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The ultimate objective of Karate
lies not in the winning of the fight. The objective is found in the way in which man strives to develop the human potential he possesses. Its manifestations are in the expression of perfectly executed use of all parts of the body without a weapon; and the means are the movements of blocking, punching, striking and kicking.
Thus, Karate is not merely the ultimate fighting art. The complete mental control require for the mastery of physical movements; the effort and discipline development of good citizenship and perfection of human character.
Contests in Karate are only one part of total Karate discipline and only two of the methods of training. The fields of competition are: Kata [technical formal exercise] and Kumite [free fighting]. Kumite and Kata contests are conducted under the strict rules that have been established for this competition.
Karate is the fastest growing collegiate sport in the nation. This is true because of the younger generation’s search for true meaning in life. They have found this meaning in the noblest art of them all, KARATE. It is also true because colleges and universities have found that there is practically no expense involved in establishing a Karate program.
Almost every major college or university in the Southern United States has either a sanctioned on non-sanctioned Karate program. Karate is the Sport of Tomorrow.

Originally Karate was a system of self-defense. However, in recent decades, Karate has been transformed into a sport but self-defense is still a vital part of Karate training. And, unlike most other sports where students or practitioners are taught to compete entirely against opponents of identical or very similar systems, including both defensive and direct tactics against weapons. For example, boxers are taught to fight boxers and wrestlers are trained for wrestling. What could they hope to do if attacked by some maniac wielding a broken bottle or a bicycle chain, find themselves confronted with a pistol thrust in their face or a knife pressed against their throat from behind while they’re being held in a hammer lock? Those are only a few of the situations Karate players are trained to handle. There is no equal to being expert in the use of both the hands and feet in various and countless methods of striking, especially when coupled with the secret of "focused power" which is capable of penetrating and smashing concrete blocks.
The term conflict applies to the independent, undisciplined function of the body’s three most powerful elements: breathing, mental and physical concentration. In application, the Sanchin practitioner seeks complete coordination of these forces, greatly improving the mind-body relationship.
When delivering a blow (which is a very small part of the total spectrum of Mental concentration is greatly increased and muscles begin to tighten. The Sanchin State is brought to a climax just prior to the point of impact. All air is suddenly expelled from the body. Mental concentration reaches an absolute maximum and every muscle is tightened. An explosion of super-human strength is second. This spontaneous explosion of life force known as chi was developed through close observation and imitation of the great cats and reptiles. The study of nature’s creatures and the practice of Sanchin soon established the Monks act of violence. The Art they practiced came to be called Shaolin-SZU, Shorinjuru, or "First Way", foundation of Chinese Kempo or Kung Fu Karate, as we know it today.
The most important step in the development of modern day Karate came with the introduction of Zen Buddhism and the Shorinjuru Fighting Art to the Rhykyu Islands (Okinawa). Scattered like steppingstones from the Southern Island of Kyushu to pillagers and warlords. By incorporating the sophisticated, flowing movements of Shorinjuru into the brutal, smashing Art of Okinawa-Te (Okinawa Hand), Islanders gave birth to a new Art...KARATE (Empty Hand), the most fierce fighting Art known to man.
About 500 years ago the famous King Hashi succeeded in uniting the Ryukyu Islands into one kingdom. To ensure rule by law, all weapons were seized from the people and it was made a crime against the state to possess weapons. About 200 years later Okinawa became a part of the Satruma Clan of Kyushu, and a second band on weapons was declared. During these centuries Japanese Warlords and the Art of empty-handed fighting occupied Okinawa, now known as Karate, (kara-empty, te-hand) underwent its most advanced developments to date. Through their many years of secret practice the Okinawans became so proficient that they could attack and kill armed soldiers with their "bare hands". Their weapons (hands, feet, fists, etc.) were as effective as any other weapon of that day, and in the 16th Century they attacked and overthrew the Japanese occupational force. Karate was to be taught secretly for centuries and was not officially introduced in Japan until 1917.
The Okinawan Grand Master at this time was Sensei Chokun Mobutu. However, he was so radically anti-Japanese that the Okinawans, who were again subjects of Japan, were afraid to send him to show the Japanese this science of self-defense. Instead they sent a more polished gentlemen of lower rank named Gichin Funakochi, an Okinawa School Teacher whom was never to return to Okinawa.
In 1946, Master Robert Trias opened the first known Karate school in the United States. Two years later, in 1948, he formed the now largest Karate Association in the country. THE UNITED STATES KARATE ASSOCIATION. The seed was planted, and Karate began to grow.
In America today there are many Karate schools. There are also many styles and systems. Although the basis of Karate began thousands of years ago, there has been a gradual changing in the execution of its techniques. Each Master of the past has added his own special ideas to produce today a form of unarmed self defense equaled by no other means... but it is not over; it is just beginning. Changes are being made even now by the Karate Masters of today. Karate is on the move! Its history is being written day by day as it continues to strive for self-betterment in the Art and character of its followers.

