“Ryukyu Kenpo is for Health”
Because Ryukyu Kenpo Kobujutsu is not, and never was, a sport; injuries are
almost unheard of in its learning. Football and basketball, each, cause far more
injuries in one year than decades of Kenpo training. And, unlike sports figures,
Kenpo masters live well into their 80’s and 90’s healthy and free from physical
discomforts.
In these
times, with people naturally living longer, one of the main concerns is with
“quality of life”. Of what use is an extra twenty or thirty years of life; if,
it is to be spent as a prisoner in a broken down disease ridden body, or, lonely
and bored? Western science has pushed the boundaries of health and longevity;
but is still reaching for the answers that are available, now, through the study
of Ryukyu Kenpo. “Ryukyu Kenpo is for life”, has been said by generations of
Masters. Many Ryukyu Kenpo practitioners have reached the age of 90 and above;
and, all are still practicing; as are hundreds in their 80’s and 70’s, several
of whom are today’s Master Teachers. In Okinawa, Ryukyu Kenpo is recognized as
suitable for all ages. One does not have to change “styles” as one ages;
because, Ryukyu Kenpo adapts with the practitioner as his body ages.
The moderate
exercises (epitomized by the Ryukyu Kenpo kata
routines) strengthen the core body muscles. Optimally, when the arms, legs, and
neck move these core muscles keep the body stable. This, in turn, allows the
extremities to function more efficiently. They, also, provide strength for
proper posture, internal organ placement and protection. Core body strength
helps stave off balance problems associated with the aging process. By
activating the cerebellum, the command center for movement, through the regular
and continually changing movements of the kata, Doctors now believe people can
keep those nerves alive longer. In addition to all of this, Doctors have begun
to link shoulder, knee and ankle injuries to weak core muscles.
The exercises
stretch the muscles and nerves, giving suppleness and flexibility to ward off
injury. They massage the internal organs, helping in digestion, elimination, and
proper functioning of all the bodily systems. They stretch the blood vessels
allowing better circulation for oxygenation, removal of waste products, feeding
and repair of the body’s cells. They strengthen the endocrine system promoting
better flow. They cause strengthening of the bones through recalcification and
increased bone density. And all of these cause the brain to function with
greater strength and clarity; which, in turn, produces greater disease fighting
ability and a higher capacity for intellectual achievement.
Modern
research, collectively involving more than 320,000 people, has credited the
moderate exercise, such as found in Ryukyu Kenpo exercises, with 18 to 84
percent reductions in the risk of heart disease and 18 to 50 percent reductions
in the overall mortality rate! A few examples: in a Seattle study, an hour a
week appeared to lower the risk of sudden cardiac death by 73 percent. In the
Netherlands, men did it for an hour a week enjoyed a 29 percent lower mortality
rate than sedentary men, and in the United States at least an hour a day reduced
the risk of heart disease by 82 percent over a 10 year period.
These
moderate exercises can also help fight hypertension, lowering blood pressure as
much as 20 points. They are an essential partner with diet for those who need to
lose weight. And they can help reduce the risk of stroke (by 21 to 34 percent),
diabetes (16 to 50 percent), dementia (15 to 50 percent), fractures (40
percent), and colon cancer (30 to 40 percent). If that’s not enough for you,
consider that it is the only known way to slow the aging process! Finally,
splitting the exercise time up: two 15-minute, or three 10-minute sessions are
as effective as a single 30-minute session.
In
conclusion, Ryukyu Kenpo kata, traditions once veiled in secrecy,
improve concentration, coordination, and the functions of various organs of the
body. The controlled breathing techniques, twisting of the body, movements of
the limbs, and the contraction and expansion of the muscles, help blood and
lymphatic vessels, and improve the functions of the skeletal and muscular
structures as well as the digestive system. Kata, the vehicles through
which the secrets of the ancient masters were classically transmitted over
untold generations, are an excellent adjunct for
physical training as they provide curative effects for such chronic diseases as
high blood pressure, heart trouble, arthritis, and others.