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General Information Our dojo is open to men, women and children of all ages. The only requirement we stress is obedience to the principles of our dojo (school). SEEK PERFECTION OF CHARACTER, BE FAITHFUL, ENDEAVOR, RESPECT OTHERS & REFRAIN FROM VIOLENT BEHAVIOR
The atmosphere of our dojo is serious - and at the same time happy because we are all striving for a common goal - mastery of karate techniques as well as development of character and fellowship.
Challenge yourself to endure the strenuous training we offer, strive to live by these basic principles and you will be able to free yourself from the anxieties and stresses of everyday life! Our Chief Instructor is Leonard Lafferty. His goals are: TO FOSTER THE GROWTH OF TRADITIONAL KARATE; TO DEVELOP A SOUND MIND AND A POSITIVE SPIRIT; AND IMPROVE THE PHYSICAL WELLBEING OF OUR MEMBERS THROUGH THE ART OF KARATE! What is karate? It is an art form; it is a method of self-defense; it is a physical exercise to improve coordination and body condition. As you can see, it is many things. Some of our students go so far as to claim that karate has enhanced their intellectual focus, their emotional and social lives. It will improve your balance, timing, rhythm, self-confidence and overall body condition. There are certain self-imposed limits in the strength of our body and mind, but with proper and systematic training, these limitations can be overcome. Shotokan Karate is a martial art. It was devised to strengthen our weaknesses and limitations. In time, a person can learn to sense danger or attack and use karate as an effective means of self-defense. Self-defense is the area of karate that puts us apart from sports. It is this aspect of karate that makes it a martial art. There are NO secrets or magic to karate. It is an individual experience. You simply get in return what you yourself put into it. It is something anyone can learn with organized and systematic training of one's mind and body. Karate is based on various techniques of blocking, punching, striking and kicking done singularly or in combination. Karate techniques make use of almost every part of your body and, given sufficient focus and training, will enable you to develop considerable power. Karate was developed from self-defense techniques of the past. However, its objective is not only self-defense or the learning of superficial movements. It can show us the way to unlimited expansion of our mental and physical strengths. The early form of karate was developed in China and found its way into Okinawa where it was developed into a systemized art of self-defense. After introduction into Japan, Shotokan Karate was founded and further developed, utilizing scientific principles. There are three aspects to karate as it is practiced: Kihon, Kata and Kumite. KIHON (Basics) TSUKI (punching), UCHI (striking), UKE (blocking) and KERI (kicking) are the fundamental basic techniques. They are at once the beginning and the final goal of karate. Students can easily learn to perform these basic movements in little more than two months, but perfection in their performancemay be impossible; therefore, students must practice regularly and employ maximum concentration and effort in the performance of each basic movement. However, practice willnot achieve its objective if it is undertaken incorrectly. Unless students learn basic techniques on a scientific basis, under an instructor employing a systematic and properly scheduled training system, their efforts will be in vain. Karate training can be considered scientific ONLY when it is conducted on the basis of correct physical and physiological principles. Surprisingly, an examination of the basic karate techniques that our predecessors created and refined through continuous study and practice reveal that these basic techniques are in accord with modern scientific principles. However, further refinement is always possible. We must try to analyze our techniques in an unceasing effort to improve. The following basic points are of primary importance in the study of karate: Form, balance & center of gravity Power & speed Concentration of power Rules of muscular power Rhythm Timing Use of lower abdomen & hips KATA (Forms) Kata are the formal exercises of karate and they are the essence of this martial art. It is through practice of these basic movements that the karate-ka ("user" of karate) learns rhythm, coordination, balance, the principles of the application of power, a multitude of techniques for self-defense and self-discipline. Kata has been passed on from the Chinese origins of karate, centuries ago, by karate masters who also introduced new forms from time to time. The kata have two basic purposes: body building which includes muscle strengthening and bone hardening, and reflex training. The former are impressive for their power and strength, while the latter are characterized by their lightening-like speed. Both are aimed at developing rhythm and coordination. In each kata there are a number of stances and a number of techniques. Stances are body positions; techniques are actions. The stances indicate shifts in the center of gravity and changes in the position of the feet at various points in the kata. Techniques are offensive or defensive, depending on their application. "Kata is the Soul of Karate". KUMITE (Sparring) Kumite is a method of training in which the offensive and defensive techniques learned in the kata are given practical application. The opponents are "face-to-face". The importance of kata to kumite cannot be overemphasized. If techniques are used unnaturally or in a forced way, posture will break down. And - if the kata techniques become confused when applied, no improvement in kumite can be expected. In other words, improvement in kumite depends directly on improvement in kata; the two go together like hand in glove. It is a mistake to emphasize one at the expense of the other. This is a point to be careful about when practicing kumite. There are three types of kumite: Kihon Kumite (basic sparring) Jyu ippon kumite (one-step free sparring) Jyu kumite (free sparring) Karate demands a great deal of concentration, attention and awareness on the part of the student to enable him to understand its theories and varied techniques. With constant practice and adherence to the "dojo kun", you will be able to find the true meaning of karate. Sincere effort developed through karate training will become a personal trait envied by many. You will have respect for your fellow man and a successful way of approaching everyday problems. This is the "Way of Karate" as practiced by Lafferty Traditional Shotokan Karate-Do. Lafferty Traditional
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