martial Arts

If you’re committed to understanding the riai of your art, you can earn a martial arts certification at SMAA! To get started or ask questions, call (734) 720-0330 or submit a contact form here.

Embracing the Beginner's Mind

Why is it important to approach martial arts with a beginner’s mind?

"Empty Your Cup" is a martial arts aphorism that virtually every student has heard. It refers to the idea that students should put aside their own thoughts and opinions and diligently try to do exactly as their instructor asks them to do. Whether one studies aikido, karate-do, jujutsu, or kendo, the requirement is the same: diligently and enthusiastically perform the techniques of your martial art, over and over, trying to match all the checkpoints provided by your teacher. The idea is that you should adopt a beginner's attitude, rather than an expert's, even if you are very accomplished. If you do so, you will find that your understanding and ability improve at a remarkable pace.

Outside the dojo, the attributes of a good martial artist—confidence, open-mindedness, positive attitude, and awareness—are tools for success. In life, as in the dojo, we keep what we embrace and lose what we reject. A human being with a big heart has room for many wonderful things!

Earn Your Martial Arts Certification at SMAA

Our dojo offers five unique divisions of authentic Japanese martial arts: aikido, iaido, judo, jujutsu, and karate-do. If you’re looking to earn a martial arts certification in any of these, SMAA is for you! To get started, call 734-720-0330 or submit a contact form here. We look forward to nurturing your Beginner’s Mind!

Things to Keep in Mind When Beginning a New Martial Art

Are you ready to start learning a new martial art?

Previous training in a martial art can impede your ability to perform the checkpoints of your new art. In fact, it's more than your mind that keeps you from doing your new art correctly; if you've studied another martial art, the chances are good that you learned things in a different way. The old movements are programmed into your nervous system and can take time to unlearn. By staying relaxed, focusing on the relationship between the technique and the principle that makes it work, and trying to work slowly and systematically, you can dramatically decrease the time it takes to unlearn the old and learn the new.

Inner dialog is another impediment to effective learning. Most of us have a sort of continuous conversation with ourselves, in which we constantly analyze, compare, discriminate, and predict. In situations where intellectual analysis is required, this dialog can be beneficial. However, when learning a physical skill, the dialog can actually impair our ability to experience the techniques in all their fullness. Martial arts are physical skills, and if our complete attention is focused on the moment, we are much more likely to absorb the subtle aspects of the techniques. Learning to quiet the mind is essential on the way to becoming an advanced martial artist.

Ego is one of the biggest hurdles to learning new skills, especially for those who have studied other arts previously. It's common for martial arts students to strongly identify with the system they've studied, and when they are offered new ways to accomplish martial arts goals, those new ways can seem strange or threatening. It's normal to experience a defensive reaction when asked to try something different, but the accomplished practitioner will learn that the reaction need not be acted upon. Instead, one can recognize that the reaction is a product of "self," a body of reflexive thoughts and feelings that may not actually represent who we are, and move through it toward the desired technique. Recognizing that learning to do things in new ways does not threaten who we are is an enormous step in becoming accomplished martial artists.

Earn Your Martial Arts Certification at SMAA

Our dojo offers five unique divisions of authentic Japanese martial arts: aikido, iaido, judo, jujutsu, and karate-do. If you’re looking to earn a martial arts certification in any of these, SMAA is for you! To get started, call 734-720-0330 or submit a contact form here. We look forward to nurturing your Beginner’s Mind!

Nurture the Body and Mind

Looking for a sport that focuses on both the body and mind?

What if I told you that there was a way to achieve the following characteristics?

• Become happy and relieve stress
• Lose weight
• Gain fast twitch muscles, flexibility, and strength
• Slow the aging process
• Join a community of healthy, well-balanced people
• Become more intelligent

You probably think you’re being sold a pill. That’s not the case. What I have compiled for you is a list of scientifically backed reasons why joining a martial art can help you. Whether you have “martial arts” written on your bucket list or keep a rack of black belts in your closet, doing martial arts today can benefit you greatly!

MARTIAL ARTS ENHANCE MENTAL PERFORMANCE

In an article from BotBot, studies showed an improvement in memory, enhanced problem-solving skills, and reduced risk of Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s after taking part in an exercise regimen. The most effective types of exercises were aerobic and resistance-training methods, both of which can be found in the martial arts. What’s more, it doesn’t matter when you start. Exercise yields immediate cognitive improvements.

