| The history of Karate and other types of martial | | | | There Is More To Karate Than Movies |
| arts goes back thousands of years. For me it | | | | Bruce Lee's main focus was not to make movies, |
| goes back to when I started to take karate | | | | but rather to practice the martial arts, learn their |
| classes in middle school after being inspired from | | | | histories, and develop his skill and fitness so he |
| watching a series of Bruce Lee and Chuck Norris | | | | could be a perfectly physically conditioned |
| movies. | | | | machine. Unfortunately the only history of karate |
| There was nothing more exciting to me than to | | | | that most people in the Western world know is all |
| learn how to kick the crap out of bullying boys at | | | | they have seen on television or in the movies. |
| my school. As I got immersed into the art, | | | | And nowadays unrealistic karate moves are the |
| however, I found that there is a lot more to it | | | | new fad. Jackie Chan does some quick moves in |
| than flashy self defense moves and seldom does | | | | his latest movie and everyone thinks they just |
| it ever involve kicking the crap out of anyone. | | | | got a lesson in the history of karate. But karate |
| Although Karate was around long before him, the | | | | was not meant to be a form of entertainment, it |
| most significant figure in the modern history of | | | | is meant to be a display of discipline and |
| karate was Bruce Lee. Bruce Lee considered | | | | successful learning through hard work. Learning |
| himself a true martial artist and did not limit | | | | karate takes a lot of dedicated time and respect |
| himself to the study of just one discipline, but | | | | for its history and origins. |
| rather he studied many disciplines, including boxing. | | | | Karate is based on self defense and not |
| Then he eventually developed his own brand of | | | | aggression. Most karate classes are really great |
| martial arts. But Bruce Lee was also a karate | | | | for enhancing mental focus, and discipline, as well |
| champion and his first real introduction to the | | | | as add the completive edge for those who like to |
| world was an extremely impressive display that | | | | spar in karate tournaments. That is why karate |
| he put on at the1964 Long Beach Karate | | | | classes are so great for kids and adults alike. |
| Tournament. | | | | Karate survives as a cornerstone of the martial |
| This tournament was not only witnessed by | | | | arts and as one of the true vehicles of self |
| many prominent martial artists but also by one of | | | | control and the ability to look deep into one's self |
| the crew members of the then hit television | | | | and find your true inner person. Karate is a quest |
| show Batman. From there Bruce Lee wound up | | | | more than it is a lesson on how to punch and kick |
| on Batman as the "Green Hornet" and the history | | | | someone. |
| of karate would never be the same. | | | | |