The emblem appearing above is the official emblem of the United States Karate Association. The U.S.K.A. Emblem goes back to early Karate lore for its meanings. The significance of the Red, White and Blue are two folds. First, they are the colors of our Country’s Flag. Secondly, Taishi Drumas Philosophy is represented by the seven red stripes for the seven failures in his life and the word Karate in red for the eight when he rose victorious. Perhaps one should not take these numbers too literally in that one should always seek to rise again, however, many adverse situations one is confronted with.
The five white stars on the blue field signify the five original fist strengths.
1. The Dragon for body strength
2. The Tiger for bone strength
3. The Leopard for inner and outer strength
4. The Crane for hidden or spiritual strength
5. The Snake for breathe strength or the power of the Saika Tanden
The blue field is for the greatness or vastness symbolizing the U.S.K.A.’s purpose of spreading Karate. Red is for the courage of Daruma and the remaining color, white, is for purity of body, mind and soul which is developed through devotion to true Karate science and ethics.

The story of Karate is as old as man himself. Struggling for survival in a hostile world, early man soon learned that his life depended on his ability to kill and evade. Through centuries of painful evolution, man broadened his knowledge of his enemy’s fighting habits and systematic training methods.
Having defeated the greatest reptiles and most cunning animals in the battle for world domination, man encountered his most formidable opponent - MAN. In defense of hunting territory, his home, his village or his country, man maintained a constant quest for knowledge and skill in the ways of combat. Young men learned the fighting techniques of old warriors, adding to them and passing the compounded knowledge on. Spawned by generations of experience, a highly specialized Art was born... A closely guarded secret, families having knowledge of the Art generally exercised a place of prominence in the community.
The first milestone in Karate philosophy came in 563 B.C. with the birth of and Indian Prince named Siddartha Gautama. Born to royalty and great wealth, he rejected all worldly possessions to live the life of a Monk. He came to be known as Buddha, Founder of the Gentle Religion that bears his name. Buddhist theory credits the shortcomings of all humanity to man’s rebellion against nature. An important part of Buddhist development was the study of birds, animals and insects. It was reasoned that man could learn much from God’s creature’s since they were in complete harmony with nature.
Traveling from village to village teaching the gentle ways of Buddhism, early Monks often delivered mail and valuables as a service to their followers. For this reason they were often attacked and robbed. Forbidden to bear weapons, they turned to nature with their need. Knowledge of ancient unarmed combat techniques became a part of their training. The fighting habits of birds, animals and insects, applied to the human body, were incorporated and a complete new concept of combat was born. The life of Buddha was destined to have great influence on the fierce killing Art and its philosophy. He died, a penniless Monk in 483 B.C. at the age of 80.
About 1000 years later, the Buddhist Monk, Taishi Daruma [later known as Bodhidharma] crossed the Himalayan Mountains from India to China. He came for two reasons: to found a Buddhist Monastery and to unite the various Buddhist and Taoist schools of thought, which had proceeded him. The undertaking of such a
Journey even today is an enormous and extremely dangerous task requiring months of planning. Daruma found that the Monarchs of the Liang Dynasty were not perceptive to Buddhist tenants. Returning to the wilderness, he and a small group of disciples constructed the Shaolin Monastery, which was to be the birthplace of Zen Buddhism. Finding his Chinese followers weak from long hours of traditional meditation and physical neglect, Daruma established a system of physical and mental discipline known as I-Chin or San-Chin meaning "three conflicts." The concept of San-Chin is founded on the realization that man’s most powerful body forces lie virtually untapped.

To be awarded a point, the Karate contestant must deliver a strongly focused blow executed with (a) good form and balance or balance of momentum in the case of air attacks (b) proper distance and (c) explosive, but controlled force to a completely unprotected (the blow must be pulled short of injuring contact, yet demonstrate the required power, depth and target, in order for a contestant to receive a point in tournament play.
A point is not always nor necessarily considered a kill. Judges usually award points based on the contestants (beginning or intermediates) should show enough power and technique to have sufficiently hurt or completely stopped his opponent. Brown Belt contestants (advanced status) must show the ability to do damaging injury to an opponent. The Black Belt (expert rated) must demonstrate his technique with crippling or killing force.
The participant who scores the most points in three (3) minutes wins a match. If no point is scored in three (3) minutes, the match continues in a "Sudden Death" period where the first contestant scoring wins the match. Title matches often consist of three (3) one and a half-minute rounds.