Martial arts are different from other forms of exercise, because a lot of it requires tactical thinking. This means an increase the brain’s ability to learn, or plasticity. Resistance training, flexibility or coordination, and aerobic movements all add up to enhanced brain plasticity.

BOOSTS YOUR MOOD AND RELIEVES STRESS

In Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi’s Flow, he describes how there is a state where an “optimal experience” or state of flow can happen. He cites martial arts as being “a specific form of flow” (Csikszentmihalyi 106) where “the warrior strives to reach the point where he can act with lightning speed against opponents, without having to think or reason about the best… moves to make” (106). This state of optimal experience is an accomplice in achieving happiness.

As with any exercise, it has psychological benefits. In an article on WebMD, researchers stated that regular exercise releases chemicals called endorphins. The endorphins affect the way your brain perceives pain, often triggering a positive feeling in the body. Not only do they act as analgesics (covering the feeling of pain), but they also act as sedatives. This means that the chemicals relieve stress, alleviate anxiety and depression, improve self-esteem, and act as a sleep-aid.

Get in Shape with a Martial Arts Industry Association!

Martial arts are beneficial, no matter where you’re coming from. Budo can prevent aging, such as muscle atrophy and illnesses. It improves your mental health by boosting your mood and relieving stress. You gain muscle, pump up your metabolism, and increase your flexibility. You improve your cognitive functions. You cultivate connections with like-minded, happy people.

To get started at a legitimate martial arts industry association, call 734-720-0330 or submit a contact form here.

Anti-Aging and Fitness in Martial Arts

Have you been looking for an enjoyable way to get in shape?

Not only are martial arts fun and exciting, but their benefits include anti-aging, weight loss, flexibility, and strength gain.

ANTI-AGING

A study that compared martial artists and sedentary 40- to 60-year-olds concluded, “The results provide evidence that…. training is an effective intervention that may reduce or prevent [the] declines associated with normal aging” (Douris et al 146).

In the study, martial art practitioners were more flexible, had better muscle strength and endurance, and improved balance. They also tended to have a lower body fat percentage.

Because training in martial arts has cardiovascular benefits, fewer of the martial artists had heart diseases, compared to the group that didn’t practice martial arts. The sedentary lifestyle and high body fat percentage that leads to hypertension, diabetes, and other illnesses did not affect the martial arts practitioners.

WEIGHT LOSS, FLEXIBILITY, AND STRENGTH GAIN

One acronym: HIIT. High intensity interval training means doing periods of short, intense anaerobic exercise. It’s good for athletic conditioning, improving the metabolism, and fat-burning. In many martial arts dojo, where the martial art is more sports oriented, the movements tend to involve high repetitions, or cycles, in a short amount of time. The movements also range from using your own body weight to shouldering someone twice your size.

There’s a huge calorie deficit. You need 3500 calories to lose a pound of fat. Depending on your weight and the martial art, you can singe anywhere from 500-1500 calories in an hour. Compare that to having to run seven miles at a 10-mph pace.

Not only that, but building muscle promotes a calorie burn after you’ve stopped working out. Because martial arts involve a combination of slow and fast twitch muscle conditioning, you promote muscle development.

In a study done on sedentary men and women, it was shown that after 15 weeks of strenuous HIIT activity, type I and IIb muscle fibers improved dramatically. The first muscle type is good at resisting fatigue, whereas the second muscle type increased glycogen metabolism.

Get in Shape with a Martial Arts Industry Association! 

Martial arts are beneficial, no matter where you’re coming from. Budo can prevent aging, such as muscle atrophy and illnesses. It improves your mental health by boosting your mood and relieving stress. You gain muscle, pump up your metabolism, and increase your flexibility. You improve your cognitive functions. You cultivate connections with like-minded, happy people.

To get started at a legitimate martial arts industry association, call 734-720-0330 or submit a contact form here.

The Benefits of Paired Kata

Have you ever heard of a paired kata?

