My Karate - Short history

  My name is Steve Fogarasi , I am 42 years old and I have been practicing karate for 27 years. I hold a black belt 3 Dan under the IFK ( International Federation of Karate - Hanshi Steve Arneil ) and I represent Canada. Currently I am the owner and operator of Contact Kicks Martial Arts in Toronto.

Beginning :
At age 15 in 1987 , I joined the judo club in my hometown Ludus, Romania. Under the communist regime , judo was the only legal martial art . After about 6 months of judo I noticed that the advance belts holders would stay later and practice kicks and punches, what later I learned  it was Shotokan Karate.
Our karate group grew bigger fast and we moved outdoors in the nearby forest. For about 2 years we practiced karate in the woods , rain or shine we would be there . From time to time we had foreign guest instructors , exchange students from a university from the biggest city in the county.
At age 17 I went to school in Sibiu where I discovered Kyokushin Karate and I joined the dojo under Sensei Bradu Gheorghe. I achived the rank of 7 kyu, blue belt and after I finished school I moved back to my hometown in 1990.

Decision :
At age 18 and only blue belt holder I was back in my hometown where no karate dojos existed and nobody knew nothing about kyokushin karate. I was faced with a dilemma - how do I continue my journey in karate ? The decision came quickly - I will open my own dojo ! ... and I did ! In short time I gathered about 10-15 students and we were the first karate dojo in the history of my town.
Twice a year we would go to national seminars and training camps at the Black Sea and in The Carpathian Mountains. I tested for belts and learned from master like : Shihan Furko Kalman, Shihan Adamy Istvan, Shihan Somogyi Zsolt, Sihan Howard Collins, Kancho Shokei Matsui, Sensei Kenji Yamaki, Sensei Brezovai Sandor and others.

Competition :
I started competing in full-contact knock-down karate in 1992 when I won 1st place at the regional championship . I competed for about 10 years in more then 20 events and I was almost always on the podium. Competition for me was a way to challenge myself and try to be in the top 10 best karateka in Romania. I never wanted to be an absolute champion and hold the title ! I also had a dojo to lead and students to teach and inspire. Now our dojo was up to about 40 members.


Black Belt :
In 1996 I tested and received my black belt 1 Dan from Kancho Shokei Matsui in Szentes , Hungary. After 5 years I tested for 2nd Dan in Romania at the Black Sea Summer Camp, again with Kancho Matsui.
In 2007 I received my 3rd Dan and the rank of Sensei from Hanshi Steve Arneil 10th Dan in the United States , Rochester NY.
United States :
In 2001 I moved to USA , Denver Colorado . I lived there for almost 8 years. In Denver I founded and opened Contact Kicks dojo and I joined the USA IFK.  I started training in kickboxing muay thai at 3D Martial Arts with Sensei Clarence Thacht .
In 2006 I competed again in full-contact karate, after a 5 year break . I got 3rd place at the All American International in Rochester NY. This was my last competition.

Also in Denver I met my wife Mici, who started training in kyokushin karate at Contact Kicks Dojo in 2006.

Canada :
We moved to Canada in 2010 and we are representing the IFK .
Contact Kicks Dojo was reopened in 2011 . We added kickboxing and jiu-jitsu to our disciplines and the dojo is also the Headquarters for IFK Canada Kyokushin Organization .

Goals :
My main goal is to make CKMA a full-time martial arts school and offer a wide range of classes for everyone , kids and adults, amateur and professional fighters.
I am in the dojo up to 18 hours a week teaching and training. In the weekends I teach private one-on-one sessions . We compete in full-contact karate , kickboxing and jiu-jitsu events across Canada and United States.

Thank you :
I want to thank to all my teachers and students , who inspired and guided me all this 27 years in my journey in martial arts. I am planning to continue to practice and learn all my life and through martial arts become a better human being , healthy and strong until old age !
Osu !
Sensei Steve Fogarasi 3 Dan
IFK Canada Country Representative

Never too late

Scott is 42 years old and he just re-started training in martial arts after many years of inactivity . He also quit smoking and he is 100% dedicated to become healthier through the study of kyokushin karate.
Welcome to Contact Kicks !
He is keeping a personal blog about his journey, check it out at :
http://themartialway.wordpress.com/ 

Yuki

Yuki Hanaoka Aviado

 - When did you started training , where and what style ?
 13 years ago, I began training "Nippon Kempo" in highschool in Japan. Nippon Kempo is a traditional Japanese mixed martial art. I practiced it for 3 years and received my Black Belt. After that, I changed activity into something else. Then in January 2014, I started Kickboxing and Brazilian Jiujitsu here at CKMA.

