Kitchener-Waterloo Meibukan Karate Dojo |
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Class Schedules and DescriptionsClasses are on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Special Friday classes ask Sensei for the dates. Little Dragons Program: 5-7 yr olds: 5:30 to 6:00pm. Children/Youth Beginner program: 8-10 yr olds 6:00pm to 7:00pm. Youth Intermediate/Advanced program: 11 - 13 year olds: 7:00pm to 7:00pm. Adults Program: 8:00pm to 9:30pm.Adult ClassKarate and the traditional martial arts teach us to cooperate and to seek perfection of character of oneself. While karate does indeed foster physical fitness, flexibility and ability to defend oneself, it is also about character development and pacifism. The balance sought through training and physical conditioning as well as through the exploration of martial philosophy, using the tools of intelligence and introspection, results in a richer life through deeper understanding of the self, and an appreciation of others around us. Through the pursuit and spirit of martial arts, one makes a choice to forge a steadfast and principled philosophy of life, establish a peace-oriented view of the world, cultivate physical strength, learn the values of courtesy, patience, self discipline, and a never give up attitude to endure, and pave the way to forge lasting friendships and a spirit of family in the Meibukan. In the current fighting arts such as the Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) and Ultimate Fighting Championships (UFC), if you lose a rule-based, submission style fight you can train for another month or another year and maybe win your next match. In traditional karate, you train for a real live self-defense situation where you have only the moment. There is no second chance; either you are injured (sometimes critically) or you call upon your training and defeat your attacker. Class Description Adults 14 years and up. Adult Beginners -White, Yellow and Orange Belt Adult Intermediate -Green and Blue Belt Adult Advanced -Brown to Shodan-ho and up Children and Youth ClassesThe spirit of traditional karate can be summarized in the final written words of the founder of Okinawa Gojyu karate, Master Chojun Miyagi, (1888-1953). “Do not be struck by others. Do not strike others. The principle is peace without incident”. Children are taught and exposed to national safety programs as well as "anti-bullying”, “anti-gang involvement” and street self-defense tactics and kobudo (weapons). The attitude of “Karate ni Sente ni Hanshi” – “there is no first attack in karate” is instilled from the beginning, which is contrary to the philosophy of free sparring or fighting. Additionally, the way of hard and soft teaches the karate-ka that punches are not always the most effective. Most people no longer condition their hands because of our technology-based culture. Yagi, Sensei often says “Teeth are very hard and over time will break down and fall out. Your tongue is soft and you will have your tongue from the time you are born until you die”. Children are taught to strike, stab and slap with open hands to the soft points of the body. It is more practical that young children especially, understand they can be just as effective in protecting themselves using soft techniques rather than brute strength. Class Description Ages 6-15 year olds Children’s Beginner -White, Yellow, Orange belts Children’s Intermediate -Green, Blue Belts Children’s Advanced -Brown Belt to Shodan-ho Notes: The aforementioned class divisions are currently in effect at the Kitchener-Waterloo Meibukan Karate Dojo and are subject to change at the discretion of the Chief Instructor. Changes in class scheduling will only be made for the betterment of the overall student body. Children’s Advanced Class - within this age group, the highest ranking a child may be presented is Shodan-ho, a black belt encircled by a white stripe. As a member of the International Meibukan Gojyu Karate Association, no child may receive a full dan ranking, i.e. full Shodan, until the age of 16. At this age, the karate-ka is considered mature enough, both mentally and physically, to have conferred upon her/him, all the rights and privileges of an adult Black Belt, within our Association. |
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© 2015 Kitchener Waterloo Meibukan Karate Dojo |