The teaching and practice of paired kata is meant to communicate, among other things, how swordsmen interact in contest. Moreover, prescribed paired kata provides the context to highlight and practice some combative principles in isolation and makes them accessible to a wider audience. This complements a student’s education in solo practice, where one focuses on more intrapersonal aspects. For example, in solo practice we study body mechanics, such as methods for putting force into the sword, while in paired practice we study the dynamics of distance between swordsmen and its implication on the outcome of a contest. Aside from what is transmitted through the kata, we can gain additional insight into the aspects of swordsmanship particular to paired practice through the writings of skilled swordsmen, such as Miyamoto Musashi and Yagyu Munenori, and through first-hand experience under the appropriate restrictions to maintain safety, e.g. kendo. 

Looking for an International Martial Arts Association?

SMAA offers five divisions of authentic Japanese martial arts: aikido, iaido, judo, jujutsu, and karate-do. If you want to part of a prestigious international martial arts association, give us a call at (734) 720-0330 or submit a contact form here. We look forward to helping you develop your art!

Iaido and the Three Initiatives

How much do you know about iaido?

While modern iaido consists principally of solo practice, there are a number of paired kata in Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu iaido (founded in the late Muromachi period, circa 1590). These kata take the form of ordered sets of waza (“techniques”) in which the practitioners act out martial scenarios. First among these is Tachi Uchi no Kurai (太刀打之位, “The State of Crossing Swords/The State of Striking Swords”). Tachi Uchi no Kurai is performed by two practitioners each using a single long sword. 

Musashi’s Three Initiatives and Munenori’s Three Rhythms describe the relationship of intention, decision-making, and action between two swordsmen in contest. Musashi’s Three Initiatives are the Initiative of Attack, the Initiative of Waiting, and the Body-Body Initiative. Musashi writes, “The Initiative of Attack is when I attack my opponent. The Initiative of Waiting is when my opponent attacks me. The Body-Body Initiative is when both my opponent and I attack at the same time.”

To explain this principle more fully, we turn to Takuan Soho, who writes, “To speak in terms of your own martial art, when you first notice the sword that is moving to strike you, if you think of meeting that sword just as it is, your mind will stop at the sword in just that position, your own movements will be undone, and you will be cut down by your opponent. This is what stopping means.” Thus, we understand that in a rapidly changing environment one must constantly absorb information about what is happening and make quick decisions about how to adapt. To draw an analogy to chess or the Japanese board game of go, one must endeavor to play a few moves ahead. If the environment changes too rapidly, one misunderstands, or if he lets his mind dwell on something then he is more likely to make poor decisions or be unable to adapt. Soho calls this dwelling “stopping,” “attachment,” or “sickness of the mind.”

Learn Iaido at an International Martial Arts Association!

SMAA offers five divisions of authentic Japanese martial arts: aikido, iaido, judo, jujutsu, and karate-do. If you want to part of a prestigious international martial arts association, give us a call at (734) 720-0330 or submit a contact form here. We look forward to helping you develop your art!

Budo and Self-Purification

Have you ever thought of martial arts as purifying?

An important concept in budo is that of self-purification through training. Budo practice is thought by some to be a means of approaching the presence of the sacred. In some ways similar to the ritual of washing the hands and mouth before entering a temple, training is a way of cleansing the body, mind, and spirit in preparation for an encounter with a higher plane of existence. The physical cleansing that takes place is fairly obvious. Sweat cleans out the pores, and the rush of blood through the veins and arteries is thought to help keep them clear. Comparing the physical condition of a budo man at seventy years of age and that of someone the same age who has not trained will satisfy you that exercise is good for the body. If, in fact, "the body is a temple," then hard physical training is equivalent to sweeping the floors of the temple, painting the walls, and burning incense to welcome the gods.

Done Researching Karate Organizations?

Are you unsatisfied with the karate organizations you’ve looked at so far? 

SMAA offers five different divisions of martial arts, all offering opportunities for physical and spiritual growth. Submit a contact form here or call 734-720-0330 to start your journey.

Learn the Essential Techniques

Have you thought about how martial arts are linked to character development?

Do you know what to do after establishing your goals?

Once you have established what your goals are, set out to learn the techniques that help you move toward them. 

As you study, pay careful attention to each component of each technique, making sure that you understand not only how to do it, but also why it is done a certain way and what it is intended to accomplish. Many new students of martial arts try to invent techniques. While their creative spirit is admirable, techniques invented by novices are not very effective or efficient. Creativity in martial arts, as I explained in Budo Mind and Body, is the expression of mastery, not a means of achieving it. Many great martial artists have come before us, perfecting the skills of their arts for hundreds of years, so it pays to be humble about your own ability to create something new.

