Philosophy

There is more to karate than many people know.  In a true study of karate we strive to grow in two areas – physical and mental.  Humans have physical and mental components.  Therefore, to grow as human beings we must undertake a discipline that encompasses both the physical and the mental.  This is what makes karate an art rather than a sport (physical) or an educational discipline (mental).

Achieving higher mental awareness is a demanding process.  Consequently, we begin by helping students train their bodies.  The student who develops his body (learning coordination and motor skills) is also working on his mind indirectly, though he may not realize it.  Because the mind controls the body, development of the body creates a corresponding awareness of the body in the mind.

As students grow we teach methods to develop the mind independently of the body, but eventually the student reaches a stage where the two begin to unify. 

During the physical stage of development the student begins to realize that not only can he fight back, but that he will if necessary.  This is a big step for many people.  As students gain confidence in their ability to fight they also begin to realize that fighting is serious.  They learn humility and respect.  They realize that, “The ultimate good lies not in winning a thousand battles, but in avoiding a single conflict.”

With physical self-confidence developed through karate, students no longer feel a need to prove themselves to others.  They accept themselves for who they are and work continually to better themselves. 

True karate students try to help others and work to gain a deeper understanding of themselves.  We strive at all times to live by our five maxims: character, sincerity, effort, etiquette, and self-control. 

The foregoing is an edited and modified version of a writing that appears in Theoretical and Applied Karate by Grandmaster Peter M. Rose.

"Though one should conquer in battle a thousand times a thousand men, he who conquers himself is the greatest warrior." -- Dhammapada

"The ultimate aim of the art of karate lies neither in victory nor defeat, but in the perfection of the character of its participants." -- Yasuhiro Konishi

Flatirons Karate Club is a Martial Arts school and a nonprofit corporation that provides practical self-defense training to students from Nederland, Gilpin County, Ward, Jamestown, Allenspark, Jamestown, Gold Hill, Black Hawk and Central City.