What is karate?
Karate is an exercise habit which when practiced regularly, develops the student into a healthy, well coordinated person both physically and mentally and teaches him to utilize these qualities for self-defense.

Where does karate come from?
Very briefly, karate is a direct descendent of very old fighting systems which were developed by Buddhist monks as a physical and mental discipline in china. Karate was developed by observing natural fighting moves of various animals.

How does karate differ from say, boxing or judo?
Judo and boxing are primarily sports, with application in self defense. Karate uses both hands and feet, as opposed to a boxer's hands, and is not involved primarily in throwing techniques as in judo.

Are there different kinds of karate?
Yes. There are many different styles of karate which may differ in emphasis upon one technique or another, or which has developed in another geographic location. To the novice, these differences are academic.

What kind of karate is taught at your school?
Uechi ryu karate do, originally Pwang-Gai-Noon is taught at this school.

How does one benefit from karate instruction?
Karate teaches self discipline, develops confidence, promotes coordination and fast reactions, and strongly influences self discipline. The physical and mental benefits must be earned to be enjoyed.

Is karate difficult to learn?
As in any worthwhile pursuit, hard work is necessary for total accomplishment. It would be false to describe karate as easy, but there is nothing in karate that cannot be attained through effort and desire.

How long does it take to learn karate?
The masters say that karate is a continuing learning experience. This is most certainly true. It is perhaps better to ask, how does one progress in karate?

How does one progress in karate?
In our style, there are ten kyu belts, which one must earn before being eligible to test for black belt. There are five white belt ranks, two green belt ranks, and three brown belt ranks.

Once again, how long does it take?
Each rank has requirements which must be satisfied both in terms of number of classes required and subject matter learned; therefore, it is largely up to the student as to how often he or she attends class. As a rough average, a student could be a green belt in six months to a year, and a brown belt in one or two years.

How does a student get a black belt?
After having satisfied all the requirements of the ten kyu ranks, and recommended by the instructor, a student may be tested by the American Uechi ryu testing board, which meets twice a year. The board consists of a number of high ranking Uechi ryu black belts and instructors. The board transmits its decision to master Uechi. The student is registered in the Uechi ryu karate association as an authentic black belt holder.

Can I get hurt?
Karate is a martial art. Sore muscles and perhaps a few bruises from blocking punches could be expected. Serious injury is rare in the martial arts because of training methods and common sense.

Can women benefit from karate?
Greatly, since proficiency in karate is not dependent upon size or muscle, and yet is the most effective self defense.

How about children?
Certainly. We have heard many parents describe beneficial results with children who lack confidence, or who are even hyperactive.

Do you have rules at the school?
Yes. High standards of personal conduct are expected.