Hundreds of people of all ages were kicking, punching and practicing self- defense techniques at an annual karate event at the Quechan Casino in Winterhaven, California.
"Every year I come to learn something new from all the classes and the people I talk to, the instructors their way of teaching, I really learn a lot," says Cassidy Alford.
The 16th Annual Marital Arts Camp brought in karate masters from around the world some being from Japan, Great Britain, Denmark, and Africa.
Many of the instructors return every year for this camp, which is the largest Okinawa Shorin-Ryu held in the United States.
"This is my 9th or 10th year coming to this camp and it's just a comradely, you just get to watch a lot of the kids you've seen grow up through-out the years. Their was one little girl who was here last year who was a brown belt who made black belt the past September, I was very proud of that," says Eberhard Welch.
Nabil Noujaim, a karate instructor in El Centro and host of the camp tells news 13 what this particular martial art is all about.
"It's about Discipline, it's physical also, but it's about the heart. It's not about I'm number 1 and you're number 2, it's not about who wins a tournament, it's about the heart and about character," says Noujaim.
Eddie Betha who has been practicing for over 45 years says karate can help students develop important qualities. "We say there are 5 spiritual qualities, courage, courtesy, integrity, humility and self-control. Those are the things that are key and are necessary to be successful in life and karate teaches those 5 spiritual qualities, says Betha."
Noujaim says they are already planning out the martial arts camp for next year during the first week of November. Until then, he will continue to teach here in the desert southwest year round for anyone who is interested in joining
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