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August 28, 2006
KICK Florida State Championships & Tiger Claw Elite Qualifier Level 4, Boca Raton, Florida, September 16th - 17th,2006
September 16 & 17 - KICK Florida State Championships & Tiger Claw Elite
Qualifier Level 4- Boca Raton, Florida
Contact- David Sklar - 407-897-6856
register online or download flyer at
http://www.kickusa.com/Events/Events.htm
Posted by Willie Crawford at 06:19 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
KICK Canada Provincial Championships Level 4- Ontario, Canada, September 30th, 2006
September 30 - KICK Canada Provincial Championships Level 4- Ontario
Contact - Brian Cyr - 905-451-4726
Posted by Willie Crawford at 06:08 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
KICK Mid-Atlantic State Championships Level 4 - Clarksville,Maryland, September 17th 2006
September 17 - KICK Mid-Atlantic State Championships Level 4 - Clarksville, Maryland
Contact - John Bannon - 410-531-8927
register online or download flyer at
http://www.kickusa.com/Events/MarylandReg4.htm
Posted by Willie Crawford at 06:03 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
August 26, 2006
Steel City Challenge Knockdown Karate Open, Birmingham, Alabama, October 28th, 2006
Steel City Challenge Knockdown Karate Open
Ultimate Martial Arts will be hosting the Steel City Challenge knockdown
and semi-knockdown karate tournament on October 28th, 2006.
This event will take place at the UAB Campus Recreation Center in
Birmingham, AL.www.steelcitychallenge.com
For more information, please visit our website at
or email Paul Rhodes at paul@goumakarate.com
Posted by Willie Crawford at 11:27 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
August 21, 2006
Albertville Open, Albertville, Alabama, October 14th, 2006
Albertville Open
October 14th,2006
9:00am - 6:00pm
Albertville,Alabama 35960
Contact: OpenSenpai Frank Hicks
256-878-0210
334-272-4959(Soshu David Koda)
http://www.yoshukai.com/
Posted by Willie Crawford at 02:11 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
August 15, 2006
North American Amateur Fight Series Event, September 16th, 2006, Euclid, Ohio
For Immediate Release:
Contact: Greg Kalikas
North American Amateur Fight Series
www.ProKarateweekly.com
Greg@prokarateweekly.com
330-324-3034
Northcoast Showdown to Showcase NAAFS Top Ranked Fighters
Round Five of the 2006 Series Set for September 16th
8/16/06: The NAAFS in conjunction with SportstalkCleveland.com and PKW Live are proud to announce round five of the 2006 North American Amateur Fight Series. The Northcoast Showdown will take place this September 16th in Euclid, Ohios Euclid Sportsplant.
This round will likely be the most competitive of the series so far. said NAAFS spokesman Jake Digman. We are a few months away from the year end finals which has made the next few events that much more important to the fighters trying to earn a slot in December. We are expecting the September 16th card to be one of our most competitive and evenly matched cards of 2006.
Headlining the show will be two of the NAAFS premier heavyweights as Josh The Sandman Stansbury (3-1) battles local favorite an unbeaten in two fights, Dominic Qurazzo. In addition, top ranked welterweight Smokin Joe Heiland returns to the series looking for his fifth straight NAAFS win.
Lightweight Dustin The Reaper Kempf (7-1) and light heavyweight Dan Spohn (3-0) will also look to stay on top of their respective divisions as part of four current number one seeds that will be entering the NAAFS cage on September 16th.
We are delighted to be a part of this event. said SportstalkCleveland.com president Paul Belfi. Im a big fan of the NAAFS and the sport of mixed martial arts in general. The Euclid Sportsplant is a great venue for this type of event and I think fans that turn out are going to go home very happy. The NAAFS has some of the best up and coming fighters in the nation and I couldnt be more excited about being on board with a promotion such as the North American Amateur Fight Series. Belfi went on to say.
