Blog - Page 3 of 6 - Orillia Academy of Karate

October 27, 2021

Why The Basics Are So Important In Karate

As the pandemic drags on, we have to make a few concessions to our training methods. Not being able to spar or practice self-defense with a partner means that we’re spending a lot more time on the basics.

It’s a good opportunity for all of us. There are many reasons why the basics are so important in karate.

“Do I have to practice this again? I know how to do it already. Why can I not learn the next punch and the next form? Do I still have to do the things that WHITE BELTS do?!?”

Have you ever felt agitated with me as your instructor for having you drill basics when you already “know” them? You are not alone. “Basics again?” is a common question asked by karate students. In fact, you could probably handle some of the more advanced techniques, but slow down; there are good reasons for drilling on basics.

After all, who doesn’t remember the classic scene in the movie The Karate Kid where Mr. Miyagi has Daniel-san “wax on and wax off” for hours on end to the point of frustration? Daniel-san is made to polish cars and paint fences until he can’t take it anymore. At this point, Mr. Miyagi steps in to ‘enlighten’ Daniel-san as to the value of what the young apprentice has just been practicing. Suddenly Daniel-san understands the value of basic training and fundamentals!

Think about building a house. If we had all four walls already measured out and put together and we rested one wall against the other securing each in place we could make other people think that our house was secure. Until the first strong wind came. Suddenly the house is blown down and nothing is left. What do we do? We leave and move somewhere else and try to rebuild.

This whole scenario is much like the karate student who neglects basics and thinks they know it all. They stay with one club for a while and then they move on to another club, looking for the latest “silver bullet” technique.

So what should we do with our house? First, it is essential to lay the foundations; then build the walls, add the roof, paint it, furnish it, make the outside look good and then live in it. Sometimes we live in our house before any of the inside and outside necessities are done.

In the same way, karate practice must begin with basics. With basics, we lay the foundations of our practice. Through consistent practice and hard work, we add the roof so that we have a more sturdy structure for our house (our karate). Then we paint the house and furnish it (we make our karate look good). Then we make the outside of the house look good (we further polish our karate and iron out the inevitable kinks).

Finally, we live in our house and begin to appreciate its beauty and its value in our lives (now we are able to enjoy and apply the knowledge that we have gained through our training).

Hopefully, we live in our house for a long time and we gradually feel more and more “at home” and more and more comfortable with our surroundings (now we are beginning to have a deeper understanding of karate and its application to our lives).

I hope that you live in your house for many years to come, or if you move, I hope that you appreciate the time and effort it takes to build a house. Building your karate is the same! It takes a lot of time and a lot of effort and a lot of practice of basics to make it strong.

October 27, 2021

Karate Training During COVID: What to Expect

karate training during COVID

Karate training during COVID means that we’ve had to make a few adjustments to the way we normally train …

We are finally up and running at the new Orillia Recreation Centre, which is an incredible relief after being forced to settle for Karate via Zoom for over a year. Wonderful as it is to be doing real, in-person training, however, we’re still having to adhere to the rules and regulations set by the province and the facility itself.

This means that, for now, we’re not allowed to spar or perform self-defence drills with a partner, because we have to keep 6 feet away from each other. As a result, we’re spending more time on basic techniques, which really isn’t a bad thing.

Basics are the foundation of our program. In my opinion, if your basics are strong, then it follows that your kata, sparring and self–defence techniques will look after themselves.

Think of it this way: if the foundation of your house is weak , it will fall down or crumble. The same is true with karate as with most other things in life. By practising our basics, we are staying strong and active in our training. Once the basics become natural to you, they will be instinctive, and you will react to a situation instead of thinking.

After all, in a real-life situation when you’re forced to defend yourself, you don’t have time to think – only time to react.

So even though the pandemic has somewhat limited our training, we are still staying active and improving our skills.

Keep practising!

September 11, 2020September 16, 2020

Orillia YMCA Karate Announces Relocation and Rebranding as Orillia Academy of Karate

Orillia, ON – The announcement by the Orillia YMCA that its doors would be closing permanently came as a shock to its longstanding Karate program participants. First introduced to the Y in 1988, this popular program has welcomed hundreds of students over the years, with classes being held consistently two to three times a week.

Chief instructor Gerry Ramsay started his own Karate training at the Y in 1991. He received his Black Belt in 1999, and took over the dojo from founder John Methot in 2005.

“The Y’s announcement left us in a difficult situation,” says Ramsay. “Our program has always been a part of the Y. The idea of disbanding the program never really came up – we have a group of enthusiastic students who are keen to continue their training, so we were determined to find ourselves a new home.”

With assistance from Orillia Parks and Recreation, arrangements have been made for the program to continue at Rotary Place on University Ave. in Orillia. The program will also change its name to the Orillia Academy of Karate.

“We’re excited about our move,” adds Ramsay. “Rotary Place provides us with a space big enough to suit our needs. And there’s plenty of free parking, too.”

Orillia Academy of Karate classes will begin on October 14^th, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 5 pm to 7 pm. The cost for the 10-week session is $140 for residents and $175 for non-residents. Discounts of 10% for Rec Centre members and 25% for seniors 60+ also apply.

“We offer traditional martial arts with no contact,” Ramsay concludes. “Whether you’re a complete beginner or have trained elsewhere in the past, you’d be more than welcome to join us.”

About the Orillia Academy of Karate

Offering traditional martial arts with zero contact, the Orillia Academy of Karate prides itself on being friendly and family-oriented. Children over the age of ten are welcome.

The program has its roots with the Toronto Academy of Karate, Fitness and Health, and competes in their annual tournament in Toronto every spring. Every July, students again join the Toronto Academy for their annual “summer” training day.

For more information, visit the website at orilliaacademyofkarate.ca.