How To Learn Karate?

Is it true that people learn karate at home? If you are thinking about starting karate, getting some online information, is a good idea. With some online tutorials, you will be able to understand what to expect if you attend a karate club. Follow this link for some free Karate for beginners videos.

But if you have some video instruction, I only recommend using them at the same time you attend classes conducted by a qualified karate instructor and the moves you practice, will be basics (kihon) or forms (kata).

The karate we have today, is very different from the karate, say one hundred years ago, karate is continually evolving and will continue to do so. There are thousands of karate for beginners classes starting every day, where people, young and old start to learn karate for the first time.

Karate classes usually start with a warm up, followed by a full body stretch. This alone is great for health and well being, keeping the body soft and supple is a fantastic thing, especially in your later years.

Next will come basic karate moves (kihon), blocking, punching, kicking, etc. These are practiced on the spot, or stepping forward, back and even at different angles in the many varied karate stances (dachi). These are the techniques you will be able to practice at home and get an idea of what karatedo (the way of karate) is all about.

So karate class training has the warm up and stretch, basics (kihon), next comes sparring (kumite). Sparring in the dojo, varies tremendously, from dojo to dojo, but generally it is referred to, everytime two karateka partner up. For example, you may partner up to practice a wrist grab and escape, this will be called kumite or sparring in the dojo (training hall). So try not to think that every time the word sparring (kumite) is used, you are going to partner up with a crazed black belt who is going to try and kill you!

After the karate stretching, the karateka (someone who practices karate), drill karate moves(kihon), then pair up and spar (kumite) and then finish with the karate forms (kata). There are hundreds of karate kata, ranging from 20 moves up to kata with hundreds of moves, the karate kata is the martial arts version of the gymnastics floor display.

To explain kata fully will need an article all on it’s own, but to me kata is the most important element of karatedo. They say, kumite is the spirit of karate, but kata is the soul! And i also believe this to be true.

So if you are practicing karate moves at home, trying to get a feel for karate, I wish you luck and urge you to attend a karate for beginners class as soon as possible. I hope you start karate and enjoy, as much as I do, the training, the socializing, the travel, etc, etc! Ossu Learn Karate At Home

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