Which Style should I practice?

Everytime someone finds out that I practice Karate and have done so for over 30 years, there is one question that sometime gets asked.

Which style style should i start practicing?  or usually the other question is "Which style is the best?"

How do you answer these questions? 

To be honest, when most people start a martial art, typically they find the nearest club and head down for a tester session and sign up.  Or perhaps a friends is already training somewhere and they go along for a session or two, get hooked and sign up after a few weeks.

My start in Karate was no different.  I was at university and decided to go along to the karate class that was being run on campus.  I had no idea what style it was.  It was there and i went along.  Would be interested to know what other peoples experience was when they started their particular martial art.

Every style has its own unique perspective but it also shares many aspects with other styles.  The history of all martial art styles is intertwined, so any particular martial art is not defined by its own methods and practices, but by the people who practice the style.

It really comes down to the individual and how he or she "implements" the style to make it work for them. 
When starting out in a martial art, it probably doesn't make any difference where you start training as long as you are committed and give it your 100%.....every time!

The one thing I would add is that once you get past the first few gradings then it may be worth asking the question about the instruction that you are getting.  Is the instructor giving you the best instructions that really draws out the best in you.

It is always worth training at another club and training with different instructors.  After a few more gradings and particular once you have received your Dan grade (black belt in karate) it really is worth to go try other styles.  You will find techniques that are made just for you, or techniques explained and executed in a slightly different way so that they again work for you.

The challenge then becomes in ensuring you perform techniques the way your style permits particularly for gradings if you wish to continue grading !

So, does it really matter what style you start training? 

Not really. 

What do you think about at the end of the training session?

I keep wondering what people think about in the short mediation after each training session.  But, then the other question is "do we know what Mokuso is really about"?

Firstly Mokuso roughly translates to "quiet reflection," or  "to breathe".  The aim of practicing mokuso is to clear the mind of all thoughts, to control your breathing and allow the body to relax and return from the intensity of training.  It is also meant to be used to reflect on the training, what you have learned, what you have achieved.


Unfortunately, there is never any clear instructions from instructors about what you are supposed to do in Mokuso.  I was taught and definitely believe it to be the meditative part of martial arts.  In previous generations this was practiced for much longer than the 30 seconds we tend to give it and it is "performed" more out of routine rather than rigger.  Nevertheless it is indeed a real key part of any martial art.

My understanding and way is to use the "breath" meditation.  This is when you focus on your breath and the process of breathing. You body relaxed, but not hunched.  Your back straight and your head tilting forward a little, mouth slightly open.

You breath in slowly and "watch" the air entering through your mouth and and you follow it in to your lungs and continue watching it as it enters various parts of your being.  A slow inhale followed by a slow exhale once again watching the air gathering and drifting out of your mouth/nose.  You hold this thought in your mind and this alone to help clear the mind of all the other thoughts; other diversions.

In fact I was taught not to fight other thoughts of coming into my head as this then diverts attention and concentration and defeats the object of mediation.  You can allow the thoughts enter, but watch them as a spectator, not engaging with them but letting them drift away like helium filled balloons drifting into the horizon until they are no longer visible.

The effort you make with your mind is that of bringing it back to focusing on your breath. Everytime your thought drifts and engages in "conversation" then you gently let go and bring yourself to focus on your breath.

 Sounds easy?  First time I meditated it was less than 5 seconds before I was bombarded with a myriad of thoughts all vying for my attention.  But with regular practice and relaxed perserverance I finally hit the 1 minute mark!!!  And it does have a great calming, relaxing effect.

As with all things the more you practice the longer you will be able to meditate. But if you want to practice for more than a few minutes, I suggest you set aside another time in the day as it is unlikely that it will  happen at the end of a training session!!

Warming up before training

What is the best way to warm up before a Karate session?

This is particularly relevant as the weather draws in and gets colder here in the UK. The dojo or training hall will be cooler or even cold as the weeks take us into Winter. It always concerns me when i see students walking into the dojo and "hanging around" waiting for the class to start.  As they are told to line up, the adjust their gi and stand upright wating for the premlinary "Oss" and bow before being handed over to a senior grade who does the "warm up" and stretching.

It is at this point i get even more worried, as i watch the pained expressions on peoples faces as they streeeeetch their tendons, muscles and funny faces!  Is this really the best way to way up and stretch for a testing all body karate session?

No, i think not.  The first and foremost thing about stretching is that you really should not do this from a standing cold start.  The tendons and muscle are probably tight and most damage can be done by stretching them in this state.

The best thing to do is to arrive a good 30 minutes early and after a quick change, start with your own warm up.  A gentle warm up.  This could simply be walking around the dojo just to get the blood flowing, raising the pulse rate and getting the bigger body muscles (your thighs!) flexed - these are are at the heart of your body's heat generation. 

Walk at first and then start to speed up into a slow and gentle jog.  You should feel your legs and body warming up even if you haven't broken out in perspiration.

If room is limited and you cannot get into the dojo, then walking up and down the corridor or even in the changing room will help.  You need your body warm and ready for a fuller workout.  At this point you can start some arm movements., circling them gently forward and backward.  Only when you feel good and warm should the whole stretching part begin.

Everyone has their own routine of stretching, so do what you are comfortable with or what you feel you need.  One thing to watch for is that you do not over stretch at this point, just take it easy and work through your whole routine and body.  The big thing to avoid, which i see a lot, is the "bouncy" stretch particularly of the legs.  STOP.  Bouncing up and down simply pulls and "twangs" your tendons unnaturally like a guitar string - which also break!  It is better to stretch slowly and hold for a few seconds, move to the other side of the body and then come back and repeat.  Work your way through your own routine and get ready for the session warm up and stretch.

Below is siome suggested reading for a making sure your warm up is effective.




If you have your own recommendations for a good safe warm up, please comment.

Be Safe!