Karate

Taekwondo is a Korean Martial Art that is popular all around the world. Some of the main benefits of Taekwondo are improving your health, becoming physically fit, developing good balance and coordination, increasing your self confidence, learning good manners and respect, and instilling the positive attributes of setting and attaining goals.

While there are many books on the subject, and a lot of information on the internet, there is also a lot of misinformation by pseudo-experts, and internet warriors. The best thing to do is to find a good school near you where the instructor is a legitimate Black Belt, properly trained in the Korean Art, specifically certified to teach Taekwondo, and has a good reputation in the community, and among his or her clients.

Taekwondo classes involve physical conditioning exercises, stretching, and cardio vascular development. A student learns the customs and courtesies of traditional Korean Martial Art, such as bowing at appropriate times, respect for seniors and instructors, and the importance of ethical and moral conduct in everyday life which is guided by a list of tenets (usually 5 important rules of behavior including: Courtesy, Integrity, Perseverance, Self Control, and Indomitable Spirit).

Students learn how to defend themselves if attacked or assaulted in real life. Part of these scientific principles based on natural movements of the human anatomy consists of good stance and footwork for balance, power, and mobility. The hands and arms are trained in specific movements which will effectively block or deflect a strike, and a variety of open and closed hand strikes (linear and circular) are used as counter-strikes.

One of the key aspects to Taekwondo practice is becoming adept at using the legs for kicking based on the advantages of reach, power, variety, and element of surprise. Students stretch their legs for flexibility to kick their opponent's legs, knees, groin, abdomen, or even head. Many of the well-known high kicks, and fancy spinning, jumping, or flying kicks are examples of more advanced practitioners demonstrating the far reaches of human capabilities, and are not required of all students. Many of these more flashy techniques would not be employed in self defense, but help to make the basic skills easier, and more reliable in a street fight.

Practice in Taekwondo includes drilling on blocks, punches and kicks, either in the air or on a striking bag for solo practice, or with a partner. Another solo practice is the memorization of prearranged movements called forms (in Korean, the terms Poomsae, Hyung or Tul are used to describe this). Partner drills are also important, such as one-step sparring where a prearranged 'challenge' is followed by a basic attack, which is defended and counter-attacked while the partner remains stationary for controlled practice. More advanced training includes Free Sparring (like boxing using kicks and punches), board breaking (important to be taught and supervised by a qualified instructor), joint locks, pressure points, take-downs, throws, and grappling skills that are an important, but supplemental sub-set of Taekwondo's techniques.

A belt ranking system is usually used in most Taekwondo schools where the student begins at a white belt (novice), and works toward the permanent rank of Black Belt (expert of basics). Color belts are galled geup (grade) and Black Belts are called Dan (degree). The order and number of color belts may vary in different organizations, but are intended to give a visual cue as to the grade level of the student on their path toward the Black Belt. The individual increments between the starting grade and the level just before Black Belt are usually numbered in reverse order from Gu geup (9th grade), to the highest color belt of Il geup (1st Grade). Some schools use black tape stripes on belts to indicate grade changes, or as an indication of outstanding performance at a test.

Promotional tests are often held at regular intervals throughout the year (two to three months apart) allowing lower belts to test often, and higher belts to wait and test every 6 months to a year between advancements. Tests are usually performed in front of one or more high ranking Master Instructors as judges, and are graded on individual performance according to requirements set forth by the promoting organization. Requirements usually include a demonstration of basic or advanced techniques, forms, one-steps, self defense scenarios, board breaking, free sparring, knowledge, a positive attitude, and proper respect.

Like most Asian Martial Art, Taekwondo is more about self defense, and learning to avoid conflicts, rather than just a way to fight, or win fights. A Taekwondo student is more a student of life, and the philosophies of Asian culture that teach appreciation for the value of life, the harmony of nature, and seeking the enlightenment of the spirit. While religion is not taught in connection with Taekwondo, the art should be used to enhance, strengthen, and explore one's own personal religious beliefs to become a more advanced and well-balanced individual in body, mind, and soul.

There are many Martial Arts that use a blue belt to rank (generally) lower ranking practitioners (along with white, yellow, green, orange, etc.). There is no Martial Art based on a "blue belt" rank after all isn't what should matter as skill, understanding, and performance under pressure is what matters.

The "Midnight Blue Belt" in Tang Soo Do Moo Duk Kwan is the closest you'll get to a "high rank that even has the English equivalent name of "blue" in any form within the ranking structure. It will look "black" but they believe there is always room for improvement as it is effectually the color of the darkness of midnight.

[Note: While debates can rage on with personal opinions, these are best served on the discussion page for this question.]

