Karate and Taekwondo Club

Brief Background

There has always been a degree of mystique about karate, possibly due to the fact that for centuries it has been taught in secret, surrounded by folklore and anecdotes of superhuman feats performed by past masters. Unfortunately, this has resulted in false perception being formed as to what karate is all about. But karate is a positive venture; to progress, it is a determination to succeed and it is in this pretext that physical fitness and self-defense of the karate members has been realized. It is all about keeping physically fit.

GENERAL LEADERSHIP

It was in 1839, during excavations that the British antiquarian and diplomat, Sir Henry Austen Layard, uncovered a buried library belonging to King Assurbanipal of the Assyrian Empire (668-626 BC). However, in its leadership, there is need to move some 3900 years from Gilgamesh and Mesopotamia to the Far East and the island of Okinawa. Okinawa is a small island located in the East China Sea, 500 miles south of Japan. In 1477, the King of Okinawa Sho Shin, banned the carrying of weapons by inhabitants. As a result of the policy, islanders secretly developed systems of unarmed combat that were named: Okinawan-te, the word “te” meaning, hands.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

• Though it is generally understood by many to be dangerous and destructive, this is basically not the case; students ought to perceive them as a game which helps one to achieve the following aims:
• Bodybuilding and physical conditioning is the first aim
• Skills of self-defense and ability to defend the weak
• A strict training enabling one to persevere and withstand hard and tough conditions
• The spirit of gentleness, humility, confidence, forgiveness, and obedience to the authority
• Karate techniques can be very effective in self-defense. When under attack or confronted with thugs or robbers, personal survival will be the prime objective of any use of force.
• Cognizant of the above, karate club members of Kinyamasika National Major Seminary have always endeavored to carryout the virtues for their own betterment and for the betterment of the community. For, there is no room for lazy seminarians; this is one of the ways to keep the body, refreshed and ready for physical and mental action. 

ADDENDUM

In summary, karate refers to a martial art, and it is a Japanese word meaning “empty hand.” Karate may be broad enough to encompass kung fu, boxing, taekwondo, and uchi. In fact, the hardest step anyone takes in karate is summing up the courage to enter the training hall or ground for the first time. At St. Paul’s, we have a good karate club which helps us to recognize the difficulties and concerns that face beginners and offers them a friendly, nurturing environment. With time it has gone beyond the physical exercises; it has often become a way of recreation for the members. The term taekwondo refers to the branch of karate that puts emphasis on the training of the body, especially for punches and kicks. It is a human defense art.