Beginners info

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So, you’re interested in Karate, or have just started training. The following information is designed to give you some useful advice in your early training days.

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Beginners’ courses

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We accept beginners all year round. This means you can start training at any time. Throughout the year, we run specific beginners’ courses – the starting dates are usually the second week in January, and the first week in April and September. A beginner’s course is free for the first month.

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The beginners’ course usually lasts 3 months and has been developed to cater for people of all ages and levels of fitness. Students will be training with other people of the same standard and will not be asked to do anything beyond their capabilities.

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The course will cover basic stretching exercises and easy to learn Karate moves taught in a safe, friendly, encouraging environment. The course provides a good introduction to this fascinating art and by the end you will almost be ready for your first grading.

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As well as being one of the most effective forms of self-defence, Karate is an exciting and enjoyable way to keep fit.

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If you have any doubts, then come along and watch. You can also take the opportunity to talk to other students and the instructors.

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What are the costs?

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Current training fees are £25 per month (family rates are also available).

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Modern Karate

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Today, Karate-do is taught all around the world, and though it is often modified and always changing, four distinctive Japanese styles have emerged:

 

· Shotokan

· Shitō-ryū

· Wadō-ryū

· Gōju-ryū

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Karate has evolved into a popular and beloved sport. The World Karate Federation (WKF), the largest organization for karate as a sport, has developed a system of common rules and regulations, the WFK is recognized by the International Olympic Committee and coordinates with various national Olympic committees.

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Sport Karate?

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Some Karate-ka turn to breaking boards or tiles to test their strength of technique. But to quote the famous Bruce Lee, "Boards don't hit back".

 

Competition sport Karate allows you to fight against an opponent using your karate technique but in a controlled environment with rules and regulations to keep competitors safe. In a competition fight the aim is to out skill your opponent by blocking and avoiding their techniques and delivering yours to the main target areas with good form and speed to score points. This is judged by a team of officials working to the rules and regulations set out by the World Karate Federation.

 

There will always be those that say sport Karate is nothing like a real fight as there are rules and therefore it isn't a real test. That may well be true but take into account the fact is that at National level competition an opponent has generally spent at least 5-8 years training in how to hit with punch and kick combinations as fast as is physically possible, would this not imply that they tend to move a little quicker than your average troublemaker.

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