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LAST UPDATE 05/21/08
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WHAT IS MIZU-GOJU-RYU KARATE?
MIZU-GOJU-RYU IS A KARATE STYLE THAT USES THE WHOLE BODY TO ATTACK AND DEFEND. IT IS A HIGHLY ADAPTABLE SYSTEM THAT CAN CHANGE TO NEEDS OF THE STUDENT. THIS STYLE OF KARATE ALSO PROMOTES HEALTH AND FITNESS.
MIZU-GOJU-RYU WAS CREATED BY CHRISTOPHER CAMPANELLA IN BROOKLYN,NEW YORK ON JAN.13 2003 AFTER 17 YEARS OF MARTIAL ARTS TRAINING. MIZU-GOJU-RYU USES MOSTLY GOJU KARATE SKILLS BUT ALSO USES FIRE CHI-KUNG, WRESTLING, AND AIKIDO SKILLS AT TIMES.
MIZU-GOJU-RYU IS A MODERN SYSTEM WITH AN OLD SCHOOL FEEL.
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WHAT IS FIRE CHI-KUNG?
FIRE CHI-KUNG IS A FORM OF CHINESE EXERCISE. FIRE CHI-KUNG IS A MOVING MEDITATION THAT CAN MAKE THE BODY FEEL HEALTHY. FIRE CHI-KUNG TRAINING CAN BE VERY HELPFUL TO ANYONE WHO STUDIES MARTIAL ARTS OR IS LOOKING FOR A HEALTHY FORM OF EXERCISE.
HERE IS A LIST OF THE OTHER BENIFITS OF FIRE CHI-KUNG:
1. MORE ENERGY
2. MORE STRENGTH
3. PREVENTION OF INJURY
4. BETTER BREATHING
5. LACK OF STRESS
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WHY SHOULD I STUDY MIZU-GOJU-RYU KARATE OR FIRE CHI-KUNG?
BECAUSE THESE MARTIAL ARTS BUILD THE MIND,BODY,AND SPIRIT. ALSO THE MARTIAL ARTS ARE ONE OF THE BEST FORMS OF SELF-DEFENCE FOR MOST PEOPLE.
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WHAT DO THE WORDS "MIZU-GOJU-RYU" MEAN?
MIZU IS JAPANESE FOR "WATER". GO IS "HARD". JU IS "SOFT". RYU IS "SCHOOL". WHEN THIS NAME WAS CHOSEN CHRISTOPHER CAMPANELLA WANTED TO REFLECT THAT HIS SCHOOL WAS FLEXABLE LIKE WATER(MIZU) AND USED A GOOD PART OF THE GOJU-RYU SYSTEM AS A BASE OF HIS STYLE OF KARATE. KEEP IN MIND THAT MOST STYLES OF GOJU ARE FLEXABLE HOWEVER THE IDEA IS THAT MIZU-GOJU-RYU IS NOT BOUND BY THE TRADITIONAL FORM OF GOJU AND IS EVER CHANGING.
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WHAT IS KIHON?
KIHON IS THE BASICS. IN KARATE THEY ARE STANCES,STRIKES,BLOCKS, AND KICKS.
EXAMPLES:
STANCES:SANCHIN-DACHI,ZENKUTSU-DACHI, AND SHIKO-DACHI
STRICKS:SEIKEN-ZUKI,AGE TSUKI, AND HIJI ATE MUWASHI
BLOCKS:JODAN-UKE,CHUDAN-UKE, AND GADAN-UKE
KICKS:KOGEN-GERI,MAE-GERI, AND SHOMEN-GERI
KIHON IS VERY IMPORTANT. WITHOUT KIHON YOU WOULD HAVE NO KATA(FORMS). WITHOUT KATA THERE IS NO KARATE.
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HOW DO YOU COUNT IN JAPANESE?
ICHI,NI,SAN,SHI(YON),GO,ROKO,SHICHI(NANA),HACHI,KYU,JU
(THE ABOVE IS 1-10)
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WHAT IS CHI OR KI?
