Karate For Beginners?
by amare on March 5, 2010
in Martial Arts
Are there really people of all ages, trying to learn karate at home? When considering starting karate, getting as much up front information on the subject, is a must. 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).
Looking back at old karate books and pictures, even the rare karate videos, it is clear to see, how much karate has evloved. 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. So, when karateka partner up, it is usually reffered to as sparing, even if it is something simple like a small self defense move. Many people here the word kumite and start panicking, but karate kumite is usually practiced in a very controlled way!
Karate classes always start with a good warm up and stretch, after this, karate moves (kihon), kumite (sparring) and kata (forms), are practiced. Karate kata have many different karate moves contained within, these karate techniques are strung together in a certain order to resemble an imaginary fight.
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! Which I also believe.
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. Give it a go, you never know, karate may just be what you are looking for! Ossu Learn Karate At Home