Beware: All so called Karate clubs do not teach real karate, are very unsafe and only after your money.  Some of these clubs even teach in Schools, why? because they can produce certificates, and insurance documents. So easy in this day and age of computers to copy and print off anything. I myself only ever had one Judo lesson, but I could easily print off a certificate showing me a Black Belt 8th Dan in Judo, and so can you, if you know where to look. 

I know someone who got a Black Belt Certificate for his dog from a very large Karate association belonging to the official Governing body. Oh , by the way; The dog had no Karate lessons. 

So be very careful, when you or your child join a club. Make sure you watch the class on a normal lesson. Don't just listen to the Instructor, many are like a good car salesman, can tell a good story. Remember it is you life and you child's life they are playing with. Some of these so called schools are run by 'Collecting Companies' saying they are the biggest in the Country, and are very good selling there wares, putting very superior leaflet's through your door to get your money. 

Most good legitimate schools/clubs have been around for a long time, like our school, sense 1968, but even then you can not be sure!                       

 

The Ten Precepts of Original Karate

With kind permission from Ian Abernethy.

www.iainabernethy.com    

Karate did not develop from Buddhism or Confucianism. In the past the Shorin-ryu school and the Shorei-ryu school were brought to Okinawa from China . Both of these schools have strong points and I therefore list them below just as they are without embellishment.

 

1. Karate is not merely practiced for your own benefit; it can be used to protect one's family or master. It is not intended to be used against a single assailant but instead as a way of avoiding injury by using the hands and feet should one by any chance be confronted by a villain or ruffian.

 

2. The purpose of karate is to make the muscles and bones hard as rock and to use the hands and legs as spears. If children were to begin training naturally in military prowess while in elementary school, then they would be well suited for military service. Remember the words attributed to the Duke of Wellington after he defeated Napoleon, “Today's battle was won on the playing fields of our schools”.

 

3. Karate cannot be quickly learned. Like a slow moving bull, it eventually travels a thousand leagues. If one trains diligently for one or two hours every day, then in three or four years one will see a change in physique. Those who train in this fashion will discover the deeper principles of karate.

 

4. In karate, training of the hands and feet are important, so you should train thoroughly with a sheaf of straw (#). In order to do this, drop your shoulders, open your lungs, muster your strength, grip the floor with your feet, and concentrate your energy into your lower abdomen. Practice using each arm one to two hundred times each day.

 

5. When you practice the stances of karate, be sure to keep your back straight, lower your shoulders, put strength in your legs, stand firmly, and drop your energy into your lower abdomen.

 

6. Practice each of the techniques of karate repeatedly. Learn the explanations of every technique well, and decide when and in what manner to apply them when needed. Enter, counter, withdraw is the rule for torite.

 

7. You must decide if karate is for your health or to aid your duty.

 

8. When you train, do so as if on the battlefield. Your eyes should glare, shoulders drop, and body harden. You should always train with intensity and spirit as if actually facing the enemy, and in this way you will naturally be ready.

 

9. If you use up your strength to excess in karate training, this will cause you to lose the energy in your lower abdomen and will be harmful to your body. Your face and eyes will turn red. Be careful to control your training.

 

10. In the past, many masters of karate have enjoyed long lives. Karate aids in developing the bones and muscles. It helps the digestion as well as the circulation. If karate should be introduced, beginning in the elementary schools, then we will produce many men each capable of defeating ten assailants.

 

If the students at teacher training college learn karate in accordance with the above precepts and then, after graduation, disseminate this to elementary schools in all regions, within 10 years karate will spread all over Okinawa and to mainland Japan. Karate will therefore make a great contribution to our military. I hope you will seriously consider what I have written here – Anko Itosu, October 1908