The final match ups for the Northcoast Showdown are expected to be announced soon. Current NAAFS rankings along with results from round four of the 2006 series are now available on the official home of the NAAFS, www.Prokarateweekly.com. Round six is tentatively set for November 11th and will feature the NAAFS Team Challenge along with a few amateur super-fights. Information on this event will be released soon on PKW.
Below is the current fight card for September 16th
Main Event 265 lbs - Dominic Qurazzo 2-0 (Team Warfare) vs Josh The Sandman Stansbury 3-1 (Next Level Fight Team)
170 lbs - Josh McBride 3-2 (Northeastern Pummeling Den) vs Adam Swift 0-0 (Team DNA)
265 lbs - John The Showstopper Hedges 1-0 (Team Warfare) vs Tom Poe 0-0 (Team Infinity)
170 lbs - Smokin Joe Heiland 4-0 (Strong Style Fight Team) vs TBA
155 lbs - Dustin The Reaper Kempf 7-1 (Next Level Fight Team) vs TBA
205 lbs - Dan Spohn 3-0 (Cambridge MMA) vs Ken Lorenzo 0-0 (Newark, OH)
185 lbs - Taiwon The Iron Dragon Howard 1-1 (Rising Dragon Fight Team) vs Ben Thundercat Parks 1-0 (Team Griffon-Rawl)
185lbs - Chris Green 2-0 (Next Level Fight Team) vs TBA
Preliminary Bouts
185 lbs - Ricky The Thriller Miller (Jungle Fight Team) vs DJ Jacobucci (Team Griffon-Rawl)
185 lbs - Milan Wesley (Team Griffon-Rawl) vs Nick Golembieski (Knockout Factory)
155 lbs - Isaac Smith (Wreckroom Athletics) vs Chuck Schilling (Team Griffon-Rawl)
155 lbs - Mike Nesto (Shraders MMA) vs Jay Wadsworth (Team Air-Gadfly)
170 lbs - Dana Coon (Team DNA) vs Luke Wilder (Knockout Factory)
185 lbs - Jason Sheer (Team Bullrider) vs TBA
SHW - Deon West (Cleveland, OH) vs Bobby Favors (Fikes MMA)
145 lbs - Corey Eis (Newark, OH) vs Dan Balon (Team DNA)
170 lbs - Brandon Hance (Galena, OH) vs Marvin Williams (Rising Dragon Fight Team)
Fight Card Subject to Change
Tickets for the Northcoast Showdown are now available on www.Prokarateweekly.com or by calling 330-324-3034. Ticket prices range from $20 to $40 and will not last long. Proud Sponsors of the Northcoast Showdown include Bloody Buddy Fight Gear, 2XL Sports Gear, SportstalkCleveland.com, MMAvideo.com, Sounds Crazy Entertainment and the "Voice of the Fight Fan", PKW Live. Previous NAAFS events are now available on DVD at the PKW on Line Store along with our new NAAFS Fighter and Fan Forum both located on the official home of the NAAFS, www.Prokarateweekly.com.
Posted by Willie Crawford at 11:51 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
August 04, 2006
The 7th Annual DFW Karate Championships, October 14th, 2006, Grapevine, Texas
The 7th Annual DFW Karate Championships
Saturday, October 14th, 2006
Grapevine Middle School
301 Pony Parkway, Grapevine, TX 76051
Online registration at: http://www.tkokarate.com
Email: dfwkc2006@tkokarate.com
Phone: 817-797-5425 or 817-337-6004
Posted by Willie Crawford at 11:11 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
August 02, 2006
Karate Principles
Karate Principles
by: Owen Johnston
"The ultimate aim of karate lies not in victory or defeat, but in the perfection of the character of its participants."
- Gichin Funakoshi, founder of Shotokan Karate
The underlying principles of karate-do (Way of the Empty Hand) include not only self-defense, but a system of learning that provides one with a tool for self-improvement. Its accessibility is shown by its ability to be practiced hard or soft, by nearly anyone, and nearly anywhere, even in one's own mind. Its precepts and discipline can lead us on in the difficult times of our lives. This is the connection of body, mind, and soul.
