Question #1 How fit do I have to be to start Karate? -anonymous reader
Answer from Sensei Edwin Burt of Craigmyle
- As with any fitness program or new sport that you are interested in participating, you should always consult your physician first. Otherwise, you do not have to be in great shape or even good shape. With the will to tackle this exciting martial art and a clean bill of health from your doctor, Itosu-kai Karate will help you become as fit as you have ever been. Using both the upper and lower body more or less equally, the workout you will receive will be quite thorough.
As an example, a young student of mine was about 15lbs overweight when she started and by the time she had advanced two levels (about 6 months) she had shed those pounds and had a lot of fun doing it!
Question #3 What is the "legal" responsiblity of Martial Artists in Canada? -Sensei Sue Lindsay
Answer from Sensei Edwin Burt of Craigmyle and Constable Dzuba of Hanna R.C.M.P.
- Apparently, there is no distinction according to the Criminal Code of Canada between martial artists and "ordinary" citizens. Though a senior ranked martial artist, knowing lethal strikes and the parts of a body these strikes would be most lethally used on, would be more apt to be charged for excessive violence in an altercation resulting in the aggressor being injured. In other words, we should know better what is "going too far". Below is an excerpt from the Criminal Code of Canada pertaining to this area.
Also included below is the sections on "prohibited weapons" that may pertain to kobudo practitioners:
SELF-DEFENCE AGAINST UNPROVOKED ASSAULT
... / Extent of justification.
34. (1) Everyone who is unlawfully assaulted without having provoked the assault is justified in repelling force by force if the force he uses is not intended to cause death or grievous bodily harm and is no more than is necessary to enable him to defend himself.
(2) Every one who is unlawfully assaulted and who causes death or grievous bodily harm in repelling the assault is justified if
(a) he causes it under reasonable apprehension of death or grievous bodily harm from the violence with which the assault was originally made or with which the assailant pursues his purposes; and
(b) he believes, on reasonable grounds, that he cannot otherwise preserve himself from death or grievous bodily harm.
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PROVOCATION.
36. Provocation includes, for the purposes of sections 34 and 35 , provocation by blows, words or gestures.
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PREVENTING ASSAULT.
37. (1) Every one is justified in using force to defend himself or any one under his protection from assault, if he uses no more force than is necessary to prevent the assault or the repetition of it.
(2) Nothing in this section shall be deemed to justify the wilful infliction of any hurt or mischief that is excessive, having regard to the nature of the assault that the force used was intended to prevent.
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The weapons listed in Part 3 of the schedule are prohibited weapons for the purposes of paragraph (b) of the definition "prohibited weapon" in subsection 84(1) of the Criminal Code.
PART 3
PROHIBITED WEAPONS
Former Prohibited Weapons Order, No. 2
2. Any instrument or device commonly known as "nunchaku", being hard non-flexible sticks, clubs, pipes, or rods linked by a length or lengths of rope, cord, wire or chain, and any similar instrument or device.
3. Any instrument or device commonly known as "shuriken", being a hard non-flexible plate having three or more radiating points with one or more sharp edges in the shape of a polygon, trefoil, cross, star, diamond or other geometrical shape, and any similar instrument or device.
4. Any instrument or device commonly known as "manrikigusari" or "kusari", being hexagonal or other geometrically shaped hard weights or hand grips linked by a length or lengths of rope, cord, wire or chain, and any similar instrument or device.
5. Any finger ring that has one or more blades or sharp objects that are capable of being projected from the surface of the ring.
Possession of a prohibited weapon is an offence under section 90 of the Criminal Code.
90. (1) Every person commits an offence who carries a weapon, a prohibited device or any prohibited ammunition concealed, unless the person is authorized under the Firearms Act to carry it concealed.