A GENERIC TERM FOR DIFFERENT TYPES OF ENERGY OR FORCE. SOMETIMES IT IS USED IN MARTIAL ARTS TO EXPLAIN SCIENTIFIC PHYSICAL ACTIONS.
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WHAT IS "EARTH CHI"?
A TYPE OF CHI YOU HEAR A LOT ABOUT IN CHINESE AND SOME JAPANESE BASED ARTS. YOU GAIN POWER AND FORCE FROM USING A METHOD CALLED "KINETIC LINKING". THIS "LINK" OR CONNECTION CREATES POWER BY PUSHING OFF THE GROUND WITH THE LEGS.
YOU SEE THIS TYPE OF CHI USE IN SPORTS LIKE BASEBALL AND FOOTBALL. WHEN A PLAYER THROWS A BALL USING EARTH CHI(KINETIC LINKING)HE USES MORE THAN JUST HIS ARM. HIS WHOLE BODY AND THE EARTH ITSELF GIVES HIM EXTRA FORCE.
WHEN ONE DEVELOPES EARTH CHI FOR STRIKING POWER IT IS NOT MAGIC....IT IS SCIENCE.
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WHERE DOES KARATE COME FROM?
KARATE COMES FROM OKINAWA JAPAN. IT WAS A CROSS BREED OF OKINAWAN TODO(TE) AND KUNG-FU FROM CHINA. FROM OKINAWA KARATE MOVED TO MAIN LAND JAPAN AND AROUND THE WORLD.
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WHAT IS BUDO?
A JAPANESE NAME FOR ANY MARTIAL ART THAT DOES NOT HAVE SPORTS IN MIND. MIZU-GOJU-RYU KARATE AND FIRE CHI-KUNG FALL UNDER THE TITLE OF BUDO.
BUDO IS COMBAT THAT ENDS COMBAT!!!!
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WHAT IS KATA?
KATA IS A FORM OF SINGLE MAN EXERCISE. IT IS USED TO TEACH COMBAT SKILLS AS WELL AS TO KEEP THE STUDENT HEALTHY. THIS IS DONE BY IMMITATING REAL COMBAT AND THE MOVEMENTS OF ANIMALS. IN ADDITION KATA ALSO TEACHES THE STUDENT ABOUT THE CYCLES OF NATURE, BREATH CONTROL, ENERGY CONSERVATION, AND RELAXATION.
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WHAT ARE THE PRESENT KATAS USED IN MIZU-GOJU-RYU KARATE?
HERE IS THE PRESENT LIST OF KATAS USED:
1.GEKKISAI DAI-ICHI(DESTROY NUMBER ONE)
2.GEKKISAI DAI-NI(DESTROY NUMBER TWO)
3.GEKKISAI HA/ICHIKAWA-GEKKISAI(DESTROY NUMBER THREE)
4.A)SANCHIN DAI-ICHI/MIYAGI-SANCHIN(THREE WARS NUMBER ONE)
B)SANCHIN DAI-ICHI VERTICAL STRIKING
5.A)SANCHIN DAI-NI/HIGASHIONNA-SANCHIN(THREE WARS NUMBER TWO)
B)SANCHIN DAI-NI VERTICAL STRIKING
6.A)SANCHIN DAI-SAN/RYU-SANCHIN(THREE WARS NUMBER THREE)
B)SANCHIN DAI-SAN VERTICAL STRIKING
7.SANCHIN-ZAZEN/SAIZA(SITTING SANCHIN)
8.TENSHO(TURNING PALM MACHINE)
9.TENSHO-ZAZEN/SAIZA(SITTING TENSHO)
10.TAISOBAKKI(MOVE OUT OF DANGER)
11.UNSHU(HANDS IN THE CLOUDS)
12.NISEISHI(24)
13.NISEISHI-NO-SAI(NISEISHI KATA USING SAIS)
14.SAIFA(FINAL BREAKING POINT/TO CRUSH INTO PIECES/THE CRUSH)
15.SANSERU(36)
16.SEIYUNCHIN(TO PULL INTO BATTLE WITH A SYSTEM)
17.SAIPAI(18)
18.SHISOCHIN(FIGHT IN FOUR DIRECTIONS)
19.ROKKISHU(SIX HANDS OF CHANGE)
20.ROKKISHU-ZAZEN/SAIZA(SITTING ROKKISHU)
21.KURURUNFA
THIS LIST MAY GROW OR SHRINK WITH TIME. CHECK BACK FOR UPDATES.
