Martial Arts In Barbados Now Booming
In Barbados Martial Arts is just as popular as any other sport, such as Karate, Tae Kwon Do, Kung Fu and Tai Chi…some people have even thought about trying out a class.
But have you ever actually done it? Do you need a reason?
Just about everyone has thought about taking up a martial art at some point in time and if you do there are plenty to choose from in Barbados.
Maybe you want to do it as another way to stay in shape. Possibly as a means to protect yourself from the school bully.
There are hundreds, if not thousands, of reasons why people choose to take up an art, but I want to take a second to outline what I feel are the most important reasons to at least try a martial art.
Maybe it’s for yourself, maybe it’s for your children…whatever the reason, all martial arts contain a unique wealth of knowledge and discipline that you simply can’t get anywhere else.
My hope is that this article will inspire you to get out of your chair and into a school to see what martial arts is all about.
Self Confidence
As you train in Martial Arts, you will notice a lot if improvements, such as your physique, balance, awareness, flexibility, and many other physical and mental characteristics.
Martial Arts will teach you how to combine these capabilities and use them to succeed in competitions, attaining higher belts, building friendships and protecting yourself if necessary.
The more you can do, the more confident you will be.
Self Defense
One of the most common reasons to study martial arts is to learn how to defend one’s self. A number of schools may dedicate class time and/or offer a scheduled class that strictly goes over self defense tactics.
Also, depending on the MA style or school, self defense can be a large part of the curriculum, which can be beneficial to those interested in “applicable arts” (arts you can use in everyday life) as opposed to “traditional arts”.
Self Discipline
Webster defines self-discipline as the “correction or regulation of oneself for the sake of improvement”. Whether it be trying to make a high school team or meeting company deadlines, once you learn the focus necessary to succeed in Martial Arts you can apply it to the rest of your life.
Success is mental, and Martial Arts will teach you the self discipline necessary to succeed at anything you put your mind to.
Coordination
Martial arts does require a lot of hand, foot, eye, and mental coordination, but all of this is developed over time.
If you consider yourself as an uncoordinated person, training in the martial arts will help you grow those skills. You’ll be amazed what your body is capable of doing!
Even if you are a natural athlete, standing on one foot, while kicking with the other, and blocking with your hands is quite difficult and involves coordination.
Fitness
Martial Arts does not have to focus only on fighting or self defense as some styles are based more on fitness. Tae Bo and Tai Chi are two examples of this.
However, those with an interest in the fighting & self-defense aspects of Martial arts will find their fitness levels quickly increasing as training not only develops various muscle groups, but flexibility and balance as well.
One’s level of fitness can be just as important in winning a match as one’s skills and abilities.
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Family Enjoyment
Most people don’t know that this is an excellent way to spend time together with your family! Some martial art schools allow families to train together and others separate classes by age groups. Regardless of how classes are segregated, families find themselves enjoying the time spent together. It is not unheard of having a family all test together for various ranks and black belts.
Meet New People – Martial Arts is for everyone…
Many martial art schools structure their classes into three age groups: Kids – usually ranging from about 5 to 11 years old, Teens – 12 to about 16 or 17, and Adults – usually starts at 18, but some schools make exceptions when necessary.
Some schools also offer a “Little Dragons” program geared towards the 4 – 6 year old crowd.
Age groups are then broken down into belt ranks allowing you to train with people that are relatively of equal skills and age.
Often times people who begin Martial Arts together will develop a bonding friendship and even obtaining their black belts at the same time because they pushed one another during their tuff times.
Remember that there are thousands of martial art styles. Chances are there is a style and a school perfect for you no matter what your reasons are for trying it out.
The History of Karate
The history of Karate is a long and meandering path of development, across seas from Japan and Okinawa, through the heart of long-ago China and over the mountains into ancient India.
For many karateka training in a traditional, style, there is a certain satisfaction in making a connection to the past through training as their predecessors trained (or close to it) and, by observing tradition, carrying on values and practices still considered useful and important. But what is traditional?
Through the ages, Martial Arts has undergone many changes: they adapt to new circumstances, they branch-off and are altered, they are lead by new people. Others die with their inheritors.
In the end, what we have may be likened to the message in a game of Chinese whispers; altered from its origins by so many people that any obvious links to its beginnings may be hard to find.
Many know Okinawa, an island 550 kilometres south of the Japanese mainland, as the birthplace of karate. But let’s look first to Japan, considered home to most karate systems existing today. Karate is now practiced in an estimated 120 countries and takes many forms.
Of these, some of the most famous were founded in Japan after World War II, prominent examples being Mas Oyama’s Kyokushin and Choiro Tani’s Shukokai.
At the same time in Okinawa, the dominant schools (Ryu) were Shorin-Ryu, Goju-Ryu, Uechi-Ryu and Matsubayashi-Ryu.
Although there had been karate demonstrations outside Japan in the late 1920s and ’30s, it was in the post-war years that karate arrived in European and Western countries like Australia. The Japan Karate Association, formed in 1948, assisted in spreading karate world-wide.
In the early ’20s, Funakoshi impressed Japan’s Crown Prince with a karate demonstration and his art was later given support by Judo’s famous founder, Jigaro Kano, securing karate’s acceptance by the Japanese.