Read more about self-mastery.

Get Your Martial Arts Certification at SMAA

The very act of striving for mastery is one of the cornerstones of our progress toward perfection of character. As we practice our skills over and over, each time refining them, we begin to get at the essence of martial arts. 

SMAA can help you master the self and earn martial arts certification in legitimate heritage Japanese martial arts. Learn more about joining SMAA by calling (734) 720-0330 or by submitting a contact form here.

Focus on the Goal

Are you looking for ways to improve yourself through martial arts?

How focused are you on your goals?

Focusing on the goal means knowing what you want, carefully considering how to get there, consistently evaluating your progress, turning away from dead ends, and choosing the best or most efficient means of moving forward.

When choosing a technique, we must carefully consider whether practicing it will be an effective use of our time. After careful reflection, if we find it useless, we discard it. If it can be improved, we modify it accordingly. When we experience a mood or feeling during practice, we consider whether it is helpful to our tactical state of mind. If not, we find a way to cultivate a more beneficial mood. Great progress is most often made by those who are obsessive about their pursuits, who constantly focus on a specific goal. This is true in martial arts, in creative endeavors, or in business. When a person is easily sidetracked or tends to change his mind frequently about his goals, he tends not to accomplish much.

Read more about self-mastery.

Train for a Martial Arts Certification at SMAA

The very act of striving for mastery is one of the cornerstones of our progress toward perfection of character. As we practice our skills over and over, each time refining them, we begin to get at the essence of martial arts. 

SMAA can help you master the self and earn martial arts certification in legitimate heritage Japanese martial arts. Learn more about joining SMAA by calling (734) 720-0330 or by submitting a contact form here.

Approaching New Moves

How do you approach learning a new move?

A great way to approach each day in the dojo is to decide to "get one thing right today." Isolate one aspect of your art—a foot position you struggle with in iaido, the rhythm of a form in karate-do, or the hand position leading up to a throw in judo—and concentrate on doing it right.

Wait until you can get that "one thing" right before turning your attention to another. You will be surprised at how your foundation moves improve if you take this approach. Since the average student comes to the dojo three times per week, you could get really good at 156 components of your art in a year.

Read more about the “get one thing right today” principle here.

Perfect Your Moves at a Prestigious Martial Arts Organization

Getting one thing right today doesn’t have to end with martial arts. You can improve your whole lifestyle by joining SMAA, a martial arts organization that teaches historical Japanese martial arts. Contact SMAA here to start your journey.

Understanding Your Personal Form in Martial Arts

 Do you want to strengthen the connection between your body and mind? 

To do so, you must understand your form before increasing your strength.

Understanding Your Form

To understand the body geometrically, you should first be aware of the physical center point where the body's mass and balance naturally settle. First, envision a sphere whose radius originates at the body's origin. If circumstances demand occupation outside this sphere, then the origin of the sphere must be repositioned to accommodate. Now, the line representing the body can bow or hinge on shaping new tools within the sphere. 

To maintain structural integrity and unification, there are two requirements that must be maintained. The first is that one's shape must either move from its origin or around its origin. The second is that every point on the line that represents the body must be contiguously connected to the origin. 

If either of these requirements falters, then the form suffers disorganization, and the effectiveness of the body as a tool diminishes. 

To learn more about the forms in martial arts, click here.

Build Your Understanding of Form - Earn a Custom Martial Arts Certificate 

Do you want to build your understanding of form?

Joining an official martial arts association can lead you down a path to a better understanding of yourself. When joining an official martial arts association you can work towards earning your own custom martial arts certificate. 

Contact us to learn more. 

Keeping a Positive Attitude

Do you want to strengthen your mind?

In many ways, the positive and dynamic use of the mind is the most important point in learning budo, for without it, we rarely have the follow-through to effectively master any other aspects of training. Beginners should also consider as well the ways in which a negative attitude can affect them physically. And while all of this is important, the bottom-line is that the mind will withdraw from an activity it doesn’t “feel good about.” That includes learning a martial arts technique, and if we believe that we can’t do well at some aspect of budo, the mind often fails to fully focus on that action, creating a self- fulfilling prophecy of failure. 

