tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9129103281131511762024-03-05T03:16:25.250-08:00Super's KarateSensei Super Perez' blog on karate. (Main page is at www.karate.web.ph)Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-912910328113151176.post-79201407545838831262019-04-03T04:24:00.003-07:002019-04-03T04:24:42.113-07:00For those that are too youngIn the past, i saw that kids younger than 7 are too immature to be entrusted with learning karate. I still stick by that. It is akin to giving a child a knife and letting him out in the play yard with it. Things will happen and you never know what that child will do with that knife given its immaturity. You cant take it back once you give it.<br />
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However, there is still a need for kids to develop their skills in defending themselves. I realized that you dont need to teach them how to hurt someone but they can still learn how to not get hurt. This is why the Joint Safe Defense Program was created. It is a purely defensive program that will help a young child avoid or block dangers or attacks but not necessarily strike back. As i always tell my students, blocking is half the battle. If you block everything, you don't get hurt. Once they are of age, they can eventually learn the strikes and kicks which completes their training. That is a fairly easy step to take once they have mastered their blocks and stances.<br />
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The Joint safe defense program was taught to my son first. That year, he was bullied in school and he was able to defend himself. He didn't get reprimanded for fighting because he technically did not strike back, yet he didn't get hurt where it matters. It works.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitCbhIlpUAMxMVmrr2HtipYfJEir6hbkW3wzxwLTyQ2sVUv6P-imTY_7tlt15Esu0eRQD-ZCA0VgmOGIRwJHYEw7DoRwdXQ-kd3GXg3Q0nMioeZ1blK1eqCp8SN-m_XUZYlFNlY3lO7c6M/s1600/20180113_141857.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitCbhIlpUAMxMVmrr2HtipYfJEir6hbkW3wzxwLTyQ2sVUv6P-imTY_7tlt15Esu0eRQD-ZCA0VgmOGIRwJHYEw7DoRwdXQ-kd3GXg3Q0nMioeZ1blK1eqCp8SN-m_XUZYlFNlY3lO7c6M/s320/20180113_141857.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-912910328113151176.post-60164105721182603072016-03-09T05:30:00.000-08:002016-03-09T05:30:03.264-08:00Too YoungContrary to what others say, there is such a thing as too young to do karate, or to do martial arts in general. Girls mature faster than boys and are more focused at a younger age so i accept female students as young as 5. Boys are a little slower when it comes to these things at this age so i only accept 7 years and up, except when the child has shown sufficient maturity and focus at a younger age but no younger than 6.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTEBcx4-35rwrML04jc39yedZ_qdz6pBQN7Jk6DAUW2U9Mwv6dJ732GjAbEOrQ4y3gMsMOfhO1XN2bnCLsSbG-NJGnQxdOyr1_zhvQULG3sYlMSf4r03BLYhM9QAIMvcxTavN7zJRh-IvF/s1600/with+avery+sparta.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTEBcx4-35rwrML04jc39yedZ_qdz6pBQN7Jk6DAUW2U9Mwv6dJ732GjAbEOrQ4y3gMsMOfhO1XN2bnCLsSbG-NJGnQxdOyr1_zhvQULG3sYlMSf4r03BLYhM9QAIMvcxTavN7zJRh-IvF/s320/with+avery+sparta.jpg" width="240" /></a>Karate is technically a martial art. It is a sport only to a certain degree but ultimately, it is a martial art. As such, it is dangerous to learn and know. A child lacking in maturity could not grasp that. He or she might treat it like a game and end up hurting themselves or others. As much as it would be irresponsible for an adult to give a knife to a 4 year old, it would also be irresponsible for us to teach karate at that age.</div>
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In a group class, there is only so much time a teacher can allocate for each group of students. If a child does not listen or needs repeated calls to catch his attention, then it will eat up time and the other students will suffer. Here is where focus comes in. Also, if a child is focused enough to listen well and understand, then he or she will progress faster. Good teachers want the students to learn not just be there and pay tuition fees.</div>
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Age involves also the ability of a child to know his/her left and right limbs which is important in the teaching of karate. Age also brings the ability to understand the concepts involved in this martial art. Gone are the days when kids are just supposed to watch and copy. If they understand how things are done and why, then we build better martial artists. Of course, the responsibility of the teacher is to be able to share and explain these concepts. If a teacher can't explain then you or your child might be better of learning wax on and wax off from Mister Miyagi.<br />
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The best way is for a child to get good exercise from sports like swimming. When they reach the right age, they can then join a karate class. This will produce good martial artists who truly learn the art and not just mimic what their teachers do.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-912910328113151176.post-77224377603598307412016-02-27T01:20:00.001-08:002016-02-27T01:20:33.014-08:00Feb 27 Multiple opponent exerciseSimpy because we can, we used the football pitch for our exercise. This is Spartaaaa! ;)<br /><br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/N2hrBwqZklM" width="480"></iframe>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-912910328113151176.post-52720898764751011392015-04-30T00:10:00.004-07:002015-04-30T00:10:57.564-07:00Karate Teaching and Fatherhood<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Teaching karate to a preschool boy in Sparta Arena, Mandaluyong</td></tr>