"There is no first strike in karate."
- Gichin Funakoshi
Karate-do is a way of life that teaches one to be the best he or she can be, in spite of and because of the worst situations that one faces. Karate is a code of conduct that avoids conflict; its level of force is only stepped up if absolutely necessary. In this way, karate may be used to defend oneself and others without striking a single blow.
Way of the Empty Hand
Karate is not simply a method of empty handed combat, but also a way of peace. Keep your mind open to the situation, and to the Truth. Do not miss the forest for the trees. Cut through all the hype and find understanding. Your hand, the human hand, is the most versatile physical tool on the planet. Your mind is an even more versatile tool. It is the tool of your human soul, human instincts. In that way, your mind is a hand, reaching out for truth, greater things. Therefore, Karate is the way of uniting body, mind, and soul, that one may be a sharpened tool. Once one has learned Karate, its textbook of technique, philosophy, kata, one should digest it and make it part of one's nature. Continue to sharpen yourself, refining what you have learned, using it to your advantage and the good of others.
About The Author
Copyright 2005 Owen Johnston
http://www.johnstonkarate.net/
The author lives and teaches Wado ryu Karate in Lake City, South Carolina. See the website for more information.
Posted by Willie Crawford at 08:51 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Karate a History
Karate a History
by: Michael Smith
Although the basic forms of self defense are probably as old as the human race, the art of karate as it is practiced today can be traced directly to the Okinawan technique called, in Japanese, Okinawate-te (Okinawa Hands). This system of defense in turn is a descendant of the ancient Chinese art of chuan-fa (kung-fu).
Little is known about the historical development of karate in Okinawa, but there is an interesting story to be told about it. About five hundred years ago, the famous King Hashi of the Okinawan Sho dynasty succeeded in uniting the Ryukya islands into one kingdom. To ensure rule by law and to discourage and potential military rivals, he seized all weapons in the kingdom and made the possession of weapons a crime against the state. About two hundred years later, Okinawa became part ot the domain of the Satsuma clan of Kyushu, and for a second time all weapons were seized and banned. As a direct result of these successive bans against weapons, it is said that the art of empty-handed self defense call Okinawa-te underwent tremendous development.
The man most responsible for the systemization of karate as we know it today was Funakoshi Gichin. He was born in Shuri, Okinawa, in 1869, and when only a boy of eleven began to study karate under the two top masters of the art at the time. In time he became a karate expert in his own right. He is credited to be the first man to introduce karate to Japan proper, when he gave exhibitions in 1917 and again in 1922 at physical-education expositions. The art soon caught on in Japan, and Funakoshi traveled throughout the country giving lectures and demonstrations. The main universities invited him to set up karate teams, and hundreds of people studied the art under his guidance.
As the study of karate in Japan became increasingly popular, many other experts from Okinawa came to give instruction. At the same time the ancient native Japanese hand-to-hand fighting techniques of jujitsu and kendo (sword fighting) were being widely practiced, and modern sports imported from the West were becoming popular. Karate soon took over many elements from these, and the basis was laid for the modern Japanese-style karate.
About The Author
Michael Smith is a Black Belt in Hapkido and has also studied Karate, Kung Fu and Kick Boxing. Learn the secrets of the worlds most popular martial arts. Visit http://www.allmartialarts.info Web Site Today.
