Zen Mixed Martial Arts teaches a style of karate called Chitō-Ryū in our karate classes in Ottawa. Chitō-Ryū Karate is a style of karate founded by Tsuyoshi Chitose. The name of the style translates loosely as "1,000 year old Chinese style", or “the 1,000 year old style originating from the Tang dynasty”. The style was officially founded in Japan in 1946.
Dr. Chitose was a trained physician. He used his medical knowledge of anatomy and physiology to modify traditional techniques of Chitō-Ryū to make them both more effective against opponents, as well as less detrimental to the bodies and joints of long-term practitioners.
Compared with other Japanese karate styles, Chito Ryu is more fluid, with higher and shorter stances. The style emphasizes the use of hand techniques and kicks. In Chito-Ryu a progression is in place where your technical skills improve as you practice, get better, and move to more advanced kata. Typically the lower kata contains techniques that are forceful and that use fists, while the higher kata are based on soft and flowing techniques using open hands.
Zen Mixed Martial Arts karate students kicking.
Karate for Beginners
Karate students start with a white belt and work their way through coloured belts to their final black belt. Each belt represents a progression in the students knowledge and ability. We have new students joining our classes every week, so you'll never be the newest person for very long. If you've been thinking about doing it for a while, there's no time like the present. Come in and try a free class with no obligation and see if it's the right martial art for you. You'll never know if you don't try!