 - Why did you started? Reason?
 The reason why I started Nippon Kempo is I wanted to do something different from other girls. After I came to Canada, my health condition was getting worse. I figured it was because I stopped exercising, so I started martial arts again.

 - Your competition experience.
I have competed in tournaments in Nippon Kempo within Japan. My highschool won the Japanese National Highschool Championships in 2003. I haven't competed in Kickboxing or Jiujitsu yet.

 - Your goals for the future in martial arts ? Will you compete more and in what discipline ?
 The most important thing for me is to keep my body healthy. But I want to compete in the future, because it is fun to compete and to prepare for a competition makes me keep training.

 - How do you feel at CKMA dojo ? How do you like the training ?
 Kickboxing and Jiu-jitsu are different from Nippon Kempo. There are a lot of things that I have never learned. In CKMA, there are a lot of beginner students, so the teachers teach the basic stuff which helps me understand the moves properly. This is the biggest reason why I feel comfortable to train here.

 - What advice you give to other girls who are interested in starting training in martial arts ?
 If you are looking for a great stress reliever or a great workout, don't be intimidated and just try it out. It is awesome to feel exhausted physically. It can get rid of stress and mental fatigue. And I need more girls to train with !

The meaning of OSU in Kyokushin Karate

Osu is the one word that you'll hear the most in a Kyokushin dojo or at a Kyokushin tournament.  When you enter or leave the dojo, you bow and say "Osu".  When you greet a fellow Kyokushin karateka, you say "Osu" instead of "hello".  When you respond to an instruction or question in class, you say "Osu" instead of "yes" or "I understand".  When performing kihon waza (basic techniques) in class, each technique is often accompanied with a loud "Osu".  When practicing jiyu kumite (free fighting) in class and your opponent lands a good, hard technique, you say "Osu" to acknowledge your opponent's skill.  As a measure of respect, knockdown fighters at a tournament bow and say "Osu" to the front, to the referee and to each other, before and after the fight.  Osu is used in many situations and seems to mean a lot of things. 

 

But what does it really mean?

Osu is a contraction of the words:

		Oshi  meaning "Push", and
		Shinobu  meaning "to Endure".

It means patience, determination and perseverance.  Every time we say "Osu", we remind ourselves of this.

Kyokushin training is very demanding.  You push yourself until you think you've reached your limit.  First your body wants to stop, but your mind keeps pushing you.  Then your mind wants to stop, but your spirit keeps you going.  You endure the pain.  You persevere.  That is Osu.

Kyokushin karate is not learned overnight.  It takes years to properly learn the fundamentals.  The basic techniques are performed thousands of times (ren ma – "always polishing") until they are done by reflex or instinct, without conscious thought (mushin – "no mind").  It's easy to get frustrated by doing the same thing over and over again, especially when progress seems to be slow.  To overcome that frustration and continue training takes patience and determination.  That is Osu.

The absolute and unfaltering devotion needed to "scale the cliff" of Kyokushin karate is Osu.

The spirit of Osu is probably best described by Shihan Cameron Quinn of Australia in his book The Budo Karate of Mas Oyama.  He writes:

There is a saying in Japan, "Ishi no ue ni sannen." Translated, it means "Three years on a rock."  This saying symbolizes the need to persevere at all times.  It is one of the most important philosophies in Kyokushin karate.

 

Kyokushin is an art offering many things according to the immediate and long term aims of the trainee.  Ultimately, one realizes that transcending the kicks, the punches, and the kata, there is a special spirit in the heart of the articipants.  It teaches them to face the demands of daily life with a mature and enduring attitude.  A budo-ka is not easily shaken by the blows of adversity, realizing that for a person to draw near to their true potential, a never-say-die spirit of perseverance is required.

 

This strength of character develops in hard training and is known as osu no seishin (the spirit of Osu).  The word Osu comes from oshi shinobu, which means "to persevere whilst being pushed".  It implies a willingness to push oneself to the limits of endurance, to persevere under any kind of pressure.

 

The single word Osu captures most accurately the ultimate in what the art of karate, particularly Kyokushin, has to offer.  One who is truly able to manifest the spirit of Osu in every word, thought, and action may be regarded as wise and brave.  Training should first and foremost be approached in the spirit of Osu.  One's daily life, and the responsibilities it holds, would be more completely lived if addressed in the spirit of Osu.

