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This Page Defines and gives some history of the Martial Arts that are taught in Marcum's Martial Arts Academy. You can scroll down through the page or use the buttons for faster access to each section.
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| Isshinryu Karate |
Kung Fu |
Tai Chi |
Internal Martial Arts |
Self-Defense |
Kobudo |
| Isshinryu Karate |
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When entering the journey of learning karate, you must realize how much you learn depends upon how much you want to learn. You have to be willing to put time and effort into your practicing to accomplish your goals. There is no hidden secret which will make you an instant, super Karate Person.
Karate is a fighting art that employs almost all parts of the body in offensive and defensive moves. Karate techniques consist of many individual moves that are practiced as individual techniques and also in combinations. You will learn basic drills in stance, kicking, punching, striking, blocking, combinations of techniques in formal patterns, prearranged attacks and counterattacks, stepping and shifting, etc. The combination of all of these results is skill of Karate techniques. Some of the moves are directly applicable to free fighting (Kumite) while others develop basic speed and coordination. One must train and drill extensively until each technique becomes reflexive and speed, power, accuracy, and balance are attained. However, all of this is a step-by-step process. There, you must have enough patience to take one step at a time in progressing toward perfection of your techniques as well as your character.
Karate is known as the ultimate in self-defense. There are many benefits that go along with self-defense. They are: physical attainments, agility, balance, speed, power, endurance, patience, respect for others, humility, self-confidence, release of psychological and physiological tension, knowledge of the history of Karate and the Orient, knowledge of Zen philosophy, sportsmanship, opportunities to make new friends, and above all an opportunity to learn Karate as an art.
As Karate students you will realize that we teach Karate techniques (fighting skills), to use only in case of emergency. It is like learning first aid – one does not hope to use this knowledge of first aid all the time. It is for EMERGENCY USE ONLY! Do you realize it takes more courage and patience to walk away from a hostile situation than to lose your temper and fight? Think about it.
Tatsuo Shimabuku, the founder of Isshinryu Karate was born in Okinawa in 1906. He studied Shurti-te from his uncle. Shimabuku walked 12 miles from his home to the small village of Shuri to learn karate in his uncle’s school.
Chotoku Kiyan was Shimabuku’s next instructor who trained him in Kobayashiryu (Shorinryu). Chojun Miyagi was another instructor from whom Shimabuku learned Gojuryu. Shimabuku became Miyagi’s most outstanding student.
Later, Shimabuku went back to the study of Kobayashiryu under the teachings of the legendary Choki Motobu.
Shimabuku studied traditional weapons from the two great masters Moden Yabiku and Taira Shinken. He learned Sai, Bo, and Tonfa.
Shimabuku studied both Gojuryu and Shorinryu for 32 years. He used the best of each of these styles to create Isshinryu Karate. This was officially organized soon after World War II (January 15, 1956). Master Shimabuku taught U.S. servicemen at Camp Hansen and Kadena Air Base on Okinawa .
On May 30, 1975, at the age of 70 Master Shimabuku died. He had devoted approximately 57 years of his life to Karate. Upon his death, Kichiro Shimabuku, the Master’s eldest son became 10th Dan and the new Master of Isshin-ryu Karate.
The style of Isshinryu was designed to stress the major and more important phases of Karate practice and to eliminate the loss of effective movements.
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The Karate Creed
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| I come to you with only Karate, empty hands, I have no weapons, but should I be forced to defend myself, My honor or my principles; should it be a matter of life or death,Of right or wrong, then here are my weapons,My empty hands. |
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The expert will do his best to avoid a fight. He is humble and modest. His mind is empty in the sense of perfect execution without mental obstacles. He learns to defend himself as he strives to perfect himself. He always abides by the Karate Creed.
This then is the spirit of Karate. It has been in existence for many years, has served many men and women, and will continue to supply exercise, defense, and personal satisfaction to its followers.
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Our School Motto: 100 X Patience
If you want to read about Isshinryu's founder click here: Tatsuo.
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Note:
It is not permitted to reproduce any written materials without permission from Marcum’s Martial Arts Academy.
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| Kung Fu |
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Kung fu or gongfu (功夫, Pinyin: gōngfu) is a well-known Chinese term used in the West to designate Chinese martial arts. Its original meaning is somewhat different, referring to one's expertise in any skill, not necessarily martial. Many consider wushu a better term for Chinese martial arts, as it translates directly into martial art.
Kung Fu (Gong-fu) literally means "hard work", "learned skill", or "skill acquired through application of time and effort", and is often
used for the enormous variety of martial arts native to China.
(Chinese boxing) is, with karate, the most popularly known of all the martial arts. It employs kicks, strikes, throws, body turns, dodges, holds, crouches and starts, leaps and falls, handsprings and somersaults. These movements include more techniques involving the open hand, such as claws and rips, than those used in karate.
