Why should somebody want to start karate training? There are many reasons, including staying physically and mentally fit, learning how to defend oneself, and developing mental fortitude.
If you are looking for answers to commonly asked questions regarding beginning karate practice, please review our Beginning Karate FAQ.
Beginners are always welcome
Beginners are always welcome. Regardless of your age, sex, or current physical condition, you can begin karate practice and enjoy it. Through serious martial arts practice, we can learn to face ourselves strictly and show our best spirit in all situations.
Originally this was the most important thing about martial arts–to reach a higher level, to become a strong human being. Strong doesn’t mean big muscles. It means who can be a more strict human being with himself. That is the ideal of martial arts.
– Tsutomu Ohshima.
We strongly encourage those looking to begin karate to watch a practice or two before signing up. Watching a practice will help you understand if our practice is right for you.
Beginners practice side by side with more senior members. Because of this, it may seem as though beginners will be challenged with advanced concepts from day one, or that beginners would be holding back the progress of other students. However, this is not the case.
Karate practice has many layers. While practicing a technique such as “down block” as a group, beginning members will primarily be focusing on learning the basics of the technique and how to make it work, while the more senior members will be fine tuning their technique to make it quicker, more efficient, and more effective. Senior members never stop practicing the fundamentals. It is through this repetition that one gradually refines their technique over many, many years. Instructors always provide instruction that is appropriate for the level of the student.
When pairing up for partner drills or sparring, senior members are trained to push their juniors, but not to overwhelm or injure them. It is the responsibility of every black belt to pass down what they have learned to willing students. Therefore, facing an opponent that is of a much higher level than you is a blessing, as they will be able to help you develop in ways that less senior partners cannot.
It is always a great time to start
Several of our instructors started karate practice while they were in college. Some started later in life. All continue to practice today.
You may have heard this quote: “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago; the second best time is now”. The same can be said for karate training. There’s no age restriction for self-improvement. Every black belt in our dojo was once a nervous beginner standing in the doorway, wondering if they’d made a mistake. Some of them started in their 20s. Some started in their 40s and 50s. What they had in common wasn’t youth. It was the decision to walk in and try.
Many of the benefits of karate practice, including improved physical fitness, improved mobility, improved mental focus, improved stamina, have nothing to do with age. These benefits can be observed in students beginning at age 20 and students beginning at age 50.
