What should you expect as a new student? First of all, you are not going to learn to smash through brick walls like the Hulk, leap over cars, or be able to decimate a gang of street thugs without breaking a sweat! Nor will it enable you to levitate or accept kicks to the groin without flinching. You will, however, begin to learn an interesting martial art that can be enjoyed by almost anyone. Martial Arts training can have a number of benefits, including fitness, stress relief, self-defense, and improved concentration. Some people only practice for a short period of time while others in our group have trained for years. There is no end-point to the learning where one has completely mastered the art - training and self-discovery continues, even for those of us who have been practicing for over 40 years.
It is not necessary to have a uniform or "gi" to start. Something that is loose-fitting and comfortable, such as a t-shirt and track/yoga pants, is perfectly acceptable. A sweat shirt is not recommended - you will be perspiring regardless of what you wear! We practice in bare feet so you will also be asked to remove your footwear at the door. After a period of time you will probably want to invest in a gi, which should be white and without any insignia or crests.
As a beginner you will start by learning the basic stances and techniques of karate, including working the techniques with a partner. One of the first defensive techniques you will learn will be simply how to move back from an attack while maintaining proper balance, stance and distance. Frequently the best defense is simply to not be where the attack lands! You will also be introduced to a basic kata, which is a standard form or pattern consisting of a number of techniques and movements. There are 20+ kata in Shotokai. After a short period of time adult beginners are integrated into the main class to practice with other students at various levels. This one-on-one practice will help you progress by giving you the opportunity to learn from more advanced students and teachers. Youth students continue to practice in groups of students with similar levels of experience.
As with most martial arts, we do have a grading system which uses different coloured belts to denote rank. These are based upon a combination of factors which include effort and level of experience (time and attendance) as well as the student's overall technical skill level. The belt colours are: white, yellow, orange, green, blue, brown and black. Our youth grades use the same belt colours, but have a black stripe down the center of the belt; there are also several (3-5) "tabs" or stripes that junior students earn before moving from one belt level to the next. It must be stressed that belt grades serve only as a rough guide to ones level of proficiency and should not be the ultimate goal of training.
For class times, locations and cost for the club nearest to you please follow the "Clubs" link above. We hope to hear from you!
It is not necessary to have a uniform or "gi" to start. Something that is loose-fitting and comfortable, such as a t-shirt and track/yoga pants, is perfectly acceptable. A sweat shirt is not recommended - you will be perspiring regardless of what you wear! We practice in bare feet so you will also be asked to remove your footwear at the door. After a period of time you will probably want to invest in a gi, which should be white and without any insignia or crests.
As a beginner you will start by learning the basic stances and techniques of karate, including working the techniques with a partner. One of the first defensive techniques you will learn will be simply how to move back from an attack while maintaining proper balance, stance and distance. Frequently the best defense is simply to not be where the attack lands! You will also be introduced to a basic kata, which is a standard form or pattern consisting of a number of techniques and movements. There are 20+ kata in Shotokai. After a short period of time adult beginners are integrated into the main class to practice with other students at various levels. This one-on-one practice will help you progress by giving you the opportunity to learn from more advanced students and teachers. Youth students continue to practice in groups of students with similar levels of experience.
As with most martial arts, we do have a grading system which uses different coloured belts to denote rank. These are based upon a combination of factors which include effort and level of experience (time and attendance) as well as the student's overall technical skill level. The belt colours are: white, yellow, orange, green, blue, brown and black. Our youth grades use the same belt colours, but have a black stripe down the center of the belt; there are also several (3-5) "tabs" or stripes that junior students earn before moving from one belt level to the next. It must be stressed that belt grades serve only as a rough guide to ones level of proficiency and should not be the ultimate goal of training.
For class times, locations and cost for the club nearest to you please follow the "Clubs" link above. We hope to hear from you!
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"Non-competitive karate classes for adults and children".