In order to maintain the energy necessary to work a kata correctly the karateka must learn to breath correctly. Correct breathing is a critical element in energy management. Proper energy management will ensure the martial artist is able to complete the kata with consistent power and effective technique. Recently Psychologist have begun to teach breathing techniques to their patients. They have learned that proper breathing has a calming effect on both body and mind. We as martial artist should trained to breath correctly in order to overcome obstacles such as fear, anxiety, stress and physical exertions. However just as proper breathing will assist an individual in a combative situation improper breathing will have an equally negative effect. When your breathing is out of control you change the oxygen and nitrogen levels in your bloodstream. This change will have a adverse effect on your physical, emotional and mental state. It is vital that the karateka is able to control their breathing in order to properly manage their energy while working kata.

There are two type of breathing use when performing a kata. The first is called "ibuki" or quick energy breath. Ibuki breathing is done at the execution of blocks, kicks, and punches. The second is "nogare", or slow breathing. Nogare breathing is usually done when moving from one position to the next or when there is a pause in the kata.

Through the practice of proper breathing the student is able to keep mental composer throughout practice in the dojo and in his everyday life. Correct breathing will enhance a students mental and physical endurance as well as his concentration, focus and develop the warrior spirit necessary to be a good martial artist.

A combination refer to two or more techniques put together in a certain sequence. The are usually several combinations in every kata. Within this aspect is also the timing changes that occur within a kata. One way to think of it would be to compare the techniques in a kata to notes in a musical composition. The tempo in the music stays the same but the number of notes in a measure may vary. The tempo of a kata never changes, the tempo should always reflect the urgency of an actual fighting situation but the number of techniques in a combination may vary. Proper combinations and timing keep the kata from being a monotonous pattern of movements and more accurately depict a real fighting situation. It is important that the student understand when and where the timing of a kata changes and why it changes. By practicing correct combinations and timing not only will the performance of the kata improve but the student will become a much more effective fighter.

A kata is a story about a fighting situation against one or more opponents. In order to get the most out of a kata you need to understand what is going on in the kata. The term "bunkai" implies form and meaning. The form aspect applies to having correct body positioning while executing the movements in the forms. Correct positioning not only includes the technical accuracy of the techniques used in the kata but placing your body at correct angles when moving through the kata. Getting the kata's form correct is one of the hardest aspects of learning a kata. It will require the karateka to not only be corrected by others but to also critique himself when working the form.

The "meaning" aspect of bunkai applies to understanding what is going on in the kata. How many attackers? How many attacks? How are they attacking, what techniques are they attacking with and from where are they attacking? What stance are the attackers in? What are the finishing techniques? In order to really learn a form the student needs to not only know what movement he is doing in a kata but the movement of his opponents as well. When this is done the karateka can then visualize his attackers and fully understand the techniques in the kata and why they work.

Publisher: United States Martial Arts Association Volume No.2
Issue No.11 Date: 11/05/04
“Historic, One For The Ladies”

1991
Woman of the Year
Question What's black and blue and red all over?
Answer: Kathy Long's latest opponent.

Make no mistake: Long is not short on kickboxing talent. She is tough, and justifiably proud of it. Referred to as the "Punisher," the "Queen of Mean" and the "Princess of Pain," Long's caustic kicks and pummeling punches make even the heartiest opponents flinch as they climb into the ring. What's more, her technique and determination demandand receive respect outside the ropes, from promoters and spectators who used to think of women's full-contact kickboxing as a novelty act.

Born in St. Louis, Missouri, the 26-year-old, 122-pound champion has a record of 15-1-1, with five knockouts. A seven-year black belt, the hard-hitting Long surprisingly began her martial arts training in the soft style of aikido, then went on to study shorin-ryu karate, and later kung fu. Growing disdainful of tournament-style point fighting, which she calls "tag," she decided to try full-contact karate literally on the spur of the moment when a 195-pound competitor challenged her to a demonstration bout in 1984. "Call me crazy, stupid, or both," says Long, who had just nine days to prepare for the fight. "I thought it would be fun to try."

Admittedly "scared to death" as she entered the ring, and in spite of suffering a split lip during the proceedings, the Bakersfield, California, resident soon impressed even herself as she kickboxed an opponent around the ring who out-weighed her by 70 pounds, a feat Long admits was "pretty amazing."

Inspired, Long trained specifically for kickboxing, progressing to the World Kai rate Association and Karate International Council of Kickboxing (KICK) featherweight titles, and the International Sport Karate Association and KICK bantam-weight titles. In the last two years, she has won 15 unanimous decisions against only one lossa controversial decision to a Thai-style fighter in a bout shortened to three rounds.

