It is said that “The ultimate aim of karate lies not in victory or defeat, but in perfection of its participants”. Our training program is designed to be a fun and exhilarating journey into classical and cultural martial arts training for youth & adults. Traditional Martial Arts like karate teach self-defense, self-respect and self-esteem and much more, and should reinforce values taught in the home.
Members of the Utah Shorin-kai (Matsumura Seiyo Shorin-Ryu Karate & Kobudo) include many students, including various professions. Traditional martial arts are designed to teach methods of self-defense and enhance quality of life in a fun way.
Utah Shorin-Kai is a traditional dojo, we adhere to the core values of martial arts, emphasizing discipline, respect, and genuine skill development. No student is promoted because they have paid a fee, but because they have worked hard and perfected skills.
Karate is a system of unarmed self defense that developed in Okinawa. The word karate means empty hands, or hands without a weapon. The hands, elbows, knees, feet, and other parts of the body are the students weapons. Karate specializes in striking blows such as kicking, punching, chopping, slashing, clawing, stabbing, and gouging techniques, along with locking and throwing techniques which are used in special instances where it is more practical to throw or block than to deliver a strike or blow.
Our Style is Matsumura Seiyo Shorin-Ryu Karate-Do/Kobudo. Our Root System, Matsumura Orthodox, comes directly from Okinawa. It is a traditional Okinawan style. The goal of our program has always been to teach to pass on and preserve the art. Instructors are not paid, allowing us to keep the class fees affordable to anyone who wishes to train
Karate can trace its origin to the Buddhist Monks. Particularly to an Indian Monk named Daruma. In approximately 525 A.D., Daruma crossed the Himalayas from India to China on foot; a task that requires tremendous physical strength and mental prowess in itself. He came to China to enlighten and teach the monarchs and monks of the Liang dynasty in the ways of Buddha.
Daruma incorporated a physical fitness program into his teachings based the exercises on certain self-defense movements he had been taught, observed in his travels, or had developed himself. Soon the monks of the Shaolin Temple (Shorin in the Okinawan or Japanese language) became famed for their physical endurance and fighting ability
The principle reason students learn Karate is learn self-defense (GoShinDo) . One of the most practical applications of karate is, that it equips the students with knowledge, skills and confidence to protect themselves. Karate is not just learning how to block, punch, or kick, but learning these techniques can equip you with the skills to defend yourself in a variety of situations.
In addition to gaining physical skills of self-defense skills, and maintaining or improving physical fitness agility and endurance, students develop: focus, discipline, respect, self-esteem, goal setting, and confidence. Karate training is a great way to improve fitness and flexibility. One will also gain rewards such as self- confidence, pride and patience in learning and performing.
For one to truly learn Karate, patience, attitude, determination and humility must be developed. You cannot just attend class and go through the motions and hope to achieve this. It requires hard work and repetition for the perfection of technique and oneself. You will not get there overnight but over a long period of repeated training.
Traditional Okinawan karate was developed for self-defense. Famous Karate master Gichin Funakoshi in his writings said that one kata is enough for self-defense. Kata usually contain throws, joint locks with punches, strikes and kicks, which are focused on effective use in real confrontation.
Kata are movements designed to give the karate practitioner a series of techniques that help to learn body mechanics, practiced thousands of times.
A big part of Kata training is Bunkai - (the practical application of the movements of kata). When used in the context of Karate, Bunkai is the process of breaking down the movements of a kata to understand how the techniques can be applied in self-defense. An understanding of Bunkai brings the kata to life, allowing the student to make sense of the kata.
Before you start your training we encourage you (or you and your child) to explore our program, come watch or join us in a class. Though karate is for everyone, we want you to be able to see what you will be learning and understand that Karate and Kobudo training requires, effort, hard work, and practice.
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