Owen Johnston - Personal Trainer and Karate Instructor
Services
Karate Classes
I focus my karate classes primarily on not only teaching a martial art based on traditional techniques, but also self defense, confidence building, and personal development. I also teach boxing and grappling basics, as well as physical fitness and strength training.
I am very selective about the students I accept into my martial arts classes. Also, I do not normally accept students under the age of 13. However, I can make special exceptions. Please get in touch with me to schedule a free consultation.
Mizuumi ryu Karate, the style that I developed and teach, is dedicated to developing body, mind, and spirit. Visit the Mizuumi ryu Karate - Official Home Page for the description of the style. It is primarily based on Heiwado Karate and Boxing, with some influence from grappling arts. The primary physical goals are to teach students not only martial arts and practical self defense skills, but also good health habits, and progressive calisthenics techniques for training the body as one holistic, functional unit. Mizuumi emphasizes a well rounded approach that teaches the body mechanics behind martial arts and exercise techniques.
Heiwado is the style founded by JIKC / NKKC, and was based on Wado ryu Karate and various other Karate styles. Heiwado emphasizes quick evasive movements and hard direct strikes, as well as development of the mind and body. For more, view Karate Style and Lineage Information, and Free Karate Downloads. For more about JIKC and Heiwado Karate, refer to their JIKC Frequently Asked Questions.
I am currently offering martial arts and fitness classes to the Florence area. I am also teaching karate classes in Kingstree, SC at the Williamsburg County Recreation Department. I will be living and working in the Charleston area very soon, where I will provide martial arts and fitness instruction. Please get in touch with me regarding lessons so that we can schedule an appointment and location.
About our Karate Classes in Kingstree, SC
Fitness 101 - Exercise Basics
There are many benefits to exercise, including burning calories / weight loss, elevating your mood, and heart disease prevention. Using cardio training to improve your fitness also improves your circulatory system, strengthens your heart and lungs, improves bone density, which all help immensely not just with other types of exercise, but life in general! Benefits to lifestyle include improved mood, stress / depression relief, better posture, being able to fall asleep quicker, as well as sleeping more deeply.
Not only that, strength training helps not only build your muscle mass and strength, but also your endurance, and performance of daily activities such as lifting, carrying, and walking. Your flexibility is also enhanced, which helps to prevent back pain, and pulling muscles. Not only that, even your ligaments and tendons adapt to training, and become stronger, and less prone to injury. The additional muscle and bone density gained in training also help in reducing injury to joints. The metabolism definitely gets a boost with effective training, which results in improved body composition. The end result will be more muscle and less body fat. More muscle doesn't necessarily mean a big, bulky look - but regular, effective exercise will (as a rule) result in improved muscle tone.
Get in touch with me to schedule a session! Visit the below page to read my full "Fitness 101" article to become better informed about the basics of exercise. A free YouTube tutorial and various fitness links are included.
Full Article - Fitness 101 - Exercise Basics
Progressive Calisthenics for Strength
The approach to body weight training that I teach is known as progressive calisthenics for strength. Body weight training exercises may be trained progressively by adjusting leverage, range of motion, and positioning. With these in mind, body mechanics, and movement, one may use progressive calisthenics to achieve very high levels of functional, full body strength and coordination. This is primarily because calisthenics use natural movements that act on multiple joints, and force many stabilizer muscles to be used. Lastly, calisthenics help to improve posture, as well as build supple strength and tension in the tendons, ligaments, and joints.
The progressive calisthenics for strength approach centers around several styles of movement, which include – but are not limited to – pushups, squats, pullups, leg raises, bridges, handstands, calf raises, lateral chain training (clutch holds, human flag), hanging grip work, neck training, and "active flexibility" (such as L Holds). Of course, any type of body weight exercise may be made progressively harder with the right knowledge of "intensity variables" or "tougheners", in order to adjust leverage and positioning. Naturally, it is also possible to make exercises easier – which is especially important if you are working around an old injury and want to build up your strength again in particular joints.
If you would like to schedule a session, or ask questions about "old school" calisthenics, please feel free to contact me. Also, check out my full "progressive calisthenics" article below.
Full Article - Progressive Calisthenics for Strength
Integrating Basic Gymnastics with other types of Body Weight Strength Training
The full calisthenics article is included in my full guide to fitness and strength
Other exercise programs offered
Other types of training that I can confidently teach at the moment include, but are not limited to, free weights, cardiorespiratory training, flexibility / mobility, and martial arts conditioning. These include training methods for boxing, karate, and wrestling.
Please get in touch with me to negotiate other types of exercise programs. We can design a program tailored to your specific needs. My goal as your personal trainer is to help you discover, plan for, and live up to your own unique fitness goals. Not only am I a fitness trainer, but I have also been a serious fitness enthusiast for many years. I am always learning from other trainers, teachers, and enthusiasts.
I also have experience in running training camps - check out the below site for more.
My Books and Articles
"Understanding Karate-Do: A Guide to Unity of Body, Mind, and Soul" is my student training manual. The book represents years of research, training, and teaching. Karate is certainly an exciting and rewarding holistic pursuit practiced by millions around the world. Whether you are an existing or prospective student of martial arts, there is always something new to learn!
Read Understanding Karate Do as a Free PDF Book
Available through Scribd
Understanding Karate Do for sale on Amazon
Understanding Karate Do is also available through Amazon as a professionally bound and printed trade paperback book, at the price of only $9.99. The Kindle E-Book edition is only $2.99. The official trade paperback book and Kindle editions, available through the above Amazon store , both include an extra section containing most of the material from the two supplementary guides -
Martial Arts Thoughts and Articles and Guide to Fitness and Strength
Understanding Karate - Official Website
Visit the book's home page for much more about the book, as well as many free resources!
Supplementary PDF Files
Recommended Fitness Books, Articles and Videos for Martial Artists
Makiwara board training for karate - PDF book
One Step Sparring - Karate Drills - PDF book
Integrating Basic Gymnastics with other types of Body Weight Strength Training
Way of the Cat's Foot - Nekoashido - In terms of the Five Elements - PDF Book
Odd Object Training for Strength
Body Weight Workout Template
Understanding Karate - Supplementary Resources - PDF Book
Free Downloads Folder - all of my PDF files