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WHAT IS A MAYKO?
THIS IS A JAPANESE WORD USED TO DISCRIBE A DISTRATION OF THE MIND OR BODY. IF YOU ARE STUDYING KARATE,CHI-KUNG OR MEDITATION THESE ARE THINGS TO BE IGNORED. AN EXAMPLE CAN BE AN ITCH ON YOUR NOSE WHILE YOU ARE PRACTICING KATA(FORMS).
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WHAT ARE THE RANGES OF COMBAT?
1.UNIVERSE: LONG RANGE(PROJECTILE DISTANCE)
2.EARTH: MEDIUM RANGE(STRIKING DISTANCE)
3.MAN: SHORT RANGE(CLOSE QUARTERS/GRAPPLING)
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WHAT IS IBUKI BREATHING?
A KIND OF BREATHING USED IN KATAS LIKE SANCHIN(3 WARS) OR IN "HARD" CHI-KUNG. THIS KIND OF BREATHING CAN BE VERY DIFFICULT TO MASTER.
SOMETIMES YOU MAY HEAR THE TERMS IN-IBUKI(SOFT) AND YO-IBUKI(HARD) USED WHEN TALKING ABOUT IBUKI BREATHING.
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WHAT IS SANCHIN KATA?
SANCHIN IS A VERY OLD KATA(FORM) WITH ROOTS IN THE CHINESE MARTIAL ARTS. IF YOU STUDY ANY GOJU SYTEM YOUR MAIN KATA IS SANCHIN. THIS KATA MEANS "THE 3 WARS". THERE ARE MANY VERSIONS OF "THE THREE WARS" BUT MOST AGREE THEY ARE:
1. THE MIND
2. THE BODY
3. THE SPIRIT
WHEN YOU STUDY SANCHIN THERE IS A LARGE FOCUS ON OTHER FACTORS AS WELL. THESE OTHER FACTORS OR "OTHER THREE WARS" ARE:
1. THE EYES
2. THE BREATH
3. THE STANCE
THERE ARE VARIOUS VERSIONS OF SANCHIN BUT THE MOST POPULAR USE IBUKI BREATHING. BY USING IBUKI BREATHING YOU TRAIN YOUR BODY TO BE ABLE TO WITHSTAND PAIN AND MAYKO(DISTRACTIONS). THIS IS A VERY POWERFUL KATA.
SANCHIN TRAINING TIPS AND TABOOS:
1.IF YOU HAVE A HEART PROBLEM DO NOT USE IBUKI BEATHING FOR THIS KATA.
2.DO SANCHIN AT LEAST ONCE A DAY.
3.FOR BEST EFFECTS DO SANCHIN IN THE MORNING WHEN YOU WAKE UP. FIRST GO TO THE BATHROOM AND ALSO HAVE A DRINK OF WATER. THEN PREFORM SANCHIN KATA.
4.WAIT 15 TO 30 MIN TO EAT,DRINK,SHOWER,OR MAKE LOVE AFTER YOU DO SANCHIN KATA.
5.WAIT 15 TO 30 MIN BEFORE GOING OUT IN THE COLD AFTER YOU DO SANCHIN KATA.
6.SANCHIN IS A GOOD WARM UP KATA FOR ANY KARATE TRAINING.
7.BE RELAXED BUT STRONG WHILE DOING SANCHIN.
8.REMEMBER THE THREE WARS OF SANCHIN:MIND BODY, AND SPIRIT. ALSO KEEP IN MIND THE OTHER THREE WARS:EYES,BREATH, AND STANCE.
