Kokondo Karate was founded by Shihan Paul Arel in 1970. It is primarily a Japanese karate style, with influences from numerous Asian martial arts. Kokondo emphasizes maximum use of body dynamics for fast, powerful, and effective techniques in self-defense against single or multiple attackers, with and without weapons. Kokondo places no emphasis on tournaments, competitions, or sport-oriented freestyle sparring. All of Kokondo’s techniques are designed for self-defense. Kokondo Karate is appropriate for mature students ages 12 and up. Classes include:
Kihon (Basics): perfection of blocks, strikes, punches, kicks, and stances, including combinations.
Kata (Forms): Pre-arranged sequences of self-defense techniques. Kata are the nucleus of traditional karate.
Bunkai (Analysis of Kata): All of Kokondo’s kata provide lessons and techniques of self-defense, which can be studied and improved throughout a lifetime of training.
Kumite (Self-Defense): Kokondo’s sparring is substantially different from most other karate styles. We do not try to score points or win trophies. Kokondo includes defense against surprise attacks, grabs, punches, weapons, multiple attackers, attacks on the ground, and other types of advanced self-defense situations
Kobudo (Traditional Weapons): Adult Kokondo students learn to use the Bo, Jo, Sai, Tonfa, Knife, Yawara, Arnis de Mano and other weapons. However, we do not train with these weapons for self-defense.