The Case for Karate - Round 2

                         With Sensei Wong Tuan Sing, founder of Shitoryu Karate Association

Karate while it promotes flexibility of movement, balance, strength and endurance, is actually and all rounder sport. It is very physically taxing and the practitioners who have been doing it for decades are all household names. Our coach in our dojo is Hanshi Chia Kwek Fah. For the Shitoryu Karate Association, the chief coach is Sensei Wong Tuan Sing, also with many decades of fighting, coaching and management experience in the martial art of karate.

Sensei Ari Farkash who came today (this is his 3rd year) is an Israeli expert in kumite or free sparring, and his technique is one of smooth flowing basketball style movement whereby the 'player' combines all of the above aspects (first line), with stamina to execute the moves. It is like when we are practising the various poses, then we add the bounce movement to the pose, followed by the punch and kick and punch. The net result is a fluid and fast punch, counter punch, kick, and reverse punch. Done properly it has tremendous reach and power.

I realise my weakness is my flexibility and will endeavour to improve this every single day, till I am flexible enough to do some of the kicks with great ease. This is my short term goal. 

Sensei Ari Farkash, with our team from Ken Shin Kai Club 

While we are trainees in verious clubs, the spirit of friendly training is evident in all of the courses I have attended, as well as the meetings I have been to. The great art of karate embraces life, first and foremost.  While the training is intensive, the social aspect of the art is one which I and my club members appreciate. We are all brothers and sisters in arms, and while the suffering of the art is always a must, the sense of satisfaction after one is able to perfect the move is priceless.

That is the case for karate. Training of the body, mind, and spirit. Healthy mind, body and spirit brings out the best in us.  

The entire group who endured 2 and half hours of free sparring techniques today 18th Oct. 

Finally, the art of karate has eveolved into 3 distinct separate but linked somehow pathways.

1. Martial art - the philoslphy, the art and the behaviour of the proponents must be 
    exemplary.

2. Sports Karate - This is the new trend, karate for sports sake. To score points and win the 
                             bout.

3. Karate for Self Defence - This is the one everyone likes but doesn't practice enough. It is
                                             deadly and used only as a last resort where one's life is at risk.