Better Health through Karate (Page-1)


Gichin Funakoshi, founder of the World’s largest karate organization, The Japan Karate Association (a body registered under the Japanese Ministry of Education) in the preface of his book `Karate-do, My Way of Life,’ writes - "I was a sickly baby and a frail child; accordingly, it was suggested when I was still quite young, that to overcome these handicaps, I ought to begin the study of karate. This I did, but with little interest at the very first. However, during the latter half of my years of primary school, after my health began to improve noticeably, my interest in karate began to grow. Soon I found it had cast a spell over me. Into the task of mastering it, I threw myself mind and body, heart and soul. I had been a frail, irresolute, introverted child; by the time I reached manhood, I felt myself to be strong, vigorous and outgoing."

Funakoshi died in 1957, at the age of 90, without ever having visited a doctor, or having taken a pill or elixir or injection. When asked about his good health at the age of 80, he ascribed it to the rigorous practice of karate. It is well known that exercise (whether karate or of some other type) reduces mental strain, burns off excess calories, and is otherwise good for physical well being, and training in karate for two or three sessions of 90 minutes each week, can be considered moderately heavy exercise, which the body can tolerate, well up to the age of 80 years or more. Japanese gentlemen of over 100 years revel in the sport of climbing Mt. Fujiyama, and an 86 year old lady entered the Guinness Book of World Records for being the oldest to start learning karate. However, overdoing karate training can be dangerous. An Indian student of the art, who visited Akita, Japan, for an intensive training camp (6hrs to 8hrs a day) without telling the instructors that he had had a previous heart attack, suffered a second attack during training, which proved fatal. The author, at the age of 61, also participated in an intensive training camp under Shihan Takenori Imura ( 4 times World Champion) before the 22nd JKAI National championships at Panjim, Goa in February 2005, and developed severe lower back problems, which forced him to forgo training on the 2nd day of the camp, but thanks to stance correction and back muscle exercises recommended by Dr. Borzu, (whose daughter Jourzinha, was a Gold Medalist in under 9yrs and under 11 yrs events several years running) with a little help from muscle relaxant medicine, he was able to recover, and take full part in the 3rd day of the training camp.