 

Even for the beginner, who is conscious of his lack of training and does not necessarily want to face the demand of training, it is enough merely being aware that through perseverance and the will to continue, there comes great physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional gains.  All that is needed is that special determination.

In other words, Osu.

Courtesy of uskyokushin.com 

Vlad has started his journey

We welcome Vladimir to our school ! He is only 15 years old and joined kickboxing and jiu-jitsu classes.

... rolling with Coach Mike in the saturday morning open mat class.

Kyokushin Karate

Kyokushin Karate in the modern world ! Excellent video showing the fusion of traditional and modern of kyokushin karate !

 

Jiu-Jitsu for beginners

Training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is one of the best forms of self-defense.

     

Open Mat Saturdays

In the open mat training on Saturdays from 11 am to 1 pm we practice all forms of martial arts ; kyokushin karate, kickboxing, brazilian jiu-jitsu and MMA. This is a less formal class and and the students can also work at the thai heavy bag, focus pads , conditioning and fitness.

Kids Karate Class

We started the new year and the kids are ready to learn new things, to grow and continue their journey in Kyokushin Karate.

FREE Jiu-Jitsu Kimono

For limited time only - Free jiu-jitsu kimono from Benza Sports for all new students !
Enroll for 3 months and get the gear ! $89 value !

Jiu-Jitsu classes back to normal schedule

  Our coach Mike Aviado is teaching a fun and captivating jiu-jitsu class , accessible for everyone . Classes resumed and everyone is having good times !
Don't miss this great opportunity to start fresh in this great martial art !

What Karate means to me.

Lily's article about her karate journey. She is 8 years old and training for 8 months.

WHAT KARATE MEANS TO ME

By Lily Phan / Lily/Lily P.

To me karate means to protect myself and the ones that I love. Karate is helping me by getting me stronger and also making me fit. This martial art is also helping me getting healthy. In this martial art, it lets me exercise and to have some fun. The way I started karate was after Ryan joined karate.

First he went in and after 2 weeks I tried karate. A few months later, more people come in and they were all boys. Before I joined karate, I thought it was boring and only for boys. When I saw Sempai Mici, I started to think it would be ok if a girl joined. Now that I am a blue belt I don’t care if I am a girl or boy, as long as the classes are good I will continue. Later 2 other girls care and I felt more comfortable with another girl joining. One of the girls started training and she is quite good at the games we played when she started to train. Karate also gives me some skills and also gives me something to do if I have nothing to do. This martial art also gives me flexibility and now I can do the splits all the way down now. Even though it is hard work, I am still training and even though it is crowded maybe I will still be training in Contact Kicks Martial Arts ( CKMA). There are other types of martial arts and I think this martial art is the best size for a child like me. Every time I can’t do something I start doing it over and over until I do it good. Not everything I could do because the first time it isn’t so good then if you keep doing it you will become better each time. It is just like you bake one potato and then another and another and it’s gets more and more yummier. I think that you should not be a show off because you learn faster because one day the person who learns slow may catch up with you and even pass you and that is why we should respect and treat each other the way you want to be treated. I don’t care if people are older or younger than me I will still be nice and respect others and soon they will be nice and respectful to you. Karate also makes me more confident and makes me have a loud strong voice when I am yelling and talking in front of a crowd or a class. I would say karate is a good martial art to join so you can get fit , strong, confident, kind and healthy. I would not say karate is teaching you bad things. You may need 7 years of training to get to black belt. First white belt, the red, blue, yellow, green, green, brown, black. So far I have seen myself getting stronger and getting better at my push-ups.

This is the end of my report about what karate means to me.

Jiu-Jitsu Classes

First class will start on Tuesday , October 15th from 8 PM !
Enroll now for 3 months and receive a FREE jiu-jitsu uniform !
Take advantage of this opening promotion !

Private classes - Student Testimonial

  My name is Gyula Galyas , I am 25 years old and I have been practicing Kickboxing Muay Thai for about 6 years now.

Practicing a combat sport it means a lot to me. It teaches me to think, to suffer sometimes . To reach my goals, to learn respect and make new friends.
For the past 3 years I have been training in Toronto at different gyms, but I always felt that something is missing. At Contact Kicks MMA, I feel that I found what I am looking for.