 

An optimistic attitude is most easily arrived at through a deliberate and rational analysis of what’s required to manifest positive thought patterns. First, we must reflect on the present condition of our minds. In other words, is the mind positive or not? We’ve all met individuals that perceived themselves as being upbeat people, yet weren’t seen by others in that way. The mind, being invisible, is intangible. It’s therefore easier to see the characteristics of the mind through a person's words, deeds, and posture. 

Learn more here!

 

Looking for Karate Certificates? Join SMAA Today!

You may become a better student, teacher, and performer with support from the SMAA. You’ll gain insight from our prestigious members in multiple countries and can earn reputable certificates of rank. We can answer your questions with credible historic Japanese martial arts knowledge and experience.

Call us today at 734-720-0330 or contact us to learn about earning karate certificates. 

Movement in Budo

Wonder how martial artists move so quickly?

With such force?

Learning a Japanese martial art requires adherence to correct technique and an understanding of the correct technique requires attention to closely related things like posture, kinesiology and balance. Efficient body movement requires a degree of mastery of all of these.

Relaxation

Martial artists, like those engaged in most other physical activities, must learn to relax. Tension is your enemy. After developing the ability to do some basic techniques in a relaxed fashion, the techniques must be practiced thousands of times to imprint the movements into the body and the brain. But the practitioner must always be relaxed.

If you want to throw a good front punch, you must relax your upper body including the muscles in your face. If you remain tense, effective punching is nigh impossible. Your “punch,” if you can throw it at all, will inevitably be slow and weak.

Physics

Kinetic energy, or “moving energy,” in this case the energy you deliver to whatever you are punching, is directly proportional to the mass you can generate by the use of your body mass and directly proportional to the square of the velocity (speed) with which your hand strikes its target. Said in a slightly different way, the mass delivered is how much of your entire body mass you can recruit into your punch and deliver to your target. If you double the mass you deliver, you double the kinetic energy delivered to the target. In other words, if you increase the mass you deliver from one unit to two units, you increase the amount of kinetic energy delivered by a punch from one unit to two units. You double the kinetic energy delivered.

To learn more about the science behind budo, read here!

Advance your rank with SMAA: Martial arts certification

Want to put your skills to the test?

Receive rank certification as a full member of the Shudokan Martial Arts Association!  Test under an SMAA teacher or send us a video of your budo performance along with a membership application. SMAA offers separate divisions for karate, aikido, judo, traditional jujutsu, and iaido.

Rank today! Call us today at 734-720-0330 or contact us to learn more about martial arts certification.

Budo and the Body

 Did you know knowledge of anatomy, physiology, relaxation, and physics is essential for martial arts training?

Want to learn how martial artists stay safe?

Studying the Japanese martial arts is a physical and mental endeavor. We sometimes get so wrapped up in training in the dojo that we ignore basics such as anatomy, physiology, relaxation, and physics, each of which is essential to the development of high-level skills.

Anatomy

Learning the basic karate-do horizontal front punch illustrates the need for understanding at least a little anatomy. The knuckles of the index and middle fingers of the fisted hand, the part of the hand that transmits energy to the target, must move just a tiny bit to the outside just before impact with the target. This allows the alignment of these two knuckles and the metacarpals behind them with the radius and ulna in the forearm, thus enabling the delivery of the kinetic energy generated by your body mass and the punch’s velocity to the target. If these bones are not properly aligned, the punch will deliver less energy and be less effective. You will also be at increased risk of injuring your hand.

Correct Form

Physiology

Physiology is also important. Your muscles must have energy to function. If your muscles and liver are, due to fatigue, depleted of glycogen, a precursor of glucose that is the basic fuel of skeletal muscle and most other tissues, you simply cannot deliver an effective blow. You have heard of marathoners and triathletes who “hit the wall.” They “hit the wall” because their muscle and liver stores of glycogen were too low to sustain prolonged exercise. They may quit, or often they struggle to finish, sometimes collapsing either physically, mentally, or both during the struggle. Nausea, cramps, and mental disorientation can result. The same thing can happen to martial artists who do not understand the need to fuel their muscles. While martial artists are not generally thought of as endurance athletes, even moderate glycogen depletion with the resultant reduction in blood glucose levels can reduce mental acuity, reduce reaction time, reduce coordination, and decrease strength.

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