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Announcements!

SMAI's Martial Arts and Fitness Series Presents: Lunch Box -  Go Ahead, Get Feisty!

Wednesdays, Sept. 3rd - Oct. 8th, 2008
Fridays, Sept 5th - Oct. 10th, 2008
Expert instruction by a woman for women! You will feel the difference immediately. Increase your cardio-capacity, strength, balance, coordination, mental focus, look better, feel better and have fun!
6 classes $149
12 classes $225

To ensure that you receive the attention that you deserve, class size is limited to 8 people.
 

Instructor Highlight

Shihan Jose Mae Keage Kakato Atoshi   
Shihan Jose is a 5th degree black belt. He began his martial arts training directly under Soshu Shigeru Oyama at World Oyama Headquarters in 1986. He holds World Championship titles in Heavyweight and Open Division Full Contact karate. He was an original member of the Oyama Karate Full Contact Team and defeated opponents in tournaments in the United States, Europe, Canada and Japan.
 
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Karate History E-mail
Japan annexed the nominally independent Ryukyu island group in 1874 after centuries of strong Japanese influence over the kingdom's affairs following the invasion by the Japanese Satsuma clan in 1609. The relationship between Okinawa and Japan is complicated. For purposes of discussing karate, it is convenient to speak of Okinawa and Japan as separate entities. The question of whether karate is Japanese or Okinawan is somewhat akin to asking whether the luau or the hula dance are American traditions or Hawaiian ones: They developed in Hawaii prior to when Hawaii became one of the United States, and so are usually described as Hawaiian, not American. The case is similar for karate, which is originally of Okinawan origin.

The Okinawan martial art "ti" was practiced by Okinawa royalty and their retainers for centuries before, and alongside, later Chinese influences. For the most part there were no particular styles of "ti", but rather a network of practitioners with their own individual methods and eclectic traditions. Early styles of karate are often generalized as Shuri-te, Naha-Te and Tomari-te, named after the three cities in which they emerged, although these are not concrete distinctions. Each area (and the teachers who lived there) had particular kata, techniques, and principles that distinguished their local version of "ti" from the others.

Source: wikipedia


Kyokushin is a style of stand-up, full contact karate founded by Choi Yeong-Eui aka Masutatsu Oyama (최영의;大山倍達) in 1964. Kyokushinkai is Japanese for "the society for the ultimate truth." A very practical method of self defense, Kyokushin is deep rooted in the philosophies of self-improvement and discipline. Its full contact style has had international appeal (practitioners number between 10 million and 20 million).

Kyokushin has influenced much of the "full-contact" school of karate, emphasizing realistic training, physical toughness, and practicality in its training curriculum. Many other martial arts organizations have "spun-off" of Kyokushin over the years, with some adding additional techniques, such as grappling, but usually continuing with the same philosophy of realistic and practical training methods.

Source: wikipedia

 
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Events

The Movement Fundamentals class is suitable for anyone seeking more ease and effectiveness in movement. It explores kinesthetic awareness and the basic principles of movement that underly all activities.
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Past Events

Space and Martial Arts, Improve your martial arts practice! Join Laban Movement Analyst, Sensei Michelle Gay in this two-part workshop combining Rudolph Laban's theories and exercises in Space Harmony with the Martial Arts.
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