Bursitis is an inflammation of your bursa, a fluid-filled sac that pads your joints where the bones come close together. Bursitis of your hip can be a painful and disabling condition, but doesn't mean you have to quit karate training. The key is...
Karate was originally developed as a weaponless form of self defense, according to the American Amateur Karate Federation. A karate student uses his fists and feet as his weapons. Through physical and mental exercises, practitioners consistently...
Karate, when practiced correctly, engages every muscle in your body. But the muscles in your legs, core and grip contribute most to proper karate form. A specific set of dumbbell exercises to work these areas can help improve your form and overall...
Endurance gives martial artists of any style the edge they need to work out longer and stronger. According to Mayo Clinic, endurance is built through cardiovascular and aerobic exercises that increase your heart rate while working the big muscles...
Proper breathing technique is an important part of martial arts practice that often gets overlooked. Breathing helps energize the body and rid it of toxins, preparing it for practice. These techniques should be explored and experimented with to...
Originating in the Okinawa Islands of ancient Japan, karate is an unarmed martial art system that specializes in numerous techniques, or waza, and stances, or dachi. From the "Fudo dachi" or free stance to the advanced "Jodan no kamae" upper torso...
Good balance is essential in martial arts. Not only do you need to move smoothly and with control while doing techniques, you perform many of those techniques while standing on one leg. Good balance improves your kicking. It allows you to move...
Whether you want to be able to jump in the air with an impressive kick or you're just a fan of "The Karate Kid," karate can be a rigorous and impactful workout. However, not everybody has access to a karate class. For people in that situation,...
Water exercises such as aquarobics, lap swimming and water walking are common offerings in most modern gyms that have swimming pools. It's such a common part of modern fitness that it's easy to forget that some traditions have used water for...
If you want to add a higher level to your resistance training for karate, you can switch from dumbbells or barbells to kettlebells. They are tailor-made for martial arts, including karate, notes fitness trainer David Bellomo in “Kettlebell...
Karate is a martial art that originated in Japan and is taught throughout the world. Karate consists of a variety of styles, including shotokan, kenpo and goju-ryu, all of which differ slightly but also have much in common. Flexibility is an...
Karate and other martial arts are somewhat unique in the world of sports training. To excel in competitive martial arts you need explosive power, superior flexibility in your lower body and the ability to use your leg muscles to hold your leg...
A karate uniform is called a "gi." It is important to tie the karate gi belt in the traditional way. The belt represents your rank and standing in the dojo (school). Tying the karate gi belt correctly shows respect for that rank and completes the...
The discipline of karate is both a challenge to the body and mind. It offer physical benefits for adults and children who take part in karate classes and programs. Children, especially, need the physical benefits provided by karate as they go...
Balance is the unseen sixth sense in karate. While speed, agility, power and precision are essential for any karateka, without balance they are all rendered null and void. If kata are part of the school's curriculum, balance exercises are already...
Kyokushin is a style of karate created by Masatatsu Oyama. Kyokushin karate is known for its emphasis on mental and physical toughness and for its grueling, full-contact training methods. This style does use the traditional kata, or forms of...
According to the National Academy of Sports Medicine, circuit training is a “series of exercises that an individual performs one after the other, with minimal rest.” Bodyweight circuit training is practical for karate dojos because...
A karate belt symbolizes the accomplishment of a student who successfully passed a test for his instructional level. Dedication to training and the flawless performance of techniques directed toward each belt level helps a karate student prepare...
First developed by Joseph Hubertus Pilates more than a century ago, Pilates is a form of exercise that builds muscle control and strength in the abdomen, arms, buttocks, thighs, hands and feet. When you combine Pilates principles with movements...
A karate uniform is a functional and symbolic part of any karate student's education. A karate belt keeps the uniform in place. The belt provides security, even during intense physical exercises. Knowing how to tie your karate belt properly will...
Shotokan karate is one of the oldest and most influential styles of karate. Developed by Gichin and Gigo Funakoshi in 1916, the style arose from different martial arts styles. Like other forms of karate and martial arts, Shotokan has many...
Karate is a strenuous exercise that can improve your cardiovascular health and strength, and may help you lose weight because of its calorie-burning effects.
Encompassing a vast number of traditional fighting arts and philosophies, martial arts instruct students on the multiple offensive and defensive techniques of combat. From Chinese kung fu to Japanese karate and ninjutsu, the world of martial arts...
P90X is a home exercise system that was created by celebrity fitness trainer Tony Horton. P90X incorporates 12 different, intense workouts through 90 days, combined with a strict eating program. Some exercises include kenpo karate movements,...
The concepts of "center" and "chi" are central to the study of many styles of martial arts, including karate. Your center of balance, also considered the center of personal energy, rests just below your navel -- a position that also is just below...
A power twister is a spring-loaded resistance bar designed to provide tension on the muscles of the upper body. A power twister can work muscles in the chest, arms, shoulders and back. It can also utilize isometric holds--in which you flex and...
Because it affects your coordination, cerebral palsy may make you overlook an active hobby such as karate. However, sometimes aiming high gives you the right amount of drive to overcome obstacles. Karate may help to alleviate some of the...
Martial arts training focuses on explosive power directed toward a specific target. While this focus can help you develop fast-twitch muscles, burn fat and improve your muscular endurance, you'll have to begin a weight-training program to build...
Many people are confused about the terms "karate" and "kung fu," treating them as synonyms or simply not understanding the difference between these systems. Neither term actually refers to a single martial art; both words are blanket terms for a...
Learn daily hand exercises to develop your Kyokushin karate punching technique, in this free beginner Kyokushin training video.
