WHY TRAIN?

There are many benefits from training in Karate and we divided them into two categories.

Physical Benefits & Mental benefits

Physical benefits are self-defence, toning the body, speed, power, flexibility, balance, co-ordination, stamina, strength and bundles of energy to name just a few!

Mental benefits enhance your whole life. These are self confidence, respect, humility, self discipline, courage, integrity, inner peace, assertiveness, self control and focus.

SETTING GOALS

It is essential that you set yourself goals to work to; this helps to focus your mind and will keep you moving forward. It can be a short term goal or a long term one, for instance you might want to set your sights on black belt in five years. Write them down and from time to time read them. You will be amazed at how successful this can be. Work to small achievable targets with thoroughness. Your first grading for Red belt should be taken after between 6 and 12 lessons!

TRAINING

The best advice we can give you through our own experience is to train regularly, follow the instructor’s instructions without question and practise as often as you can. The most outstanding, self motivated karate champions are what they are because they practise a bit harder and a bit more than others.

Basics- these are the foundation of a good karateka (karate student) and are practised “very often”. You may get seriously fed up with these but as you move up your grades and develop mentally as well as physically you will see why we practise them so diligently. It is the same as learning your ABC in order to read and write, the more you practise, the better you will be. This is when your mental discipline is very important and your focus on your goals essential.

To really understand the technique and it’s concepts you have to do it so it is in your subconscious. It can be done any time anywhere without even thinking about it. This takes thousands of repetitions. The more you practise them the more comfortable you will be when you have to use them.

Once you have become confident that your technique is correct and accurate then you can work on speed and power. To be able to hit a target with accuracy, speed and power is your ultimate goal and when done correctly are most effective and an awesome skill. It is important to keep your training real and from time to time you will use focus pads where you can practise these skills. They should not however be practised on your colleagues in the Dojo as you are all training as one and are there to help each other.

No one in the Dojo is better than another. We are all striving to gain skills and achieve our goals but cannot do it without the help of a partner. There are no winners or losers and should you win a point you should thank your partner. When you have gained skills in focus, speed, power, accuracy and realism then the techniques will really become good and you will develop your skill to become a truly great martial artist. 

QUALITY  VERSUS  QUANTITY

100 punches that are accurate are worth more than 200 that are not. It is essential you try and emulate your instructor’s technique, and try and copy their movements. Do not expect to be able to be as good as them straight away, as they have been training for many years. Our Chief Instructor, Sensei Shiomitsu 8^th Dan Hanshi,  has been practising since the 1950’s, and is one of the world’s foremost instructors! You will always feel like a beginner again after being taught by him. He makes it look very easy, but of course it is not!

 ALWAYS TRY TO BETTER YOURSELF, & PRACTISE AT HOME

Never give up and challenge yourself. Those who think they can do better always get better.

This is a really good skill to have and if you practise at home for 10 minutes a day you will progress much quicker than those who only train once a week.

DOJO RULES

Arrive on time and wait quietly.

Keep your uniform clean and tidy.

Do not eat, drink or use bad language in the Dojo.

Keep fingernails and toe nails short.

Follow instructions and advise, try and improve yourself with every lesson.

Show respect for your instructors and others you train with.

Bow when you enter and leave the Dojo, doing so quietly and behaving appropriately.

Do not talk when your instructor is teaching

Whilst resting or awaiting for a lesson to start sit on the edge of the dojo with legs crossed.

Do not use your karate skills to harm others outside of the Dojo. You must never bully anyone.

CONTACT DETAILS & TRAINING INFORMATION.

Haslemere Club – Shottermill Junior School, Lion Lane, Haslemere, Surrey

Training times are Wednesdays 6.30-7.30pm for 5-12 years old. Teens & Adults 7.30pm onwards.

Farnham Club – Farnham Memorial Hall, West Street, Farnham, Surrey

Training times are Sundays 10.30am-12.00pm for all ages and grades.

Call 07876 577675 or 01420 544071 for more details - Enjoy your training with us!!