Basic Lesson

WHAT HAPPENS DURING A LESSON?

Bow in
Traditional Karate always starts and ends with courtesy. Therefore a traditional bowing ceremony precedes the beginning and end of each lesson.

Mokuso (meditation)
Usually there is a few minutes, sometimes longer, spent on meditation practice to prepare the mind for the lesson ahead.

Warm up
A typical lesson would consist of a warm up to ensure that muscles and tendons of the body are warm enough so that the risk of injury to yourself is minimized. There will also be strength and stamina building exercises.

Basic Techniques
The basic techniques of karate usually always follow the warm up. These will include punching, kicking, blocking, stances and basic combination movements.

Teaching image

Partner work
The techniques learnt above put in motion with a partner in a controlled manner.

Kata
Forms. This is the main focus within traditional karate. These kata or forms have been handed down from generation to generation which contain a myriad of defensive applications. The kata is performed without a partner and consist of techniques and movement to a set pattern against an imaginary opponent.

Kata bunkai
Kata bunkai is the application of the techniques within a kata performed in a controlled manner with a partner. The instructor will usually show an interpretation of a move within the kata for the student to practise, but often bunkai has to be 'found' by the student once a certain level of experience is gained.

Warm down
To cool the muscles to reduce stiffness

Mokuso (meditation)
Usually there is a few minutes spent on meditation practice to calm the mind after the lesson.

Bow out
Traditional bowing ceremony at the end of the lesson.