What is Karate?

Introduction

Basically, karate is what you want it to be - or more accurately, what you make it. There are many benefits to be had (see below) but you have to work hard for them. Whether it is effective as a method of self-defence depends on you, and what your definition of "defence" is. Karate won't make you invincible; over-confidence and lack of respect for an opponent will certainly be your undoing. There is no such thing as an unbeatable fighter, and no such thing as an ultimate method of self-defence, but karate can help, if you respect and understand your limitations. And most importantly, there's a world of difference between the dojo and the street.

Benefits

The benefits of training are numerous - but as with everything in life, you have to put in the effort required in order to reap them to their fullest extent. Everyone has different reasons for starting training, and here are some of the main ones:

• Health and Stamina
• Strength and Flexibility
• Reactions and Awareness
• Responsibility and Discipline
• Confidence and Self-Esteem
• Self-Defence (?)

History

Modern day karate was developed in Japan early in the 20th century by Gichin Funakoshi from Okinawa. There are five major styles of karate, rather like dialects of a language, and the most popular worldwide is Shotokan. The following is a list of recommended reading on the subject:

• Dynamic Karate, by Masatoshi Nakayama, published by Kodansha
• Best Karate Vols 5 - 11, by Masatoshi Nakayama, published by Kodansha
• Advanced Karate-Do, by Elmar Schmeisser, published by Focus Publications

A Typical Lesson

A typical karate class lasts about an hour and a half, more for senior grades. It will begin with a warm-up session, with lots of stretching to minimise the possibility of injury, and will then continue with work on the 3 'k's - kihon, kata and kumite, which are the cornerstones of karate training.

Kihon are basic techniques; punching, kicking and blocking, together with more advanced techniques such as sweeps and throws.

Kata are set sequences of karate techniques, lasting between one and three minutes depending on the kata. There are more than twenty different kata, initially you will learn one new kata for each grading. As one might expect, the kata increase in difficulty and complexity as you progress through the grades. A kata can be thought of as stylized combat, and an interesting area of study is the application of a section of a kata to actual fighting with an opponent.

Kumite is fighting, usually sparring with one or more opponents. There are different forms of kumite, starting from basic pre-arranged five-step sparring, through basic one-step sparring and semi-free one-step sparring, to free sparring. There is a strong emphasis on safety - our karate is non-contact (which actually means touch control) and beginners are not expected to fight until they have mastered the karate required for the basic kumite. After all, how can you fight using karate before you know karate?

Training follows the following rules, to ensure safety and enjoyment for everyone:

• Students should use the skills they learn in a responsible manner.
• When entering or leaving the dojo, bow and say 'oss'.
• When the sensei enters the dojo, all students should bow and say 'oss'.
• Every effort should be made to be punctual for training, but if the class has already started then kneel at the door and await acknowledgement from the sensei.
• There should be no idle talking during the lesson.
• Observe good personal hygiene - train in a clean gi, and keep your nails short and clean.
• Jewellery, watches and makeup should not be worn in the dojo. Any jewellery that cannot be removed must be taped up to prevent injury.