| Are you looking to join your local karate | | | | requirement for each test, and they help the |
| club or have you already taken the first step | | | | practitioner to understand how different |
| and signed up? If you haven't yet visited | | | | techniques fit together and integrate into |
| your local martial arts school, you're | | | | sets of techniques. There are many different |
| probably wondering what a typical karate | | | | forms and each one has a set pattern with a |
| class looks like. This article will break | | | | central focus. |
| down the main elements of a good karate | | | | |
| class. | | | | They are often likened to the martial arts |
| | | | equivalent of a dance routine but most forms |
| Obviously not every club will follow this | | | | have accompanying application drills that |
| format and within each martial arts school | | | | show how each technique can be used against |
| the weekly classes will also change but this | | | | an opponent in a self-defense situation. |
| is meant to be a guide of what to expect in | | | | |
| general. | | | | 5. Short break Depending on the length and |
| | | | intensity of each class, practitioners are |
| Classes also vary in length ranging from | | | | often given the chance of a short "water |
| short 30 minute classes for young kids to 1 | | | | break." |
| hour classes or longer for older kids, | | | | |
| teenagers and adults. The following example | | | | 6. Partner work drills These types of drills |
| is based on a one-hour class and not all of | | | | are usually one of the fun parts of a karate |
| these elements will be covered in each | | | | class because the practitioners get to |
| lesson. | | | | practice their techniques with an opponent to |
| | | | see how they are used and to drill |
| 1. Formal etiquette The majority of karate | | | | appropriate reactions to different types of |
| schools adhere to some kind of formal | | | | attacks. Partner work drills aren't always |
| etiquette at the beginning and end of each | | | | limited to two people but can often include |
| class. This practice can be attributed to | | | | multiple opponents or group training drills. |
| traditional Asian culture where bowing and | | | | This usually depends on the creativity of the |
| formal chanting are often used to begin and | | | | instructor and the overall level of the |
| end any type of structured activity. | | | | class. |
| Depending on your chosen karate school you | | | | |
| could see the full routine of formal | | | | 7. Pads and targets An important part of |
| etiquette including kneeling, multiple bows | | | | karate training is to practice your |
| and the verbal recital of the school creed to | | | | techniques against different types of |
| a more laidback approach of an informal hand | | | | targets. These targets include soft or hard |
| clap followed by the words, "Let's begin". | | | | focus targets, body shields, hanging bags or |
| | | | the more popular free-standing Wavemasters, |
| 2. Warm-up and stretching Before any type of | | | | plastic sheets and even wooden boards from |
| physical activity it is highly recommended | | | | time to time. Pads and targets are usually a |
| that you warm-up and stretch. It is often a | | | | lot of fun for all involved and give you a |
| good idea to end the activity with more | | | | real sense of what it feels like to actually |
| stretching (sometimes called a warm-down). | | | | strike a target. |
| Karate is a very physical activity and so it | | | | |
| should be obvious that a warm-up is an | | | | 8. Conditioning drills This is really where |
| integral part of each lesson. | | | | your level of fitness can improve |
| | | | dramatically. Conditioning drills include |
| 3. Practice of basic techniques Right after | | | | running, jumping, push-ups, sit-ups, jumping |
| the warm-up ends many karate classes begin | | | | jacks, star jumps, squats, relays, and any |
| with basic practice. This includes drilling | | | | number of stamina-focused activities. |
| stances, punches, kicks, blocks and strikes | | | | Depending on the level of the class and the |
| on the spot and up and down the floor with | | | | age group these drills are not always for the |
| the focus being on multiple repetitions of | | | | light-hearted but you did want to get a good |
| the main techniques required for each rank | | | | workout, didn't you? |
| level. | | | | |
| | | | So in a nutshell a typical karate class will |
| 4. Forms practice Forms are pre-defined | | | | include some or all of these different |
| sequences of techniques that a practitioner | | | | elements. |
| must memorize. The forms are often a main | | | | |