Karateka

I know! I'm supposed to be sleeping now for my 1:30 pm karate class later but insomnia is kicking in again. I think I'm becoming nocturnal.

Yes! I just recently engage myself in karate. In fact, It'll be my second session later. A housemate of mine invited me to join with her. Although I was hesitant at first because I am too girly for such combative sport, I was convinced eventually for self-defense purposes.

In preparation, I looked up online and researched some infos about karate.

Here's what I've learned:

Karate, as defined by wikipedia, is a martial art developed in the Ryukyu Islands in what is now Okinawa, Japan. It was developed from indigenous fighting methods called te, literally "hand"; ti in Okinawan) and Chinese kenpo. Karate is a striking art using punching, kicking, knee and elbow strikes, and open-handed techniques such as knife-hands (karate chop). Grappling, locks, restraints, throws, and vital point strikes are taught in some styles. A karate practitioner is called a karateka.

It sounds extreme but If I am going to engage in martial arts I prefer it be something that features overall combat techniques from punching to knee/elbow strikes and kicking unlike with some other forms - taekwando, for example, that emphasizes only on kicking.

So, we met up with sensei Rommel @ beefit gym and introduced us to the class. We're actually the oldest among the karatekas. The students we're mostly in their teenage years but who cares, we're never too old to learn something new. ^^

Eva, a rokyu karateka introduced me the shotokan or the basics namely Gedan barai, Age Uke and Soto Uke.

A gedan barai is a karate technique mainly used for blocking an attack. The approximate English meaning is "downward block." A vulnerable spot called the "solar plexus" is protected using this technique by basically deflecting an incoming strike.

Age Uke or Rising Block is used to stiffly block or deflect an incoming high attack. Alternately, it can also be used to receive an incoming attack, sweeping it overhead while maintaining contact with the attacking instrument (limb or weapon).

A soto uke is a karate blocking technique used for blocking mid-level incoming attacks. It is translated as "From outside block".

So, how do i find karate? It was very exhausting. It is more intense than a workout but I think I am going to carry on this activity as my past time. Good luck to me! ^^