|
Information
for Students
Karate
is an art that is best learnt by listening,
watching and practicing rather than from books,
videos or websites. This is why your first lesson
is likely to be quite confusing, because there is
so much that is new and different to what you would
do in an ordinary lesson. This confusion soon
disappears, because it is not due to anything being
difficult to do or understand, but because there
seems to be so much of it. If there are more
experienced students in your class, it's good to
remember that they all started the same way as
you.
A
typical lesson will consist of some stretching
exercises, some practice at punching and kicking
(individually, not at each other!) then paired
exercises which allow you to work through
pre-arranged moves with a partner, and finally
'kata' which are series of techniques perhaps 20 or
30 moves long performed as a single form.
These
photographs
were taken during a single lesson.
Some
Japanese words will be used in the lesson, but
these will be explained at the time, and you will
soon be using them completely naturally just as you
already use the Japanese word, 'Karate'. There is a
glossary of the most common Japanese words in the
reference
section of this website.
Karate
is famous for having a white uniform (called a
'gi') with a belt whose colour indicates your level
of achievement. You have a white belt when you
start, and you are awarded belts for passing formal
examinations called 'gradings' where you have to
demonstrate what you have learnt in class. The most
common question for new students to ask is, 'How
long will it take for me to get a black belt?'. The
answer is that it depends entirely on the student,
and no instructor can tell how long it will
take.
Every
year, your club takes part in competitions, and
there is a Gashuku or summer camp where you and
your parents can train for 3 days and take part in
various activities.
|