Long credits much of her success to a back-breaking training schedule so rigorous that the battle's half won when she steps into the ring. A typical workout includes running bleachers, grueling weigh/lifting, and focus-mitt and heavy-bag sessions augmented by 12 rounds of sparring a day against four rotating partners generally men.

Once in the ring, Long relies on her natural power and speed. Although the talented southpaw may toy with an opponent during an exhibition match her opponent wearing the haggard look of a mouse being batted about by a cat she'll cut like an executioner when the fight's for real. Her kicks and punches are delivered with both ferocity and pinpoint accuracy, and it's not uncommon to see her opponent's head snap back amidst a spray of sweat as Long connects with yet another blow.

Now with Hollywood beckoning, (Long is presently training and doubling for Michelle Pfeiffer in Batman Returns), there are cinematic fights in Long's future. As usual, she's well-prepared. When her punches don't floor you, her drop-dead good looks will, and she's got the intelligence to match. Expressing her opinions with insight and confidence, she backs up her bravado with superb fighting form. It's no wonder that Kathy Long is arguably the most popular kick-boxer on the circuit today regardless of gender and possibly the best female kick-boxer ever. And it's no wonder that she has been named Black Belt's 1991 Woman of the Year.

It's a cliché that martial arts are a way of uniting the mind and body. This unity is supposed to somehow make you a better person. If you believe it, you're in good company, for some of the greatest martial artists of our time have subscribed to it. But if you don't understand it, you're not alone.
A martial art is a collection of movements practiced for the sake of fighting; this is what separates the martial arts from other physical arts. It1s the "body" referred to in our premise. Some people may practice the arts for exercise or aesthetics, but those reasons will always be secondary. The martial arts are primarily about fighting, or they1re about nothing at all.
That's because the martial arts also involve a deep devotion to an ideal-the "mind" of our premise. A martial artist becomes a good fighter to show that the ideal he holds precious is right and true. He demonstrates that by fighting and winning in competition or self-defense. Others then have a reason to believe in the principles he lives by and in the skills he’s developed. Conversely, if a martial artist cannot fight well, it casts doubt on his ideal. That's why unity of mind and body is so important. It really means unity of action and thought with the goal of keeping you and your ideal alive.
But the question remains: How does this make you a better person? Unity of mind and body balances the martial artist. It transforms the brute into a considerate person by lending reason to his actions. It tempers a passion for fighting with a need to do what's right. It also makes the philosophical person more real by lending action to his thoughts. His ideal becomes tangible in his movements. He becomes his ideal.
To some, this need for unity of mind and body may be unimportant. Some believe street self-defense is all that matters. They believe philosophy is a sham perpetuated by fools and fast-buck artists. That's a valid and valuable criticism because, in the martial arts, philosophy divorced from proven skill is self-destructive. But the fighter who has no philosophical teachings to reason by is equally self-destructive. Anyone who excels at hurting his fellow man must have an acute sense of right and wrong, or he will fall into ruin.
Indiscriminately hurting people obviously leads to alienation from the bulk of society. We assume that people around us have a basic respect for our well-being. They may not like us or even know us, but we trust they won't harm us. A brute cannot be trusted. On a whim, he breaks bodies and inspires fear and hatred. Who could befriend or even work with such a person? Who could love him?
A less obvious consequence of harm-without-reason is the self-hatred of those who inflict it. Excepting sociopath, people feel guilt and shame over having hurt someone. That presents a problem for a person who likes fighting: The more he fights, the more he hurts others; the more he hurts others, the less he likes himself. This self-hatred eventually translates into further aggression in a vicious cycle that can lead to self-destruction.
The key to escaping or avoiding this cycle lies in thought and contemplation. Action makes a person who he is, but thought changes him and, consequently, the action he takes. So the salvation of the brute lies in understanding what1s good and right and true (i.e. philosophy). It's not something he pursues for leisure1s sake. He needs it to keep his soul at peace; he seeks it out of desperation.
This pattern is not typical in the contemporary martial arts, however. Many want to participate in an ideal through the ritualistic action of the arts. They want to feel the mysterious Tao (universal way) in the movements of tai chi chuan or the Buddha's enlightenment in the practice of kata. Actual fighting is the last thing on their minds.
This is noble but mistaken. Hurting people is wrong, and it's understandable that a thoughtful, sensitive person would find it distasteful. But the martial arts touch those ideals through the action of fighting. If a person wants to experience them, he must compete in some way, or he should find a different way to achieve enlightenment or harmony
with the Tao.
About the author: Keith Vargo is a free-lance writer,
researcher and martial arts instructor who currently lives in Japan.

Iai Do ~ The art of drawing the sword.