Hello world!

I combined two things there…the geek first computer statement and my first entry in a Life Protection Art blog.

I have become inspired by my fellow karateka Adam who has been hosting his blog for quite a while now and the interactions we’ve had has been positive and thus I have added this to my website.

Now just to figure out what topic to start with?

How about starting with a new student?  What do you cover first?  Punches?  Blocks?  Tuite?  I tend to start with punches because most people like to punch or think that is what a fight is all about and that must be how you protect yourself.  That is not the case but that is what I think the impression is for most people that haven’t had any training.

I’ve found that most people without training punch like they see in the movies and on TV.  Of course we know that isn’t even close to how you punch.  To quote my good friend “I’m still learning how to throw a punch.”  This after around 40 years of learning.  I don’t have that much but his point is very valid and that’s why I start with teaching punches.  This ties in quite nicely with the order of the kata as Taika had us learn them.  He started us on Naihanchi Shodan which is traditionally a blackbelt kata.  Why?  My understanding is that he did this because people tend to practice the first kata they learn the most often throughout their life.  Thus starting with punches is something they will practice.

Now that brings up a quandary.  Really I should start with blocks as the first rule is “don’t get hit.”  That is why I follow up the second class with adding in blocks.  When it comes down to it the punch is a block and the block is a punch.  But that is for another entry.

So much for the first entry…