Monkeymagic

Wado_lee - How important is Karate to your life now? What do you use it for? What aspects encourage you to continue participating and encouraged you to get your children involved?

Very good books. I have read both. i have a third of his, can't remember the name now. I think I will re-read them as they may give me some ideas for my dissertation. ':idea:' wado_lee - if you don't mind, i have a question on the Karate forum asking 'Why do you use karate?' Could you post a reply. I think your answer would be interesting. If you could also tell me why you chose karate over other martial arts, that would be great.

Thank you for your information all searcher - did you choose karate because it focussed on defence? This seemed to be the reason you took it up, did you look at any other martial arts which may have been more intimidating to the bullies? ':)'

I'd like to continue karate whilst i'm out there, i'm sure there are clubs but just need to find out. The original ideas for karate werre taken by the okinawan's from the Chinese. Okinawa was once under chinese rule.

From my research I have found the original term or meaning of karate was from China, meaning 'China hand' or that is how the japanese termed it. They wanted ownership of this 'okinawan' martial art, thus removed the 'china' part and replaced it with 'empty hand'. Now, i'm not sure if karate was actually called karate when it was refered to as 'china hand' but the apparent meaning of ka - empty, te - hand came from the japanese description of how the okinawan's practiced this art. Apparently many of the movements came from mainland China ( as Okinawa was Owed by China when/or just before the Japanese took it over) What I really mean by 'meaning' I suppose would be the philosphy, ethos and reason why karate was practiced in the 'east'. I am leaving the 'meaning' of 'east' open for interpretation and discussion. thanks for your comments jerrylove

Ironberg, trekmann and krunchyfrogg - why did you choose karate over other martial arts? ':-?' I have just interviewed my sensai and have a few more ideas and and direction. I will hopefully be posting more questions on this forum with different focuses. Thanks for writing, keep it coming please

Ironberg - Is competition really important to you? Do you see competition as something that came from the original karate or that has been created by the modern form of karate? trekmann - How long have you been practicing? Have you found a different reason for continuing karate? (hope you don't mind me asking - just one of the aspects i'm focussing on)

I am doing research for my masters degree on karate and its use in western society and how it has changed from how it was inteded to be used. What are your views? Have you been influenced by karate as we know it in the west or do you seek the 'eastern' philosophy behind the practice? ':roll:'

I am moving to Beijing this summer for a couple of years. Does anyone know of any good Karate clubs there which teach in english?

Drunken Monkey - your comments would be useful. I am really looking at karate, as one question I am asking those i interview, is that of why they chose karate over other martial arts. Although, it would be interesting to find out why you continue to practice the martial art linked to your family. Aefibird - thank you for your comments. I will be posting another focus question soon, so your comments there would really be appreciated too. Why did you choose karate over other martial arts?

sorry, can't work out how to do this quote thing

Just out of interest, monkeymagic, how much do you pay for training, gradings etc? I pay £30 a month. I train about 2 or 3 times a week (3-4 hours). I pay £30 per grading, £25 annual membership. It's just when you add it all up it seems a lot.

thanks shorinryu sensei. Anyone else like to help me? the comments so far on there are really useful

We have the following: White Red - 10th Kyu Blue - 9th Kyu Purple/white - 8th kyu Purple - 7th kyu Yellow - 6th Kyu Orange - 5th kyu Green/white - 4th kyu Green - 3rd kyu Brown/white - 2nd kyu Brown - 1st kyu Black belts I think it gives people an incentive to carry on training, especially those who have low self esteem and what it built up. By seeing that they can achieve a coloured belt they have something to aim for everytime there is a grading (every three onths roughly). You still have to be ready for the grading. We have an advanced class for Red and above and one for green/white and above. So you can choose. Learn the basics of karate and self-defence or progress slowly. For those people who have busy lives, to say you are a coloured belt in karate gives you some confidence and hope for the next one. I am a brown belt and have gone to every grading and passed but have trained hard enough to pass. I don't believe I am ready to go to black belt and am willing to wait or not even get there. I enjoyed getting my belts and felt proud. I can understand many of the negative comments about the belt system. I suppose it can be frustrating for those in karate for the ethos and spirit. It is expensive though....but so are many things in life

shorinryu sensei - I have a topic in the karate forum called 'why do you do karate' It is linked western society and their perception of karate. Maybe you would like to add to the discussion. I am doing research for my masters degree.

G95champ - How has karate helped you with Football? Was it the fitness, co-ordination, or something else. I assume you continue karate. Do you continue karate still to help you with football or was football the reason you got into karate? aefibird - why is karate an important part of your life? Which aspects or karate are the important parts? How do they benefit your life outside of karate? Shotoman - So did film get you into karate? Why is it the most important part of your life?

I am writing up my dissertation and would appreciate any help from this forum. I am trying to find out why people in western society take up karate. I would appreciate any type of answer, long or short and from those living in the west and any views on those living in the east. This is a very open ended question, so please feel free to write. ':karate:'

Is not modern day karate 'american'? Are the modern day karate forms of western society not Anglo-american brought back from exploits in Japan and the far east during and after WW2? javascript:emoticon(':karate:')[/img] [/b]