Karate is a martial art that emphasizes self-defense. It was developed in Okinawa by peasants who sought to defend themselves against rulers who denied them possessions. Through refining ancient Chinese fighting methods, these peasants developed karate, a defense method using the hands and feet. Karate is still practiced today for its self-defense and its artfulness. However, you can also use your karate experience as a means to obtain financial grants for your endeavors.
John Hideo Houston Grant
The John Hideo Houston Grant is awarded by the American Shorin-ryu Karate Association, a national nonprofit organization. This grant is in memory of John Hideo Houston, a black belt and pilot in the Marine Corps. The grant is usually given out annually to karate students who wish to pursue karate training and eventually teach karate full time. However, the grant is given to students who have achieved a brown belt or lower black-belt rank, according to the ASKA site.
USA Martial Arts Foundation
The USA Martial Arts Foundation was formed to sponsor research programs, maintain reference libraries and training institutions, and publish textbooks to promote and enhance martial arts education. The foundation awards grants-in-aid, or federal money given to a state or local government for public projects, as well as scholarships for martial arts research and education. Contact the USAMAF to see whether your program meets the qualifications criteria.
Going to College? Look Into Scholarships
Grants can also be available for use toward a college education. However, if you're college-bound and practice karate, look into scholarships. These can provide need-based, non-repayable money for college and may be available through a variety of local and private organizations. They might also be available through your school, though those are rare. When choosing a school, ask about any martial arts scholarships or any clubs that might offer these scholarships to members. For instance, the University of California at Riverside offers scholarships to those in their karate club. Also look into local martial arts schools in the college's region. Connecticut, for instance, has two counties in which high school seniors and karate practitioners are eligible for a scholarship. Contact your local martial arts schools, as well as those by your prospective college, for any scholarship opportunities.
Considerations
Broaden your grant search to general martial arts inquiries. Similar to the USAMAF, many organizations do not limit their grants to specific martial arts concentrations such as karate. Rather, they expand their considerations to include other concentrations such as judo and tae kwon do in their funding. When researching general martial arts, look into national programs as well as local or private ones, as local and private grants may be less competitive.
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