10 Common-sense Self Defense Tips For Men
For more than 30 years I have been running specialized self defence courses and seminars. Over that time I have shown thousands of people how to protect and look after themselves.
Increasing personal safety ALWAYS commences with awareness.
Since most men may be attacked in almost any situation and for a wide-ranging variety of reasons I offer the following advice.
Here is a list of ten simple things that you can do immediately that will increase your safety:
1 – Most men get involved in physical trouble as a result of saying something rude, offensive, tactless, stupid or hurtful. Controlling what comes out of your mouth can keep it in good shape. Think before you speak.
2 – If a fight breaks out in a bar – leave immediately. Go before all the drunks and brawlers start swinging chairs, bottles, glasses and punches. A “free for all” usually starts with just two protagonists. Innocent bystanders often get hit. Those who leave all the fools to bash each other do not.
3 – NEVER attempt to mediate an argument between a man and a woman. Both will cease arguing or fighting with each other and turn on you – the common enemy. If you fear for the woman’s safety, call the police.
4 – Understand that many people these days have a cocktail of drugs and booze in their veins. It makes them argumentative, aggressive and “Mike Tyson-esque.” Avoid people who are “off the planet.” Even a casual glance at them can set them off. Leave them with their own demons.
5 – Don’t make the fatal mistake of thinking that ANYBODY fights “fair” any more. Those days are over – they have been since the John Wayne era! Expect multiple attackers, weapons, possibly both.
6 – The cemeteries in Barbados are full of dead heroes. Don’t add to their number. Run if you can. There is no shame in avoiding a fight. In fact, running away is smart.
7 – Recognize objects in every room of your home that could be used as makeshift weapons. Home invasion is a growing curse these days due to the unwillingness of our governments to protect their citizens.
8 – THIS IS MORE OF A LEGAL WARNING: Understand that if you allow yourself to be placed in a “compromising” position with a woman, particularly one who is “under-age,” then the woman’s version of events will usually be believed over the man’s version. Do not allow yourself to get into such situations.
9 – Negotiation is a far higher art form than physical confrontation. Do anything reasonable to avoid a fight. NOTHING good ever comes out of conflict. War is proof of that.
10 – When all else fails, your back is to the wall and there is absolutely no other alternative left remember… “it is better to be tried by twelve than carried by six.”
Remember my opening words – “increasing personal safety ALWAYS commences with awareness.” Increase your awareness, mind your manners, know your surroundings and you will certainly improve your safety.
10 Powerful Self Defense Tips For Women
For Barbados I don’t have the stats but in the USA, every two minutes a woman is being raped.
A 1993 survey revealed that 50% of Canadian women have experienced an incident of sexual assault or physical violence.
In Australia, 19% of women aged 18 to 24 experienced an act of violence in the last year.
Statistics show that one in very four women in America will be sexually assaulted in her lifetime.
These are SHOCKING statistics!
For more than 30 years I have been running specialized self defence courses and seminars. Over that time I have shown thousands of people how to protect and look after themselves.
Increasing personal safety ALWAYS commences with awareness.
Since most women fear attacks of a sexual nature more than anything else most of my quick tips are geared towards that.
If you are a woman, here is a list of ten simple things that you can do immediately that will increase your safety:
1 – Do not wear revealing clothing in public places. Doing so will ensure that you attract plenty of attention, including attention from those people with evil intent. Be discrete and leave provocative wear to those times when you can enjoy the intimacy of your partner.
2 – Trust your instincts. Women are very intuitive. If you think a situation might be dangerous then it probably is. That little guardian angel should be trusted rather than ignored.
3 – Rape and other sexual assault is always increasing. In the event of the worst outcome use your fingernails to gouge your attacker’s cheek. It marks him for identification and you will have DNA under your nails.
4 – Drive your motor vehicle in a courteous manner. Nobody appreciates rude hand signs. Remember – eventually you have to stop, even if it is to refuel. Psycho cases might follow you for many miles “just to teach you a lesson” – all because you made yourself a target to their twisted minds.
5 – Drinking excessive amounts of alcohol, taking mind altering drugs and leaving ANY food or drink unattended where it may be tampered with is a recipe for disaster. Give your self an even chance.
6 – NEVER pick up hitch-hikers and ABSOLUTELY NEVER hitch-hike yourself.
7 – If you live alone make sure that all your mail is addressed by just your first initial followed by your surname. Never allow mail to be addressed to you with salutations like Miss, Mrs, Ms or with your christian or given name. Those letters and parcels pass many eyes before they get to you. Change them. Make them nondescript as to your sex and marital status. Why allow anybody even one extra shred of information about you?
8 – NEVER walk alone at night or at any time in isolated areas. Predators love these locations. Avoid them.
9 – Many sexual acts are committed by people who the victims knew – or, at least, thought they knew! Be friendly and polite by all means but be vigilant for tell-tale signs of “strange” behavior. Do NOT flirt. Be firm about any unwanted attention, particularly in the work place.
10 – Sexual attack is usually preceded by some visual sign, which is usually preceded by some verbal approach before the physical action. Recognize the sequence: the look – the talk – the attack.
Please feel free to share this safety list to every woman you care for.
There are so many predators out there. Let’s help our women to PROTECT themselves! Don’t let somebody YOU know become the next victim.
