**ANNOUNCEMENT : NEW LOCATION : Harambee Center - 54 West Street, Danbury CT- near the Library.
I will soon be changing the name of the class since we are no longer at War Memorial. I will also soon post a link to a new website.
Although my focus is primarily on Karate, I have recently provided boxing lessons and sparred with athletes currently training in boxing. I will try to help as time permits. Just ask. IF ANYONE WISHES TO TRAIN OR RECEIVE INSTRUCTION (NEW STUDENTS ARE WELCOME), PLEASE STOP BY (SEE TIMES AND LOCATION LISTED BELOW) OR CALL OR EMAIL TO DISCUSS.
Please check out my other website, too - http://www.pushingpastautism.org/
for a pushup contest for autism charity.
also check out the site of Four-time Boxing World Champion Greg Haugen:
CONTACT INFORMATION:
telephone (203) 207-1212, email: warmemorialkarate@gmail.com WAR MEMORIAL KARATE CLUB
Okinawan Karate training, self-defense, sparring meeting times and places :
Thursday nights- 7:15pm-8:45pm at the Harambee Center, 54 West Street, Danbury
Saturday mornings - 8:30am - 10am. Currently the Harambee Center is closed on Saturdays, so until we come up with an alternative, we will train outside in the field next to War Memorial. Meet in the parking lot.
cost : - FREE for patrons of the Harambee Center (discuss with Bill Curtis) - $30 per month for others - discounts for: police, fire/rescue, military - FREE for special needs
Instructor: Larry Cruz has practiced Okinawan Karate since 1974 and received his black belt in 1981. His instructors were taught in Okinawa by Master Eizo Shimabuku, the head of the Shobayashi Ryu style of Shorin Ryu Karate, and by United States military personnel who trained with Master Shimabuku while stationed in Okinawa. Mr. Cruz has also trained in and received instruction in several other martial arts over the years and competed in and trained others in karate and in amateur boxing.
Notes about training at War Memorial Karate Club:
Training will focus on learning and practicing powerful execution of Karate techniques for use in real self-defense applications. Strikes/kicks/blocks will be practiced with full force against targets and pads to develop power and form. Two-person contact drills and sparring will take place at every class.
Chest guards will be worn during sparring and contact drills so that realistic speed and power may be practiced without risk of injury. No other pads are worn in order to train students to realistically avoid or block attacks, rather than relying on a pad worn on their hands, shins or forearms to deflect or absorb a blow. During these contact drills and sparring, contact will be only to the body and no contact at all will be made to the head. This is to ensure safety and to prevent head injuries. The level of contact will start low for beginners and be gradually increased to ensure the students' comfort level at all times and to reduce risk of injury.
Sparring will be limited to techniques that are useful for self-defense. "Point tournament" type techniques and other techniques that are risky, that lack power, or that otherwise are not realistic will not be practiced. Nonetheless, if you ever decide to, you will have sufficient training to enter tournaments and to compete with practitioners of "point tournament" styles if you choose to do so.
Contrary to training in many other martial arts clubs, very few repetitions of punches, kicks, and blocks will be performed in the air. Most repetitions will be against a target or pad in order to develop power, or against a live opponent. Soccer players don't practice kicking imaginary soccer balls, baseball players don't practice swinging at imaginary baseballs, grapplers don't train by wrestling with imaginary opponents, and boxers don't limit their training to only shadowboxing. Karate is no different. Karate does not work if you cannot hit with great force. You cannot hit with great force if you never practice hitting something with great force.
Daily knuckle pushups are absolutely necessary to strengthen the striking surface of your hands and to learn to reflexively and properly form a tight, closed fist. Otherwise, you cannot punch with great force.
Traditional Okinawan Karate katas will be taught and used for training, as intended by the founders of Karate. Self-defense techniques in class will be taken from the katas and practiced with full force against targets and pads, and with realistic speed and power against training partners. As training, students should practice katas every day on their own with full power and realistic speed to develop coordination and muscle memory/reflexes since these are the same movements practiced in class for self-defense and sparring. | Despite what some people think, traditional Karate does have various throws, sweeps, takedowns and locks. These will be taught and drilled with partners. Occasionally we will include these in sparring. We use padded floor mats to avoid injury.
Tournaments are not required but are encouraged for experiencing controlled combat against unpredictable opponents, learning to remain calm and apply techniques under stress, and enjoying the sport aspect of competition.
Equipment and Uniforms:
Everyone is encouraged to purchase their own chestguard for class (about $20 from http://www.martialartssupermarket.com). Ask me to advise you about which type/size to buy. If everyone has their own it will make class move more quickly and give everyone a chance to do more contact drills and sparring. It is recommended that you make this purchase before you spend the money to buy a uniform ("gi") since it is much more important.
Uniforms are not required. I personally prefer to wear a T-shirt and loose pants instead of a traditional karate uniform or "gi". I will occasionally wear a gi in class since there are some techniques in which grabbing a sleeve or a lapel is part of the technique, as is more common in Judo or Jiu Jitsu. Aside from that, in my opinion there is no significance to wearing a gi or uniform. You are welcome to wear a "gi" or uniform, or a kung fu uniform, but T-shirts and loose pants are perfectly sufficient. No tank tops or shorts, please.
You will need a gi if you enter tournaments. While you are free to wear any color gi or uniform at my class, I suggest you buy a white gi in case you someday go to another school since some schools are strict about gi color and usually require white. Black is the next most accepted color for a gi. Avoid other colors for gis.
Students can buy custom T-shirts (available soon) at dealer cost that say "War Memorial Karate Club" on front and back. More details are forthcoming.
Mouth guard: not required but recommend while sparring to avoid accidentally biting tongue or biting teeth together. A basic, one-level, inexpensive mouthpiece is sufficient.
Groin protector: not required, but a good idea in case someone accidentally throws a low kick.
Rank requirements :
Although I award belts, for reasons explained below, I personally see no reason for ranks because I expect everyone to treat each other with the same respect no matter what their rank is and I expect everyone to continue training hard whether they wear a white belt or a black belt. I do not expect anyone to call me "master" or to bow to me, like other instructors at martial arts schools make students do. In my many years of training I usually ask people how many years have they been training, how often do they train, and do they still train. That is a better way of knowing about them than just looking at the color of a belt.
That being said, I will still offer belts as a way of helping students who may someday train at other Karate schools and wish to be given credit for their past training with me. Also, if it helps motivate a student to learn belt requirements, then it is a good thing.
There are no fees for rank or belt promotion. There are no tests for rank or belt promotion. You will be awarded your rank/ belt after you have demonstrated your ability to meet the requirements below.
WHITE BELT -- beginner.
GREEN BELT -The student must be able to perform each of the following five katas (as taught in class) with good form, timing, balance and power; and the student must be able to demonstrate applications (as taught in class) of some of the techniques against a partner. Katas: Pinan Shodan, Pinan Nidan, Pinan Sandan, Pinan Yondan, and Pinan Godan.
BROWN BELT - The student must be able to perform each of the following five katas (as taught in class) with good form, timing, balance and power; and the student must be able to demonstrate applications (as taught in class) of some of the techniques against a partner. Katas for Brown Belt: Naihanchi Shodan, Seisan, Passai, Kusanku Sho, and Kusanku Dai.
BLACK BELT - The student must be able to perform all ten of the katas skillfully in both right-handed form and left-handed form. The student must be able to skillfully demonstrate all the applications (as taught in class) of the techniques against a partner. The student must demonstrate his ability to teach and explain all of the katas and applications to other students.
No rank or belts will be awarded to anyone who does not train diligently and who does not treat all other people with respect and kindness. |
