NKS Blog

 What is a martial art? A.   A practice that incorporates blocking, punching, kicking or throwing a partner using bare hands and/oresoteric weapons. B.   A physical discipline encompassing time-tested personal protection techniques and regimens to improve strength, flexibility, coordination and cardiovascular capacity. C.   Recreational pastime or sport.   Answer:  all of the above, however none completely defines what really constitutes a martial art and more importantly, how a classic combative system...

Karate’s Connection to Happiness While the pursuit of happiness may not be the primary reason for choosing a martial arts program, it might very well be a by-product of your practice, and budo “bliss” could be be closer than you think. At the risk of stating the obvious, the body, mind and spirit are...

Grappling with the idea of grappling?  Want a ‘kick’ out of life?  Need to get energized or decompress?  Looking for the PERFECT martial art?   Spoiler alert – there isn’t one, because despite what many martial arts teachers and combative experts say, each style and system has its pros and cons.  So before you...

Northern Karate Schools started in 1972. Since that time, we have seen a dramatic shift in children beginning their martial arts training. ‘Back in the day’ classes were much longer, and the intervals of skill learning and repetitions lengthy, but well-received. Students of all ages often stayed after class and did additional practice on...