9.BECAUSE THREE IS A BIG NUMBER IN GOJU KARATE IT IS A GOOD IDEA TO DO SANCHIN THREE TIMES A DAY.
10.DON'T EAT BEFORE SANCHIN KATA. SOME WATER OR JUICE IS OK.
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WHAT IS BAI BI(CHI-KUNG EXERCISE OF ARM SWINGING)?
THIS IS A CHI-KUNG PRACTICE THAT IS POPULAR WITH THE CHINESE. IT IS A VERY GOOD EXERCISE YOU SHOULD PRACTICE ONLY IF YOU DO NOT HAVE SHOULDER PROBLEMS. THE CHINESE SAY IT OPENS UP THE ENERGY
CHANNELS IN THE ARMS. BY PRACTICING KNEE LIFTS OR WALKING IN PLACE YOU GET THE SAME EFFECT PRACTICING BAI BI.
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WHAT IS THE TANDAN?
THE TANDAN IN YOUR CENTER OF POWER. MOST CHINESE AND JAPANESE MARTIAL ARTS LOCATE THE TANDEN AT THE CENTER OF THE HIPS WERE WE IN THE WEST WOULD LOCATE OUR "CENTER OF GRAVITY". OTHER TIMES THE TANDAN IS LOCATED BELOW THE BELLY BUTTON. IN MIZU-GOJU-RYU KARATE BOTH TANDANS ARE USED AT DIFFERENT TIMES. THESE TANDANS ARE USED AS FOCUS POINTS TO CONTROL THE BODY AND ITS MOVEMENTS.
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WHAT IS CONTINUOUS FIST(CONTINUOUS BODY)?
COUNTINUOUS FIST IS THE HIGH LEVEL SKILL OF ATTACKING WITHOUT GIVING UP GROUND. IT GIVES THE DEFENDER LITTLE TO NO CHANCE TO FIGHT BACK. THERE IS NO HARD FAST RULES FOR THIS KIND OF ATTACKING SKILL HOWEVER LOOK FOR THESE KEY POINTS:
1. CONTINUIOUS MOVEMENT(FLOWING LIKE A WATER FALL)
2. THE USE OF THE SAME LIMB FOR THE ATTACK
3. THE ATTACKER CAN STRIKE WITH POWER FROM ALMOST ANYWERE
4. MINIMUM USEAGE OR LACK OF CHAMBER
5. THE ATTACKER FIGHTS IN CLOSE RANGE OF HIS ENEMY.
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THE 10 ULTIMATE MARTIAL ARTS
(as decreed by the learning channel)
1. Sholin Kung Fu
2. Karate (Okinawan GoJu)
3. Muay Thai
4. Ninjutsu
5. Juko-Kai
6. Aikido
7. TaeKwonDo
8. Krav Mega
9. Kali
10.Gracie Jujitsu
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WHAT IS "SELF DEFENCE"?
THERE ARE TWO FORMS OF "SELF-DEFENCE".
TYPE A: "BUDO"-COMBAT THAT ENDS COMBAT. THIS TYPE IS ANYTHING GOES.....FIGHT TO WIN. THIS KIND OF "SELF-DEFENCE" IS NOT "NICE". THIS KIND OF COMBAT IS EFFECTIVE IN THE STREETS.
TYPE B: "STANDARD SELF-DEFENCE"-THIS TYPE IS TO AVOID HURTING THE ENEMY AS MUCH AS YOU CAN. THIS IS THE KIND OF FLOWERY "SELF-DEFENCE" THAT MOST PEOPLE LIKE. THIS KIND OF COMBAT IS NOT VERY EFFECTIVE IN THE STREETS.
YOU MAYBE ASKING WITH TYPE IS BETTER "TYPE A" OR "TYPE B". THE ANSWER IS BOTH HAVE A PLACE IN THE WORLD. TRUE MARTIAL ARTS FAVOR "TYPE A".
KEEP IN MIND THAT THERE IS 3 STRIP LEVELS FOR GREEN AND BROWN. ALSO THERE ARE 5 DAN LEVELS OF BLACK. THE HIGHEST LEVEL USED IN MIZU-GOJU-RYU IS GODAN(5TH DEGREE).
IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT IN MIZU-GOJU-RYU WE DO NOT FOCUS ON RANK.
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HOW TO USE THE NATURAL CHEMICALS IN YOUR BODY FOR SELF-DEFENCE AND MARTIAL ARTS:
1.TO ACTIVATE THE CHEMICALS FOR "FIGHT OR FLIGHT" TRY THESE ACTIVITIES:
SANCHIN-DAI-ICHI,PUSH-UPS,SIT-UPS,BASICS(HIGH SPEED),WEIGHT LIFTING,RUNNING,KATA(FULL SPEED) AND SHADOW BOXING
2.TO ACTIVATE THE CHEMICALS FOR "THE FLOW" TRY THESE ACTIVITIES:
WALKING,CHI-KUNG,MEDITATION,STRETCHING,KATA(LOW SPEED) AND BASICS(LOW SPEED)
3.WHEN YOU NEED TO GO INTO "FIGHT OR FLIGHT" QUICKLY USE YOUR EMOTIONS. IF YOU HAVE FEAR OR ANGER DIRECT IT TO YOUR ENEMY. REMEMBER IN A "TYPE A" SELF-DEFENCE SITUATION YOUR LIFE IS ON THE LINE SO USE YOUR "FIGHT OR FLIGHT" CHEMICALS TO PROTECT YOURSELF.*
4.TO OBTAIN "FLOW" QUICKLY OR TO CALM DOWN AFTER A "FIGHT OR FLIGHT" SITUATION MEDITATE OR TRY DEEP BREATHING.
*NOTE:WHEN IN "FIGHT OR FLIGHT" YOU MAY FALL INTO TACHYPSYCHIA.
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WHAT IS TACHYPSYCHIA?
IT IS A STATE OF MIND WERE YOU FELL AS IF EVERYTHING HAS SLOWED DOWN. IT HAS EVEN BEEN CALLED "THE BIG SLOWDOWN". HOWEVER IT IS A QUICKNESS OF THE MIND. IT IS ALSO KNOW AS "BULLET TIME" IN SOME MOVIES AND VIDEO GAMES.
TACHYPSCHIA IS GOOD AND BAD.
ON THE GOOD SIDE IT CAN SAVE YOU IN A SELF-DEFENCE SITUATION.
ON THE BAD SIDE IT IS A DISTORTION OF THE MIND. YOU MAY NOT SEE EVERYTHING THAT IS REALLY GOING ON. THIS COULD BE A PROBLEM.
FIRST OF ALL DRINK A LOT OF WATER AND PACE YOURSELF.IF YOU CAN NOT STAY OUT OF THE SUN PUT ON A GOOD SUN SCREEN. TRY TO AVOID TRAINING AT 12PM(SUN IS AT THE HIGHEST POINT). THE BEST PLACES TO TRAIN OUTSIDE IN THE SUMMER ARE UNDER A TREE, ON THE BEACH, OR IN THE WATER.
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HOW DOES ONE TRAIN IN THE WINTER?
AS IN THE SUMMER DRINK WATER AND PACE YOURSELF. IF IT IS VERY COLD OUT WEAR GLOVES, A SKI CAP, AND A THERMAL SWEAT SHIRT UNDER YOUR JACKET. A SKI MASK IS NOT NEEDED BUT IF IT IS REALLY THAT BAD OUT DON'T TRAIN. THE BEST PLACES TO TRAIN OUTSIDE IN THE WINTER ARE THE PARK AND IN THE SNOW.
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HOW DOES ONE TRAIN IN THE FALL AND SPRING?
DRINK WATER AND PACE YOURSELF. YOU CAN PUSH YOURSELF MORE IN THE FALL AND SPRING. YOU CAN TRAIN IN MANY PLACES IN THE FALL AND SPRING.
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HERE ARE SOME KARATE YOUTUBE VIDEOS YOU MAY LIKE:
MIZU-GOJU-RYU KARATE AND FIRE CHI-KUNG