A very ancient form of martial arts which also has innumerable styles and substyles, Kung Fu includes the legendary Shaolin style of fighting, which was named after a 6th century monastery in Honan, China. The Shaolin style was developed over many centuries, expanding from 72 basic fighting movements in its early development to 170 moves divided into five styles named after the animal the movements were supposed to resemble or represent; the Tiger, Leopard, Snake, Dragon and Crane.
It is said that a monk named Bodhidharma (Ta Mo) traveled in 500 A.D. from India to china. He went to the Shaolin temple in Hunan Province. Bodhidharma found that the monks had no physical exercise and felt that meditation and physical movement were both important to attain enlightenment. Bodhidhara designed a training program to help the monks strengthen the body and therefore they were able to endure long meditations. The series of movements eventually evolved into Kung Fu.
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Tai Chi is a system of movements that develops physical, emotional and mental health. Those who practice this art feel a spiritual connection and a calmness about them. Although the origins of Tai Chi Chuan are not known for sure, one interpretation includes Bodhidharma. Again it is said he went to the Shaolin monastery and found the monks falling asleep during meditation. The series of exercises he taught them was known as Yee Chin Ching or Sinew Chinging exercises so they could improve their physical condition and hopefully not fall asleep during meditation. The exercises were also used in self defense against those who might rob the monks since they were forbidden to use weapons. Again this is said to have taken place in the 6th century.
Another man named Chan-San Feng observed the animals. He watched how they moved and protected themselves. He thought man could fashion a system of movements similar to that of the animals so that he could defend himself like the animals. He observed the animals would fight opposite and win. If one animal showed strong force the other could defeat it by using the opposite soft force. This is represented in the yin and yang symbol. Tai chi shows smooth flowing movements that put the enemy off balance by not offering the same energy back as that of the attack. The strong attack and the flowing counter lends itself to a very balanced situation. Besides showing applications of self-defense, Tai Chi offers a feeling of peace and fulfillment.
 
Chinese Martial Arts can be classified into two families - internal and external. The definition of Internal Martial Arts is not clearly agreed upon. Some things are the same. For instance, hard or fast movements are external while soft, slower movements are internal. Destroying the enemy with strength is external while using movement that balance and neutralize the enemy's energy against him is internal. Kung Fu has much movement in some cases and would be external while a softer, simpler system would be internal. The term Neijia (internal and/ or inside family) or Neigong (internal works and/or the actual training of the physical body) is used to describe these systems. We can find information back to the 17th century about this. Internal Martial Arts trains to allow students to isolate muscles and use them at will in new ways. These movements are very subtle and not easily seen by the untrained individual. However, when all these muscles, tendons, etc., are used in precise ways, a balance is created within smooth supple moves to create movement of the desired effect.
It is important to practice internal and external martial arts to achieve total balance and understanding.
Self-defense is the use of reasonable force to protect oneself from an aggressor. It usually refers to the use of violence to protect oneself and is a possible justification for this otherwise illegal act. Striking, punching, kicking, knee and elbow strikes along with open handed techniques are employed in self-defense. Practical application of techniques are encouraged rather than fancy, flashy movements. Safety is first. Secure your home and car. Walk in safe places. Avoiding potentially harmful situations would be next on the list. Learn to be patient and walk with somebody. Be aware of your surroundings. Eyes up and ears listening! If you see that you are or might be in trouble - flee - get out of there ! And lastly, if the above mentioned things did not work, you must engage in some physical way to disarm or harm your enemy enabling you to get away and get help. Training in the dojo on these techniques can be a wonderful way to hone awareness of situations and to build a repertoire of techniques that would work if you would need to engage an attacker.
We teach beginning, intermediate, and advance level weapons katas (forms) in our Dojo. Kobudo (Tegua) is an Okinawan term that refers to Kobujutsu or, ancient weapon art. When the Japanese controlled Okinawa in the 1600s, no weapons were permitted. This was done to keep control over the people. The Okinawan people began to look at their farm implements as something they might be able to use to defend themselves. With practice and determination the tonfa was developed from millstone handles, the kama was developed from sickles, the bo was developed from a 6 foot staff to carry things, the sai was developed from a furrowing and planting tool, and the Nunchaku was developed from an implement to flail rice. These are just a few of the farm implements.
| Bo |
Kama |
sais |
tonfa |
nunchakus |
Tatsuo Shimabuku, founder and Grandmaster of Isshinryu Karate, studied traditional weapons from the two great masters Moden Yabiku and Taira Shinken. He learned Sai, Bo, and Tonfa. By training with weapons we learn to develop not only the physical training but the mental training as well.
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