Just a gimmick ; breaking bricks
Karate is a self defence martial art, originating from Okinawa island in the late 1800s, it has been around for about 150 years and there are 4 main schools, Shotokan, GoJyun, Shitoryu and Wadoryu. The discipline which I have been practising for the last 12 - 13 years and the also for 7 years in chilhhood is the Shitoryu, namely from the master Kenwa Mabuni.
Our chief instructor is Sensei Chia Kwek Fah, an 8th dan Hanshi who has over 50 years of karate training.He is in his late 60s is as fit as a fiddle and as flexible as a gymnast. He is the technical consultant, founder and sensei of our Ken Shin Kai club since 1997 based in Tanglin CC and with a subsidiary dojo at the National University of S'pore Alumni Club at Kent Ridge Guild House.
Idoshigyi or movement
Karate is more than a martial art, to differentiate it from the new more 'sexy' sports like kickboxing and Mixed Martial Arts which is nothing more than trained street fighting, karate is a way of life, and the actual translation means 'empty hand fighting'.
The development of karate has seen much evolution of the martial art but the true essence of the art is about discipline, form, function and self defence. No karateka goes out to make trouble, and we have very strict codes of conduct from the 'rei' bowing to seniors and the 'moksuk' or meditation which also delves into the spirit of the karateka.
The training 'gi' or uniform harks back to the old days of feudal Japan where each school trained the students to fight to the death, hence the wearing of while 'funeral clothes' in the event of death - with honour of course.
Teaching the dojo at Tanglin CC Sept 2015
I am taking the 2nd dan exam in a couple of months time, so I hope to understand more about this centuries old art and the philosophy and way of life which is still being practised by millions around the world today,
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