Bowing is probably the feature of Japanese etiquette that is best known outside Japan, especially present in Japanese Martial Arts such as Karate.
Bowing is considered extremely important in Japan, so much so that, although children normally begin learning how to bow from a very young age, companies commonly provide training to their employees in how to execute bows correctly.
Basic bows are performed with the back straight and the hands at the sides (boys and men) or clasped in the lap (girls and women), and with the eyes down. Bows originate at the waist. Generally, the longer and deeper the bow, the stronger the emotion and the respect expressed.
Karrinyup Karate – 2 Nerita Way – Stirling Karate.
Like well known karate blogger, Jessie said, “To teach is to learn twice. When you teach something to others you are forced to rethink your understanding of it.”
Einstein said: “If you can’t explain it to a 5 year old, you don’t understand it well enough”
Karate provides a lot of mental and intellectual stimulation over and above the physical benefits. To have a deeper understanding of karate technique will most certainly add to your enjoyment of the art. Teaching karate will force you to explain why and how techniques were designed to work, especially when a 6 year old puts you on the spot!
I have seen the benefits of seniors teaching in our dojo over the last 20 years. It is part of our dojo culture to teach at least once a week when you receive your shodan.
This is what it’s achieving:
Young adults (and older ones) learning to take responsibility, build self esteem, become leaders and give back.
Learning twice, re think karate. Remembering and executing karate better and become better karate-ka.
Establishing a culture of friendship and caring for fellow dojo members which builds camaraderie and spirit.
I would love to know what you learn from teaching karate in the comments section below. What do you learn from teaching karate?
How quickly you can get to the target to deliver your technique is an important part of karate. Isolating “transport to target” will help you to improve this aspect of your karate. You want to focus and overload getting to the target faster. This video gives some ideas (which is most certainly nothing new) on how we can emphasise training to get to target faster! Go for it! #karinprinsloo#kumite#training#karate#jka#sajka#wkf
Whether you are competing in karate, do kumite sparring or defending yourself, nobody like to be kicked in the head! It’s not only dangerous but humiliating.
A. The first part of the video is about a nice little 3 point drill that helps you defend a front foot maswashi geri to the face.
1. Move towards the kick, break the line, counter attack kezame tsuki
2. Move back to block and counter gyaku tsuki
3. The opponent delivers an ushiro mawashi geri and defending by moving towards the closed side of the opponent , keeping close while countering gyaku tsuki.
In your training session let the opponent perform two front foot maswashi geris and one front foot ushiro mawashi geri to the target standing still. Secondly provide a moving target. Thirdly let the opponent move into the correct directions. Fourthly apply block and counter attacking.
B. The second part of the video is some ideas around defending against a front foot mawashi while sweeping the opponent’s supporting leg. Be sure to keep your defence up when approaching with the sweep.
Have a look at this highlights video from the KZN JKA championships is held annually as a combined club championships in KZN – Durban South Africa. The Tournament is a fantastic showcase of KZN’s karate students both big and small. It is a safe and exciting environment where many karate students get exposed to karate competition for the first time. #jka#sajka#pinetownjka#karinprinsloo#karate#kata#kumite
Sensei Stan Schmidt – People of the South – Interview
Watching this People of the South program featuring Stan Schmidt Sensei makes me realise how blessed I was learning karate from these early pioneers, Senseis Stan Schmitdt, Keith Geyer, Derrick Geyer and Dries la Grange (many featuring in the early part of the program). I don’t think we often realise how difficult it must have been at times for Stan Sensei and his wife Judy, to learn so much in a country that was not really open to westerners at the time. With Stan Sensei’s remarkable determination, talent, humble attitude and hunger to learn, he did not only win the respect of the Japanese, but made it possible for many of us starting a journey with JKA Karate in South Africa.
What is so evident in the program, apart from Stan Sensei’s achievements, is his success as a leader in all areas of his life. Anyone that ever had the privilege training under him will recall the wisdom and inspiration that enriched their lives. It is with good reason, due to Stan Sensei’s leadership, that SA JKA had 10 000+ members in South Africa, one of the largest in the world at one stage.
I Recall how nervous I was as a little girl travelling from Heidelberg every Wednesday evening, with Sensei Dries and Johan la Grange, to go and train with Sensei Stan (coming from Heidelberg I didn’t understand English too well!). How I treasure those moment now!
I really miss being in Stan Sensei’s classes, his knowledge and wisdom really lives through a lot of today’s JKA karate leaders whom he taught.
There is a Japanese saying that goes: “Humility is the first step of gaining extraordinary influence”. This is what I feel when I watch People of the South featuring Stan Schmidt Sensei.
Heian Shodan is the first of the Heian kata and often the first kata you learn in a JKA or Shotokan dojo. Heian Shodan is accepted as the beginner kata. This video will take you through the kata one move at a time as well as illustrate bunkai for certain moves. #karinprinsloo#shotokan#kata#jka#sajka#karate#webvideosa
It takes good timing, courage, accuracy and speed to “cut off” an attacker with a gyaku zuki, as they are launching an attack. So, what to do when you are down on points and your opponent beats you by cutting you off with a gyaku zuki? Here are some ideas…. #sajka#jka#kumite#karate#karinprinsloo#pinetownjka
Bowing is probably the feature of Japanese etiquette that is best known outside Japan, especially present in Japanese Martial Arts such as Karate.
teach at least once a 
week when you receive your shodan.