The answer to this question might be expressed in personal opinions by many students of various skill levels in a variety of Martial Art systems. Nevertheless, the facts can be supported by scientific testing, however there has been no conclusive, scientific tests that verify which kick is the most "powerful", but an experienced Master will know what results come from each kick. The question can be misleading since "power" deals more with the science of physics where power is the rate of work done, or force applied as energy is transferred over a distance in a specific amount of time. In other words, fast kicks might have power, but could lack in the total force penetrating the target. The important factor is not so much the "power" of the kick as it is the maximum total force generated.

Some kicks increase their applied force through rapid acceleration in a short time. This results in a greater impact, and extensive visible damage to a target. However, all kicks are either linear or circular, and use one of three hip positions: Front, Side, or Back. For example, a front kick can be thrust on a straight line into the mid-section while using a front hip position (kicker's abdomen facing the target). A crescent kick also uses a front hip position, but travels on a circular path. The side kick follows a linear path with the hips facing to the side. The roundhouse kick and hook kick also uses the side hip position, but they both travel on a circular path.

While the circular kicks can deliver a great deal of force through rapid acceleration, and a somewhat pendulum like pivot with added extension or retraction of the knee joint, the applied force is not supported by the bone structure which considerably reduces the amount of reaction force capable of returning into the target. This can cut the potential total force nearly in half.

The side kick is the only kick (regardless of which Martial Art system employs it), that uses the most sound geometric shape and structure of the human anatomy to reinforce the applied force. The side kick can be applied numerous ways, and some are more suited for taking advantage of the rapid acceleration, mechanics of the muscles and joints, and the reinforced locking of the body which is supported by the rear foot securely planted on the floor.

The basic rotation of a front leg, or back leg side kick contains good reinforced position, but is not able to utilize the greatest amount of acceleration and mechanics. The skipping side kick has a better rotation of the hips from the beginning of the kick, and adds the momentum of the body to help reinforce the initial impact. The flying side kick can be equally as forceful with the forward motion of the body to support the kick, however the body is not planted on the ground, thus some initial applied force dissipates.

Probably the most powerful kick able to be delivered by the human body, when all kicks are mastered, is the spinning (or turning) side kick. This kick uses the most ideal hip position, mechanics of combining hip and knee extension simultaneously, the necessary acceleration as the kick progresses, and is the still supported by a firmly planted rear foot for maximum use of the reaction force. Even this kick must be mastered to combine all proper alignment, timing of muscle contractions, targeting, and a forward thrust of the entire body which is supported by the rear foot and floor.

[please see the discussion page for personal experience and opinions of contributors]

Karate first came to America through immigrants from Japan and Okinawa. The first recorded exhibition was in 1932 in Hawaii. Servicemen coming back after World War 2 brought knowledge of the art and helped spread the art.

The place to learn karate is called the dojo.

No, the Olympics do not have a category for Karate. There is a category for Tae Kwon Do and one for Judo.

Balance, balance, balance. And that requires practice, practice, practice. Make sure you are pivoting on the ball of your forward foot.

That varies widely. Some teachers don't charge and teach in their home or a public facility. Others charge a great deal and have to deal with overhead such as dojo rental, phones, advertising, etc. Most instructors have other businesses that provide them income and do the martial art for the love of the activity.

On a good day of teaching, I can make $50 - $60 dollars, my best was $132. On other days I make $8.

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Not much. A lot of martial arts instructors teach in addition to having a full time job. It isn't a career to make money in.

Most martial arts schools only teach a few hours a day, if that. The places I know only have 20 to 25 hours of classes a week. Even if you get in a full sized class, that can be limiting.

The average cost per month varies greatly, from around a low of $75 to as much as $165. 100 Students at $165 a person a month is $16,500 per month over a years time that's $198,000. Take out your costs for the dojo, utilities, liability insurance, advertising, equipment costs, insurance for staff (if you have any staff to pay) and taxes. Being the owner is the benefit, an instructor paid by the owner will struggle with about $25,000 per year (and that is on the higher end scale).

That's if you can get 100 students! And you sure aren't going to do that day one. It will take 20 to 30 students just to cover the overhead.

In most martial arts, a white belt means a beginner. You receive your white belt on your very first day of class. You have committed to learn something, but you haven't learned anything yet.

Many westerners are under the false impression that a black belt is an expert. That may be true in some martial arts, but in most martial arts a black belt is merely a graduate. She has learned the basic skills of the martial art and performed them competently during classes and during testing. It may take approximately three years to earn a black belt, but this varies widely from art to art and from school to school.