Posted by Willie Crawford at 11:25 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Training with Martial Arts Weapons - Karate Kung Fu Weaponry
Training with Martial Arts Weapons - Karate Kung Fu Weaponry
by: Clint Leung
There are opportunities in martial arts training to learn to use various martial arts weapons. Many martial arts schools, especially those that teach Japanese karate and Chinese kung fu styles have weaponry as part of their overall curriculum. Popular weapons from karate systems include the bo staff, kama, sai, sword, nunchaku and tonfa. Chinese kung fu styles have broadsword, 3 section staff, kwan do, whip chain, butterfly knives as well as their own versions of staff. Of course, there are many other types of weapons in martial arts but the above are the more common ones taught. Some of the more exotic weapons include the fan, rope dart and the hook swords. Martial arts weapons can be divided into short and long range. An example of a short range weapon would be a pair of sai. The bo staff would be a long range weapon because of the longer reach. Weapons can also be divided into bladed and non-bladed. Kamas and swords of course would be bladed weapons where staffs and nunchakus would be non-bladed. In most training situations with bladed weapons, the blades are not live. That is, the blades of swords and kamas are blunt rather than sharp. This adds to the safety aspect of martial arts weapons training. Weapons can also come in different weights from heavy traditional models down to ultra light weight versions for forms competition.
Martial arts weapons are considered as extensions of a martial artist’s own body. For example, strikes with a weapon are really extended hand strikes. Blocks with weapons are modeled after traditional martial art blocking techniques. Therefore, it is important for martial arts students to be relatively proficient with martial arts techniques using their own bodies first before learning to use any martial arts weapon. This will help the students understand the applications behind each weapons technique much better. In most Japanese karate schools, weapons training won’t be offered until students reach an intermediate level such as green or blue belt. There are martial arts that are strictly weapons oriented. An example is Japanese kendo which is modeled after samarai sword fighting. Philipino arnis is stick fighting which was developed in the South Pacific islands.
There are many benefits in training with martial arts weapons. Because most weapons have some weight to them, their use will help develop muscle tone and strength. Performing forms or katas with weapons will also develop coordination. In today’s world, martial arts weapons may not be as practical as the days of the past when it was acceptable to carry weapons wherever one traveled. However, with some understanding of weapons techniques, a martial artist today can turn almost any household item such as an umbrella, cane or even a set of keys into weapons of self defense if required. Another important point that shouldn’t be ignored is that most practitioners will claim that training with martial arts weapons is a lot of fun.
However, not all martial arts clubs and studios will teach weapons. Many tae kwon do schools for example do not include weapons in their overall training. This is not to say that Korean martial arts do not have weapons. The Korean martial art kuk sool won features the staff, sword and cane. So if a martial arts student wishes to learn the use of weapons, a school that includes them in their training should be sought after. Another alternative for students who are otherwise happy with their martial arts club that doesn’t have weapons training is to get supplementary private instruction from instructors who can provide it.
Weapons training can open up a whole new dimension to overall martial arts training. Even advanced tai chi practitioners use swords in some of their forms. It doesn’t matter if sometimes the swords are made entirely of wood either since the actual weapons techniques will still be used in the forms. For many martial arts competitors, weapons forms are their favorite divisions to compete in. From a spectator point of view, weapons forms can be very exciting to watch especially when weapons such as whip chains or kamas with strings are used since their presentations are so dynamic and even somewhat dangerous to the user. Such weapons have caused injuries to users when certain techniques were sloppy or mistimed. But like other aspects of martial arts, proficiency with a martial art weapon after much hard training can bring a high sense of satisfaction to a martial artist.
About The Author
Clint Leung is a lifelong martial artist with over 32 years of training experience in kung fu, tae kwon do, karate, kickboxing and martial arts weaponry. He has won Canadian and world championship titles (NASKA, NBL and WSKF). He is also owner of Free Spirit Activewear (www.FreeSpiritActivewear.com) , an online retailer and designer of premium martial arts activewear. Free Spirit Activewear has martial arts info articles.
Posted by Willie Crawford at 11:20 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
August 01, 2006
The All Martial Arts Federation Tournament, October 7th, 2006, Cleveland Heights, OH
The All Martial Arts Federation Tournament
October 7th, 2006
Lutheran High School East
3565 Mayfield Road
Cleveland Heights, OH
Cash and/or prizes in every division
Second tier fighting and timed starts for events.
More info contact: Master Mike Selmon
masterselmon AT sbcglobal DOT net
Posted by Willie Crawford at 11:42 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack