Martial Arts In South Africa

South African Martial Arts
Information

Style

Information

Kushido
Karate-Do

The ancient martial art of KARATE-DO. The way of the empty hand. A study of practical self defence:

Martial Arts
Karate-Do is the ideal physical activity, systematically developing your potential to the fullest. It combines physical education with the mental training, contributing to a balanced, well adjusted personality.

SELF DEFENSE
This aspect of Martial Arts is probably uppermost in people's minds. Rightly so. In our violent and turbulent times, a knowledge of physical self defence is becoming a necessity. KUSHIDO will teach you methods of self protection that could save your life. With this learning comes a sense of personal security and confidence, allowing you to feel more free and relaxed with yourself. All our classes in the Dojo are geared towards this physical aspect of training.

PHYSICAL BENEFITS
In practising KUSHIDO you will experience the full natural range of possible body movements, resulting in a high level of flexibility and agility. The only restrictions are those placed by yourself. Emphasis is placed on correct breathing and posture, essential for general well being. Coordination and balance are developed in a systematic way as you progress in your training, leading to greater physical dexterity. Age and built are not inhibiting factors in the development. As a child learns to walk, so you will be taken through the step-by-step learning process. Techniques are done by using the body, hands, elbows, knees and feet standing up and during grappling.

MENTAL BENEFITS
At first these are not obvious, but through constant training, KUSHIDO will help you develop your concentration, perseverance and self discipline, enabling you to cope better in today's world. You will realise your own self worth and this will reflect in your day-to-day activity and inter-relationships.
HEALTH BENEFITS

Physical, Mental and thorough knowledge of the healing arts.

Kobudo
Traditional Okinawan weapons and other weapons.
The history and development of the Okinawan traditional weapons date back to around the 16th century with evidence dating from the 7th century. The actual history is not that important. The fact of why and how it developed, is. The invasion by the Japanese and the subsequent banning of the carrying of swords led to the popularity of the unarmed fighting techniques. The ingenious Okinawans then adapted these unarmed techniques to various farm implements, using them as extensions in the hands of an expert. These "weapons" could also be carried openly without being recognized as weapons.

Sakugawa Koshiki
Karate-Do

The formal name of our style, Sakugawa Koshiki Shorinjiryu Karatedo, reflects both its orthodox transmission of Sakugawa's techniques and it's descent from the original Shaolin system. From Sakugawa, we inherit the kata Kanku Dai and the philosophy of the Dojo Kun.

Sakugawa's student Matsumura served as a security agent for the Okinawan royal family until his retirement, when he began to conduct karatedo classes at Shuri. Among his students were Anko Itosu and Chomo Hanashiro. Hanashiro instructed Jiro Ogasawara, who brought our system of Shorinjiryu to Japan. Karatedo was practiced largely in secret until its introduction in the public schools of Okinwa by Itosu and his students in 1902. One of these students, Gitchin Funakoshi, brought karatedo to Japan in 1922, and since then it has spread throughout the world in many different styles.

Zen philosophy has played an important role in the evolution of karatedo from the brutal fighting system to a method of personal development. This process of spiritual refinement has characterized the transition of many forms of martial arts to martial ways, and is reflected by the modern use of homonymic kanji to write karate as ' empty hand '. Gitchin Funakoshi describes the concept of emptiness in terms that evoke Zen attitudes - ' Just as it is the clear mirror that reflects without distortion, or the quiet valley that echoes a sound, so must one who would study Karatedo purge himself of selfish or evil thoughts, for only with a clear mind and conscience can he understand that which he receives.

Taiji Quan
Tai Chi Chuan
Kung Fu / Gong Fu

Taiji is a Chinese style of martial arts, (Kung Fu), that is classified as Internal or soft. The reason this is so is because it uses attack only with a defence and issuing power comes from the feet through the body ending in enorous energy in the hands, which means if you are not attacked there will be no defence. It also absorbs the enemy and uses the enemy's speed and weight against himself. The emphasis is not on muscular strength but rather on technique and speed. Taiji more correctly used to be called Shadow Boxing which is the art of becoming the enemy's shadow thus him not being able to strike you because if he moves so do you and if he is fast so are you. Taiji uses empty hand and Double edge Straight Sword primarily. Then, secondary, there are Sabre, Long Staff / Spear and Walking Stick.

Many people practice taiji in groups doing slow & fast movements called a form.

Taiji Quan uses Five main exercises:
Forms: a long continuous routine of fighting postures one after the other Starting off very slowly and relaxed. As you develope then the form becomes high and low, fast and slow, soft and hard. This is the exercise of studying one's self.

Pushing Drills: Push Hands, Push Feet, Sticky Hands: a set of exercises to teach and develop combat strategy. This is the exercise of studying one's enemy.

Drills of YiLu: This is set sparring with a partner, which starts with soft but quick, set, strike and defence drills from YiLu.

San Shou: Then these drills are un-set (put out of order) and then with movement. The next step is to speed up even more with more explosive power(Fa-jing). This is the exercise of San Shou: with one's enemy.

Pauchui: The two man, second long form of taiji.

The different styles of taiji are many. The main ones are:
Chen, Yang (the most popular in the world), Wu, Hu, Sun, Praying Mantis and Wudang.

More Reading :www.taiji.co.za

Wing Chun

South African Martial Arts Information
Style		Information

Kushido Karate-Do		The ancient martial art of KARATE-DO. The way of the empty hand. A study of practical self defence: Martial Arts Karate-Do is the ideal physical activity, systematically developing your potential to the fullest. It combines physical education with the mental training, contributing to a balanced, well adjusted personality. SELF DEFENSE This aspect of Martial Arts is probably uppermost in people's minds. Rightly so. In our violent and turbulent times, a knowledge of physical self defence is becoming a necessity. KUSHIDO will teach you methods of self protection that could save your life. With this learning comes a sense of personal security and confidence, allowing you to feel more free and relaxed with yourself. All our classes in the Dojo are geared towards this physical aspect of training. PHYSICAL BENEFITS In practising KUSHIDO you will experience the full natural range of possible body movements, resulting in a high level of flexibility and agility. The only restrictions are those placed by yourself. Emphasis is placed on correct breathing and posture, essential for general well being. Coordination and balance are developed in a systematic way as you progress in your training, leading to greater physical dexterity. Age and built are not inhibiting factors in the development. As a child learns to walk, so you will be taken through the step-by-step learning process. Techniques are done by using the body, hands, elbows, knees and feet standing up and during grappling. MENTAL BENEFITS At first these are not obvious, but through constant training, KUSHIDO will help you develop your concentration, perseverance and self discipline, enabling you to cope better in today's world. You will realise your own self worth and this will reflect in your day-to-day activity and inter-relationships. HEALTH BENEFITS Physical, Mental and thorough knowledge of the healing arts. Kobudo Traditional Okinawan weapons and other weapons. The history and development of the Okinawan traditional weapons date back to around the 16th century with evidence dating from the 7th century. The actual history is not that important. The fact of why and how it developed, is. The invasion by the Japanese and the subsequent banning of the carrying of swords led to the popularity of the unarmed fighting techniques. The ingenious Okinawans then adapted these unarmed techniques to various farm implements, using them as extensions in the hands of an expert. These "weapons" could also be carried openly without being recognized as weapons.

Sakugawa Koshiki Karate-Do		The formal name of our style, Sakugawa Koshiki Shorinjiryu Karatedo, reflects both its orthodox transmission of Sakugawa's techniques and it's descent from the original Shaolin system. From Sakugawa, we inherit the kata Kanku Dai and the philosophy of the Dojo Kun. Sakugawa's student Matsumura served as a security agent for the Okinawan royal family until his retirement, when he began to conduct karatedo classes at Shuri. Among his students were Anko Itosu and Chomo Hanashiro. Hanashiro instructed Jiro Ogasawara, who brought our system of Shorinjiryu to Japan. Karatedo was practiced largely in secret until its introduction in the public schools of Okinwa by Itosu and his students in 1902. One of these students, Gitchin Funakoshi, brought karatedo to Japan in 1922, and since then it has spread throughout the world in many different styles. Zen philosophy has played an important role in the evolution of karatedo from the brutal fighting system to a method of personal development. This process of spiritual refinement has characterized the transition of many forms of martial arts to martial ways, and is reflected by the modern use of homonymic kanji to write karate as ' empty hand '. Gitchin Funakoshi describes the concept of emptiness in terms that evoke Zen attitudes - ' Just as it is the clear mirror that reflects without distortion, or the quiet valley that echoes a sound, so must one who would study Karatedo purge himself of selfish or evil thoughts, for only with a clear mind and conscience can he understand that which he receives.

Taiji Quan Tai Chi Chuan Kung Fu / Gong Fu		Taiji is a Chinese style of martial arts, (Kung Fu), that is classified as Internal or soft. The reason this is so is because it uses attack only with a defence and issuing power comes from the feet through the body ending in enorous energy in the hands, which means if you are not attacked there will be no defence. It also absorbs the enemy and uses the enemy's speed and weight against himself. The emphasis is not on muscular strength but rather on technique and speed. Taiji more correctly used to be called Shadow Boxing which is the art of becoming the enemy's shadow thus him not being able to strike you because if he moves so do you and if he is fast so are you. Taiji uses empty hand and Double edge Straight Sword primarily. Then, secondary, there are Sabre, Long Staff / Spear and Walking Stick. Many people practice taiji in groups doing slow & fast movements called a form. Taiji Quan uses Five main exercises: Forms: a long continuous routine of fighting postures one after the other Starting off very slowly and relaxed. As you develope then the form becomes high and low, fast and slow, soft and hard. This is the exercise of studying one's self. Pushing Drills: Push Hands, Push Feet, Sticky Hands: a set of exercises to teach and develop combat strategy. This is the exercise of studying one's enemy. Drills of YiLu: This is set sparring with a partner, which starts with soft but quick, set, strike and defence drills from YiLu. San Shou: Then these drills are un-set (put out of order) and then with movement. The next step is to speed up even more with more explosive power(Fa-jing). This is the exercise of San Shou: with one's enemy. Pauchui: The two man, second long form of taiji. The different styles of taiji are many. The main ones are: Chen, Yang (the most popular in the world), Wu, Hu, Sun, Praying Mantis and Wudang. More Reading :www.taiji.co.za

Wing Chun