Typically karate is an art that is practiced with bare feet. Saturday morning at the Kid's Club fundraiser, Sensei Daniel Dugan, the head of the Yoshukai Alliance, said that his adult students had the ability to overcome the scorching heat of the church's asphalt parking lot on their bare feet. However, he didn't want to put his younger students through that kind of stress, so the group performed on the front lawn of the church.

In the martial arts, concentration on the opponent is critical to success. Being distracted by one's surroundings will certainly lead to defeat.

Pictures by Nila Smith

This black-belt student demonstrates the use of the Katana, also known as the Samurai Sword. His focus is not on the sword, as he looks straight forward, envisioning perhaps a prospective opponent.

Part of this exercise includes drawing and wielding the sword, then replacing it to its sheath without actually looking at the sword.  

Even in the youngest of students, the force that they are capable of delivering in a kick would knock the first two people holding the block off balance. Therefore, several students join together to make sure the ones holding the 1-inch board don't tumble over.

With one very swift kick, the board breaks cleanly into two pieces.

As an instructor, Sensei Scott Bottrell of the Elkhart Dojo is dressed fully in black. Here he has done some very intense deep breathing exercises, preparing his body and mind for what lies ahead.

Bottrell moves not even an inch as one of the senior students smacks his forearms with the Bo-like pole. As the broken pole flies through the air, Bottrell stands firm. This is part of what makes the body a human weapon in the art of Yoshukai Karate.

Clay Roberts is sensei to the Williamsville Dojo. Here he prepares for the task at hand with deep breathing and concentration as he sizes up the competition: four slabs of concrete.

No trick photography, no second tries. One swift, extremely forceful kick and the slabs break into pieces

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