Why Practice Karate?

People participate in karate for a variety of reasons. These include such things as:

1. Self Defense

2. Health Benefits

3. Competition

4. The Challenge

There is a deeper reason for practicing karate. This deeper reason starts to reveal itself over time. The more we practice, the more prominent this reason becomes. It is focused around the mental and physical. When our mind and our body are able to work together it is a really powerful feeling.

I suspect this is true in many sport activities. However, in karate the focus of the mind working in unison with the body is present in everything we do. Karate requires the mind to be continuously working and directing the actions of the body. When they are working effectively together, we can feel it. In the execution of basic techniques, combinations, sparring and kata, the mind is required to be more focused. Karate involves so many complex thoughts and movements, the only way they can be performed is when the mind and body work together.

In karate the mind is responsible for directing the actions of the body. Such things as timing, distance, speed, power are all directed by the mind and executed by the body. Everything is intentional. The speed of the body is dictated by the speed of the mind. Therefore in karate we have to be able to focus the mind in order for the body to perform as intended.

So, when the mind and body are able to function in this focused and intentional fashion, a little shot of positivity and adrenaline are produced by the mind and the body. It is a little bit of a boost in our thinking and the way we feel. Every time we execute a technique or combination correctly we get that boost, that instant of positivity. It becomes something we look forward to.

Karate practice is certainly challenging both mentally and physically. Getting that boost of positive energy makes all the hard work worthwhile.