Sensei Namiki demonstrating Mae Geri.

What is Karate?

The most commonly known benefit of Karate training is self-defense. However there are many other benefits from training in Karate including:

• physical fitness, strength, flexibility, and endurance.
• develops self discipline, self-confidence, and self-esteem.
• teaches you to respect others as well as yourself.
• it improves your concentration.

True traditional karate is a martial (i.e. combat) art. It is not a sport (although some have unfortunately given karate that image). The essence of karate is not in breaking wood or performing flying kicks or loud screams. Neither is it a religion. In its most basic form it is concerned with developing a realistic method of self defence that ensures an attacker is effectively disabled.

Black Belt class, conducted by Namiki Sensei, meditating (mokusoh).

This is not a skill that is acquired overnight, or even after weeks or months. There is no magic formula. It involves years of hard hard work, dedication and perseverance and is very much a test of character as anything else. Gradually, over time, you will improve your skills, reflexes and techniques as you develop within the art.

Because it is more straightforward and offense-oriented, it is considered a "hard" style. It is a physically demanding art, but athletic prowess is not a requirement to begin: male or female, young or old, only determination and a willingness to try are needed.

New students will be taught the basics, starting with warm-up and stretching exercises to avoid injuries, then the mechanics of blocks and punches. Once a certain number of basics are learned, students begin putting them together in pre-arranged combinations called kata (forms). The katas progress in length and intensity as students become better at combining the moves.

Students then begin to apply this knowledge by participating in controlled exchanged punches, kicks and blocks until they are ready for free-sparring (fighting). This protects the students until they learn the elements of timing, rhythm, focus and control. It is possible to achieve such a level of proficiency that one could knock down an attacker with one punch or kick.

Sensei Namiki personally teaching the beginners the elements of basic sparring.

Components of Shotokan Karate Training

Kihon (basic training): This is extremely important for the beginner and puts emphasis stances, breathing, basic blocks, hand techniques and kicks. Although stressed for the beginner, a karateka must practice kihon as regularly as any other part of his or her training.

Kata (forms): This is the pre-arranged defense against multiple attackers. Kata is the core of all karate and enables the practitioner to fully grasp the meaning of kihon, breathing, concentration, balance, co-ordination and focus. One who practices precise kata will excel in other aspects of karate-do. There are twenty-six kata in the Shotokan system.

Kihon Kumite (basic sparring): The goals of sparring training are to learn to apply the fundamental stances and techniques against attacks and defenses of an opponent. There exist five step or or one step attack drills. For best results and complete safety, the attack and defense techniques are known in advance as well as which is the offense/defense side.

Kumite (free sparring): Kumite is controlled sparring and the participants are governed by certain rules and etiquette. This is the most athletic aspect of karate training. The emphasis is on proper technique and control, and not on harming the partner ("opponent").