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Karate is a very disciplined martial art and quite demanding physically and intellectually. To teach a child, particularly a boy below 7 years of age, is quite a daunting task. One has to go down and explain in words that they can understand and you have to be particularly patient in showing them how to move their limbs. Being a father (or a mother for that matter) of young children does help in being able to teach these young kids. Teaching girls in this age is a different story compared to teaching boys. Girls can actually focus more at this age and can learn karate faster. Boys' attention span is quite short when they are this young. Their motor skills need work and everything has to be fun for things to progress.<br />
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It is a difficult task but once they get the hang of it, these kids make for amazing karatekas.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-912910328113151176.post-74421786062783780882015-03-31T09:00:00.003-07:002015-03-31T09:00:43.691-07:00Moving to SpartaWe're moving to my new dojo at Sparta Sports and Recreation Training Arena.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-912910328113151176.post-12565021690385327982014-12-29T20:40:00.002-08:002014-12-29T20:40:54.329-08:00Karate in 2015The first karate class in 2015 will be on January 3 at trainstation studio.<br />
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This year, i plan to continue the development of strong and enlightened karatekas practicing karate for the love of karate. Slow and steady makes for stronger and more durable joints while speed training will prepare them for more explosive techniques. Strength training can be done anytime later.<br />
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See you all at the dojo!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-912910328113151176.post-83921723713702814112013-11-12T22:23:00.000-08:002013-11-12T22:23:17.198-08:00Trainstation MovesTrainstation Studio moves up to the second floor of the unit in Fun Ranch, across Tiendesitas. It is just a minor move. Trainstation Studio is also now a registered club with ISKF. Now that is a major move. Hopefully, more students will come and learn with us.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-912910328113151176.post-29758420849504931322013-05-14T10:22:00.001-07:002013-05-14T10:22:21.602-07:00The teacher's karateIn a recent blackbelt practice where we had a kung fu instructor as a guest lecturer, i realized that karate has a lot more to offer than just self defense. The kung fu instructor was sharing healing techniques which karate has already been teaching. I know for a fact that the chi energy has been developing in my students and as the student progresses, so is their awareness and strength in chi. My brown belts can feel and project chi energy.<br />
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I also realized that not all instructors are the same. A fellow blackbelt never realized how to use chi and how to properly kiai. I'm glad that we got to talk and she was happy to be enlightened.<br />
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My karate is the same as that of the others but my understanding and awareness makes it different. I thank my senseis who have shown me the way as we all travel towards the same direction. I also thank all the people who have shown me things which allows me to understand karate in an even deeper sense.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-912910328113151176.post-6505739516694661202012-04-15T00:50:00.002-07:002012-04-15T00:52:44.775-07:00New Train Station StudioMy classes will now be held at the new Train Station studio in SM Hypermart beside Tiendesitas in Pasig City. It is right in front of C5. The floor is cushioned and the mirrors are of a good size. I hope this works out for the owners since everyone worked hard to make it work. Check out details at <a href="http://TrainStationOnline.com">TrainStationOnline.com</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-912910328113151176.post-35500081877950928932011-04-23T08:36:00.000-07:002011-04-23T08:50:01.448-07:00on beltsSomehow, with how one goes up in ranking while studying karate, one starts to put a premium on going up in ranks. Belts show proof of that rank. A few weeks ago, my wife talked to me about it and she made a pretty good point. Belts and ranks mean nothing. What you know counts more. She tried to learn karate but didn't want to take the tests. She said that if she learned her lessons for her belt, cant i not teach her the next lessons? This reminded me of the time i was practicing Aikido. There, i didn't really care if i took the test or not. The lessons for white, blue, brown and black were the same. It only changed according to your skill. As a white belt in Aikido (being already a blackbelt in karate), i learned fast to the point that the lessons i was learning in Aikido was the same as that of the brown belt. I could roll and fall like the best of them. Given that, i didn't feel the need to advance in belt because i was already advancing in skill.<br /><br />In my class, if a person learned his lesson for his belt, i could not withhold the next lesson from him. It made no sense to keep teaching the same thing over and over if the person already knows it. Mind you, i keep my standards high so if i teach you the next set of lessons, it really means that you fulfilled my criteria to consider you ready. I have a sharp eye and i notice the littlest mistakes specially when i have my eye just on you.