What is Karate-do?
Karate is an empty-handed fighting art that has been developed through long years of history and tradition.
Its ultimate goal lies not in winning or losing, but in fostering spiritual and physical strength through serious practice, and in trying to achieve an overall balance as individuals.
Karate is just one of several Japanese martial arts including Aikido, Judo, Kendo, Iaido, Ju-Jutsu. The Japan Karate Association(JKA) Practice and strongly follow the traditional Karate style of Shotokan - it is practised as a martial art and not as a sport, although competition is offered as a means of personal challenge rather than winning for its own sake. It adheres to the old Japanese etiquette, traditions and principles that have existed for hundreds of years. Each country has it's own branch, in England we have The Japan Karate Association England (JKAE).
Students of Karate learn punching, blocking and kicking techniques along with respect and control. Benefits such as feeling fitter, being more flexible, and increasing self-confidence and self discipline.
A typical training session will include a 10 minute warm-up and stretching session then some or all of the following three fundamental elements of karate training:
Kihon (Basic techniques)
Basic techniques include various different punching, kicking and blocking techniques either performed on their own or in combination.
Kumite (Sparring)
To begin with all students learn simple sparring techniques within a rigidly structured format gradually becoming more complex and evolving into freestyle fighting.
Kata
Kata are set forms, sequences of anything from 20 to 80 techniques which in some ways resemble both a fight against multiple invisible opponents and a graceful dance. For the first few grades students are expected to learn one kata per rank starting with the simplest combination of punching and blocking to complex sequences involving all sorts of punching, kicking, blocking, throwing and grappling techniques.
Karate Kata's Video
| Karate Freestyle Kumite Video
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