The Martial Arts programs at Mountain
View Karate can make a difference in your life. We offer the
highest quality of exceptionally trained instructors and teach classes
for Children (ages 4-8); Youth (ages 9-13); and Adults (ages 14-100+).
Children's Program
Tae Kwon Do
Tai Chi
We are committed to the development and dedication of our
children. For our younger students, we offer a unique Children's
Program. This program is designed for ages 4-8. This program uses fun
methods of instruction to keep the students attention while teaching
valuable skills they can use in life.
- We teach "stranger danger" techniques
to promote awareness & safety
- We promote non-violent resolutions to
conflicts
- Students learn confidence, self
discipline & self control to focus their energy in a
positive direction
- Students learn balance, coordination &
fitness
- Students are treated with respect &
taught to return the same respect to others
- We believe in praise, encouragement &
positive reinforcement to build self esteem
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Tae Kwon Do is a Korean Martial Art with over 5,000 years of history.
During ancient times all the cultures of Korea had fighting traditions
of unarmed skills for self-defense against attacks from animals as well
as tribal wars. Tae Kwon Do is more than the physical aspect. It is more
a state of mind. Thus, the control of one's mind, self-restraint,
kindness, and humility must accompany physical grace. Tae Kwon Do
develops in a man the speed and power to kill instantly with his bare
hands and feet. But it is the art of the discipline to develop, such
control, coordination and balance that the punching and kicking
movements can be stopped just centimeters short of their mark on the
opponent's body. It is this control that is truly the art of Tae Kwon Do.
 The essence of Tae
Kwon Do is to make the individual aware of his
natural strengths and of how to apply them to the greatest advantage. In
this way, the individual overcomes his only real weakness: his lack of
faith in himself.
The official name "Tae Kwon Do" was adopted for the sport in 1954. Tae
Kwon Do is now practiced by over 25 million people in 140 countries and
has been adopted as an official event in the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games.
Tae Kwon Do is the art of hand and foot fighting. It is the scientific
use of the body and the methods of self-defense. Tae Kwon Do stresses
the importance of harmony and balance between the mental and physical.
By doing this, one can have a stable and balanced system. Then one can
learn how the mind and body can become the weapons of Tae Kwon Do.
Tae Kwon Do helps to:
- Builds confidence & self esteem
- Improves strength & flexibility
- Teaches self defense techniques
- Helps maintain good health
- Entire family can participate
- Teaches self-control
- Develops leadership qualities
- Provides sense of accomplishment &
achievement
- Develops coordination &
concentration
More about Tae Kwon Do from Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taekwondo
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Tai chi, with its focus on breathing and flowing
gestures, is often described as "meditation in motion. "It emerged
sometime between the 1300s and 1600s in China. Some say it was developed
by monks, others by a retired general. They agree its ancient roots are
in the martial arts, but tai chi movements are never aggressive. They
are based on shifting body weight through a series of light, controlled
movements that flow rhythmically together into one long, graceful
gesture. The sequences have poetic names, such as "waving hand in the
cloud "or "pushing the mountain," and can be quite beautiful to an
observer.
Tai chi movements are intended to balance the flow of qi in mind as well
as body. They use the whole body and are performed slowly, with
concentration on breathing and inner stillness.
The concept of qi is at the heart of tai chi. In Chinese medicine, it's
believed that disease is due to blocks or imbalances in the flow of qi.
Chinese use acupuncture, herbs and tai chi in the belief they can help
balance the flow of qi to cure illness and maintain health.
Most Western doctors question the concept of qi, since it hasn't been
scientifically proven to exist or to aid health and healing.
Nevertheless, some physicians who treat the elderly or those with
musculoskeletal conditions such as arthritis have been impressed by how
tai chi improves pain, range of motion and physical balance.
More about Tai Chi . . .
Translated, Tai Chi means
"the supreme ultimate." In Chinese philosophy, Tai Chi is the mother
of Yin and Yang. It is the theory of opposites, the positive and the
negative. Tai Chi is one of the five Chinese accomplishments thought
to make a superior person, in addition to painting, poetry,
calligraphy and music.
Linking some of the older forms from Taoism and stressing the
internal aspects of his exercises, Chang San-feng is credited with
creating the fundamental 'Thirteen Postures' of Tai Chi
corresponding to the eight basic trigrams of the I Ching and the
five elements. The Tai Chi classics are generally referred to as:
The Theory of Tai Chi Chuan by Chang San Feng (Zhangsanfeng), The
Classics of Tai Chi Chuan by Wong Tsung Yueh (Wangzongyue), An
Internal Explanation of the Practice of the 13 Postures by Wu
Yusiang (Wu Yu Xiang), The Five Words Secrets by Li Yi Yu (Li yiyu),
and Summary of the Practice of Tai Chi Chuan and Push Hands by Li Yi
Yu.
The underlying theory of Tai Chi is that the mind, body and spirit
must be unified for wholeness and complete health. The emphasis in
Tai Chi is on being able to channel potentially destructive energy
(in the form of a kick or a punch) away from one in a manner that
will dissipate the energy or send it in a direction where it is no
longer a danger. The art is practiced alone in forms, and with
partners. The forms include the Long Form, which can take more than
a half an hour to complete, and the Short Form, a modified version
that can be performed in less than ten minutes.
Tai Chi's original concepts are still intact today, teaching
continuous movement, relaxation, solid stances, a straight body and
the movement of chi from inside the body to outside. Each arm
protects half the body and the hands never reach farther forward
than the toes. Many of these movements are from the natural
movements of animals and birds, although the way they are performed
in Tai Chi is slowly, softly and gracefully with smooth and even
transitions between them. It is not ordinarily regarded as a
practical self-defense system, though the movements have
self-defense applications, and practitioners can achieve great power
in their techniques.
It would be unwise for a present day student to forget the
historical fact that Tai Chi was once a deadly art, jealously
guarded by a few families and used for killing. It is within the
context of a life or death struggle that the techniques of Tai Chi
were refined over the centuries.
Tai Chi's place in a less violent, modern society lies in enlarging
our understanding of who our "enemy" is. Traditionally, the enemy
was an opponent in a combat situation. Today the enemy may be
stress, fatigue, or the lack of understanding of oneself and one's
body. The same system used then can also be used now to help keep
stress from killing or injuring you.
Since the 19th century, the Chinese have understood the immense
health benefits of Tai Chi, and its popularity has grown steadily.
Tai Chi is now practiced around the world. It is one of the most
popular exercises today with more than 300 million participants.
While all martial arts were designed to increase one's longevity,
daily practice of Tai Chi promotes mental clarity and a healthy
body, assists with balance and helps the circulation of the blood.
More about Tai Chi Chuan from Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tai_chi
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