There are more ranks to achieve after black belt. The title of master is conferred at one of those ranks. In WTF Taekwondo, the title of master is conferred upon achieving a fourth degree black belt. It takes approximately 10-12 years to earn a fourth degree black belt in WTF taekwondo. The title of grandmaster is conferred upon achieving the rank of 7th degree black belt. It takes approximately 30 years of dedicated study to earn a 7th degree black belt.

White, Yellow, Orange, Green, Blue, Brown, Red, Black. There are also senior levels of all the belts (except white), which is that specific color with a black stripe through the middle.

10 degrees of black belt exist in Karate. But each belt has a meaning. The meaning of the 10th degree is "perfection", not in those exact words. Because some people rightly believe that no one can be perfect, some Karate programs have eliminanted the 10th degree. An example of this is the ATA program, they only have 9 degrees of black belt.

There is no such thing as the "deadliest" form of any fighting system. The word "deadly" can not be quantified in terms of degree of death. You are either dead, or you are not. A trained or skilled fighter is either capable of inflicting a mortal blow or deadly technique which will result in the ending of an opponent's life or they are not thusly capable. Any fighting system that contains even one application of a deadly technique is, by definition, deadly. That one technique could be applied with skillful speed, accuracy, and timing and used frequently to make the fighter repeatedly successful at application of a deadly skill. Many fighting arts and Martial Art systems contain a significant number of deadly techniques which are capable of killing an opponent, thus each are equal in their degree of being "deadly" and not one can be truthfully ranked as more deadly than others or the "deadliest" - - personal opinions and individual preferences aside.

Some schools teach karate as a sport.

Some schools teach karate as a martial art.

Schools of both types may allow full contact, however, most will not as the insurance requirements and liability are too high to allow it. As such pads and protective gear will be required.

white

There is a old story to the history of the Karate belt orders: when Japan was in poverty they couldn't afford getting a new belt every belt test so they would start out with white, dye the white yellow, dye the yellow orange, and so on until the belt was completely black of dying.

Karate has a number of Branches (like Shotokan, Goju-ryu, etc.) and eack style branch may have even more sub-branches (for e.g. Shito-ryu alone has around 25 sub-branches).

Traditionally each style has a single 10th dan at the top of the organization. There are many individuals that are not happy with being unable to raise to that level, so they create their own style, so that they can promote themselves to that rank. I have met and trained with three individuals that have reached the rank of 10th dan through the organizations they have been members of for over 50 years.

It does not serve a purpose in the learning of karate. Anyone can learn to break a board with a few minutes of training and explanation. And as Bruce Lee said, "Boards don't fight back."

I wouldn't. Karate gi's tend to be lighter weight then a judo gi. It would likely be ripped to shreds within a class or two. The Judo gi is heavy cotton and is usually quilted with reinforced seams for a lot of grappling.

Karate-do originated in Okinawa, which is now a part of Japan, but is a fusion of both Okinawan and Chinese Martial arts techniques. The word Karate literally translates as "Empty Hand" - however, it's origins also translate to "China Hand". Karate, or Karate-do, is one of several Japanese Budo (Martial Way) arts that has many styles. Other Do arts are:

Aikido

Kendo (Sword)

Judo

Kyudo (Bow/Mounted Archery)

There are many styles of Japanese Karate, as there are many other styles of Korean Karate and the styles of other countries. However, Karate is historically traced to Okinawa and China. Some different styles of Japanese Karate are:

Shotokan

Shorin-Ryu

Isshin-Ryu

Goju-Ryu

The term "Ryu" comes from "Ryuku", which is the name of the islands of which Okinawa is a part. These are a few of many different Japanese Karate styles, but all are descendants or variations on the original ancient styles. Differences can be in technique, stance, etc., but most Karate forms are similar in nature.

Like anything else in life, there are many answers to this question. Some might say, "You get what you paid for." Others aren't sure and want a minimal output until they see that their child will "stick with it."

There is gear that is extremely economical and sparring gear that is like a Mercedes Benz.

In general, many people will pay in the neighborhood of $50-$150 for their sparring gear, but it really depends on the requirements of the place where a student trains.

There is not a specific meaning behind each of the belts. It is simply a way of marking the location of a person in their martial art journey. In most schools it makes it easy for an instructor to determine what the individual knows and what new things they are working on.

Research has shown that the green belt is 7th belt that can be achieved in Karate. One must achieve each level in karate in order to move up to the next level. Prior to achieving the green belt one would have to earn a blue, then a yellow belt, orange belt, blue belt, purple belt, green with white stripes belt and the next step would be the green belt.

It is pretty hard to teach yourself something you don't know. And it is very difficult to learn something without a good teacher. There is no substitute for working with a qualified instructor. While you can learn some of the positions and some techniques from books and video, you are only learning some martial skills, not a martial art.