This is what I like at CKMA :
- the training is not boring and extremely repetitive
- we practice all aspects of combat
- creativity, imagination and efficiency are high priorities
- using fighting techniques from other martial arts like kyokushin karate, this way I feel like I am learning two martial arts

This is due to the fact that Sensei Steve has extensive experience in martial arts as a 3rd degree kyokushin karate black belt with more than 26 years training and over 12 years of kickboxing teaching.

My future goals are :
- to stay healthy and fit as log as I can
- to feel good and look good
- to learn self-confidence
- self defense
I recommend with confidence the private one-on-one sessions at Contact Kicks MMA under Sensei Steve for anyone who want real results.

Jiu-Jitsu classes are BACK !

Osu guys,
After a few months break we will have our jiu-jitsu classes back on schedule.
This time it will be traditional gi jiu-jitsu under World Champion Michael Aviado from Body of Four Jiu-Jitsu Academy .

 
The beginning date will be announced shortly , but estimated starting time should be min October.
Watch the video below for a short interview and highlights with our coach Mike.

It is never too late ...

My name is Danielle and my husband Aitor and I are new students at Contact Kicks. In April I gave birth to our first baby and began my search to find my way back to fitness. Both Aitor and I had done karate growing up, he was the first to decide that he wanted to go back. He had researched about Georges St. Pierre and read about full contact karate and Kyokushin, which for him was exactly what he was looking for; the discipline and culture of karate coupled with full contact fighting. After a few weeks hearing about how much Aitor was enjoying his time at Contact Kicks and the people he had met and trained with, I decided that there may be a place for Kyokushin in my life. For us being new parents with limited free time, it was an excellent opportunity for us to be able to train together and have a common fitness path. It allowed us to spend quality time together while reaching our fitness goals. I was quite nervous about my first class as my body was vulnerable from just having a baby and I was starting from a very beginners level of fitness, Sensei Steve and all the people at Contact Kicks really put my fears at ease. The class was by no means easy, I sweat my butt off, but the dojo was for me a safe environment where I could begin my training and regain my confidence. Kyokushin as a style is very challenging and engaging. I love being back in Karate and relearning the techniques and culture, but with being a full contact style I am also learning real life, practical skills that increase my confidence in self defense. There is a real sense of camaraderie in the dojo and there is also a feeling of being connected to something bigger within the IFK organization. I am very excited to continue my training in Kyokushin and am very happy to have found a place at the Contact Kicks dojo.

Hanshi Steve Arneil 10th Dan

   I am looking at the empty page and I am trying to compose the blog content . I have to write about the seminar , the lessons learned and Hanshi Arneil , but I can't find the necessary words to describe all we experienced.
Therefore I will not write a seminar report this time. Those who trained with Hanshi , experienced him and his teachings in their own way. Some better than others, some were disappointed.
Training with Hanshi it's not easy ! Most of the first time students are shocked and even go in denial about what is training in Kyokushin and what is Hanshi teaching. I know I was in 2007, when first I met Hanshi. Now in 2013 after 6 years, I am starting to understand a small part of the message he is trying to get through.
Learning from Hanshi requires time, total commitment , complete abandon of self and 100% dedication to every single technique and lesson ! Exactly what he is giving ! He expects no more , no less in exchange !

A famous quote comes to my mind : ,,When the student is ready, the master will appear ! ,,
Thank you Hanshi for teaching at Contact Kicks Dojo !
Osu !

Dojo Contest - Strength Test

Dojo contest for kids - strength test.
Push ups , seat ups and squats.
Amazing effort from all kids ! Great Kyokushin Spirit !
The winners are Lilly age 6-8 and Ryan for age 8-10.

The next contest will be kata and syllabus .
Who will have the best technique ?

Fresh start !

OK everyone, the blog is back again !
For unknown reason we lost all photos uploaded and many post became irrelevant without the photo, so I decided to start fresh !
We will use the blog to post news , upcoming events , reports and articles - make sure you follow us to stay up to date !
Here are some news and upcoming events :

- The jiu-jitsu classes are cancelled until September ; we are looking for a new instructor and restructuring the classes . Thank you Nic Fera for the great lessons and we wish you all the best with your new adventure. I'm sure we will train again together ! Osu !

- Kyokushin Karate Seminar and Testing  with Hanshi Steve Arneil 10th Dan - IFK Chairman 
August 7-8 , Wednesday and Thursday
We have the great honor to have Hanshi teaching at our dojo ! You don't want to miss this opportunity !
The seminar schedule and fees will be posted shortly.