Karateka could learn a lot from yoga OR why not find a shala and namastay a while?
Fun fact: I am a yogi.
Not a Yogi, but a yogi.
I don't have a friend named Bop Boo or a girlfriend named Cindy (I did once, but she wasn't a bear). I am not wanted by park rangers, though I have been partial to the contents of picnic baskets.
Instead, I am the downward dog-facing, sun salutation-practising kind. My practice is sporadic to say the least. But I find yoga to be a great compliment to my martial practice.
Here is another thing about why I like yoga: there is 0 competition to the training. It is solo practice to improve the body and mind. It is peaceful practice done with a community of practitioners who all aspire to achieve the same goals.
Sort of like karate. Or at least karate as I prefer to study it.
There's no ego demonstrated by anyone in practice.
They follow the principle of "damatte keiko."
Some of them may appear to aloof and border on being hipster doofi, but the grand thing is = who cares?
Judge or don't judge - who cares. It is study for the sake of study - to improve and transcend one's boundaries and limitations.
But before folks thinks I am into some weird mumbo jumbo, let me delve into why I think karate should follow yoga's model:
One should study karate to do it, not to earn trophies or prize money. Do it to enrich yourself.
Karateka should consider themselves a community of practitioners. Forget belts. Forget rank. Focus on practice. Focus on learning. Focus on growing.
Karateka should focus on expanding their knowledge and learning. Before and after class, yogi gather and commune. They seek more information, more practice, greater connection with their art.
Karateka often try to put muscle first in their technique. Instead, they should seek to understand bow practice will help them transcend using muscle. Proper technique will lead to greater discoveries and enriched practice. Muscling through will hurt and lead to a closed loop of learning.
Karateka should focus on working on the basics and apply the basics to unlocking more advanced practice. If you haven't found the trick to unlocking the more advanced technique, keep working the basics til you get it.
Karatea should free their minds during practice. Many times there is too much 'thinking and busy work.'
Karateka also need to learn and remember to breathe. The focus of practice and applying techniques needs to be harnessed with breathing.
Is that all that karate can learn from yoga?
Nope - but why don't you try it for yourself and see what I mean.
Not a Yogi, but a yogi.
I don't have a friend named Bop Boo or a girlfriend named Cindy (I did once, but she wasn't a bear). I am not wanted by park rangers, though I have been partial to the contents of picnic baskets.
Instead, I am the downward dog-facing, sun salutation-practising kind. My practice is sporadic to say the least. But I find yoga to be a great compliment to my martial practice.
Here is another thing about why I like yoga: there is 0 competition to the training. It is solo practice to improve the body and mind. It is peaceful practice done with a community of practitioners who all aspire to achieve the same goals.
Sort of like karate. Or at least karate as I prefer to study it.
There's no ego demonstrated by anyone in practice.
They follow the principle of "damatte keiko."
Some of them may appear to aloof and border on being hipster doofi, but the grand thing is = who cares?
Judge or don't judge - who cares. It is study for the sake of study - to improve and transcend one's boundaries and limitations.
But before folks thinks I am into some weird mumbo jumbo, let me delve into why I think karate should follow yoga's model:
One should study karate to do it, not to earn trophies or prize money. Do it to enrich yourself.
Karateka should consider themselves a community of practitioners. Forget belts. Forget rank. Focus on practice. Focus on learning. Focus on growing.
Karateka should focus on expanding their knowledge and learning. Before and after class, yogi gather and commune. They seek more information, more practice, greater connection with their art.
Karateka often try to put muscle first in their technique. Instead, they should seek to understand bow practice will help them transcend using muscle. Proper technique will lead to greater discoveries and enriched practice. Muscling through will hurt and lead to a closed loop of learning.
Karateka should focus on working on the basics and apply the basics to unlocking more advanced practice. If you haven't found the trick to unlocking the more advanced technique, keep working the basics til you get it.
Karatea should free their minds during practice. Many times there is too much 'thinking and busy work.'
Karateka also need to learn and remember to breathe. The focus of practice and applying techniques needs to be harnessed with breathing.
Is that all that karate can learn from yoga?
Nope - but why don't you try it for yourself and see what I mean.
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