<br /><br />I digress. In the end, what is a belt really? A sign of your rank or just a sign to help the teacher know what to teach you? If a teacher knows you and pays attention to you, will your belt matter? If a child like my student Urie knows her katas up to 2 levels higher than her supposed rank, do i limit her to just the kata for her rank or let her practice what she knows? If a student like my regular adults learn fast and is hungry for more, do i limit their knowledge or expand it to include that which is considered beyond their rank? .... If a child wants to learn, wouldn't you be excited to teach him more and more?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-912910328113151176.post-69879636515032569842010-11-22T07:02:00.000-08:002010-11-22T08:25:09.441-08:00Rexona Cup 2010Today, 2 days after the Rexona Cup 2010 last Nov.20, i start writing down thoughts about karate. Only the stuff i want to share.<br /><br />So far, i have been formally teaching karate for over 2 years and a practitioner for 26 years. I'd like to think that i do a fairly good job at teaching because i see the progress of my students. I think have a good eye that can see not only their faults but how they can correct them. Some of my tactics are archaic, i.e. place a chair for them to kick over it but some are pretty modern. I use medicine to augment the teaching of karate. In the end, i don't overburden the kids bodies and i build up the adults. Im not the best but i try to do good for my students as my teachers have for me (or at least i hope they did).<br /><br />My class have had their fair share of medals. When i was in Cubao, i once had all my participating students win at least a medal each in a tournament. I am happy that even though the ones that couldn't come with me to greenhills or shang had to train under a different teacher, i still see them compete and win. I still see the stuff i taught them in the way they move and act in the tournaments. I am happy that they remember. I know that their new teachers are proud to have their students win but inside, i feel that i had a hand in the development of those students.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://multiply.com/mu/must/image/1/photos/106/500x500/1/2010-11-20-11.58.55.jpg?et=EGfmnMud13AKG%2Bas%2BtDkmg&nmid=389439158"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 375px;" src="http://multiply.com/mu/must/image/1/photos/106/500x500/1/2010-11-20-11.58.55.jpg?et=EGfmnMud13AKG%2Bas%2BtDkmg&nmid=389439158" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This last one wasn't good for them though because none of my old ex-students won anymore but they still have it in them to train and participate. The ones under me that participated in last weekend's competition won a medal each. Some by desire, some by talent and some by sheer perseverance. It feels good to be validated i suppose. I am doing something good for these students of mine. I hope they remember me someday. I know that their victories are mostly theirs because they do all the work. All i do is guide them and point out the way. I am proud of these kids. Im hoping that the adults will see the value in competing, too. As Okazaki Shihan said, "Tournament is part of training."<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://multiply.com/mu/must/image/1/photos/106/500x500/2/2010-11-20-12.01.26.jpg?et=P3GvUHoi%2BV7AYEmC%2BzO4fw&nmid=389439158"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 375px;" src="http://multiply.com/mu/must/image/1/photos/106/500x500/2/2010-11-20-12.01.26.jpg?et=P3GvUHoi%2BV7AYEmC%2BzO4fw&nmid=389439158" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I have some students that did well in kumite and not as well in kata. I think it is a matter of priorities in this case as well as how much heart they put in the training for each type of competition. I felt sad for a little girl who felt bad after losing to a lower ranked competitor. I know that it might be misconstrued as humiliating in a young child but i hope that someday she will find it in herself to see that it is a humbling experience. It might show her to stop and see that she should not take things for granted, make her humble enough to train harder.. and maybe listen more to her Sensei ;)<br /></div><br />Pride, vanity and ego are really bad for competition, both during a<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://multiply.com/mu/must/image/1/photos/106/500x500/3/2010-11-20-12.27.02.jpg?et=4YbGtr%2C4lMZlNmKZZZjJKA&nmid=389439158"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 375px;" src="http://multiply.com/mu/must/image/1/photos/106/500x500/3/2010-11-20-12.27.02.jpg?et=4YbGtr%2C4lMZlNmKZZZjJKA&nmid=389439158" alt="" border="0" /></a>nd after. During com<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://multiply.com/mu/must/image/1/photos/106/500x500/4/rexona-cup-2010-b.jpg?et=HFvo5ECI7wA0ubaD5PxIug&nmid=389439158"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 332px;" src="http://multiply.com/mu/must/image/1/photos/106/500x500/4/rexona-cup-2010-b.jpg?et=HFvo5ECI7wA0ubaD5PxIug&nmid=389439158" alt="" border="0" /></a>petition, those three contributes to overconfidence. After, it makes losing a much more unpleasant experience. Come to think of it, it is also bad for before a competition because thinking that you are good might make you train less. I hope that i can teach them the more philosophical aspects of karate and make them better people in the end.<br /><br />Congratulations to Lalor Deang for her medals in kata and kumite. Francine Lim for he silver in kata (her first attempt in the intermediate category). Kylie Carpizo for her medal in kata (her first, hopefully of many. She really worked hard to fix the stuff i corrected). Carl Ong for his first medal, a silver in kata which i think he worked hard to prepare for because of his significant leap in performance from the last time i checked him prior to the last practice. Urie and Gabby Joaquin for their medals in kumite.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0