written by sensei Brian George (3rd Dan)
VOLUME 2: Issue 1 Issue 2 Issue 3 Issue 4 Issue 5 Issue 6 Issue 7 Issue 8 Issue 9
ISSUE 4
Newsletter date Sept 1999
To trace the origin of karate we have to go back over a thousand years to ancient China, to the monastery at Shao Lin. Here the students were taught the art of fighting as part of their spiritual and religious training, and as a way of building strength and character. These fighting techniques were later imported to Okinawa where the feudal Lord of that time had banned the carrying and the use of weapons. These Chinese techniques combined with the local tecniques formed a self defence fighting system which developed into what we know today to be karate.
If you are asking yourself questions like this don't let them stay hidden in your own mind because if you you can't answer them it's only because you don't understand them. Everthing in life is learnt. Knowledge gets greater with time and it is never handed to you a plate, you always have to put something into get something out.
So you know how oftern we keeponto you to maintain your Basic training, well this is because it is very important to build on this area of your training to make techniques strong.
As you all know the attitude you take towardes your DOJO and your Sensei is very important part of your study.
Without this area of your training being taken serious there will be an enormous gap in the progression of your training.
Therefor I have put togeter a set of rules for your own good so that you the student understand what we as your sensi's expect6 while you are learning the art of Shotokan Karate.
If anyone has not recived one of these flyers please ask for one.
They are "DOJO ETIQUETTE"
