What is Shotokan Karate?  

Over the centuries, Karate has been taught worldwide as a means of self-defence. The Japanese word, ‘Karate’, actually means “empty hand” and through a series of exercises, students are taught how to use their body in a way that will protect them. Founded by Master Gichin Funakoshi, Shotokan Karate was established in 1936 and since then, Shotokan has become one of the most popular styles of Karate practiced in the world.

What are the benefits of Shotokan Karate?  

Shotokan Karate, in its strict form, teaches self-defence, self-discipline, improves co-ordination, develops strength & speed, helps to build character and brings confidence to its practitioner. It is also a very good way of keeping fit, improving stamina, balance and agility.

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What are the three main elements of Shotokan Karate?  

From the beginning, students are taught a series of exercises which they are required to perform at gradings in order to progress to the next level of their training.

Kihon (Basics) are the techniques  (or combination of techniques as they progress through their grades) that students are required to perform during the grading or examination. As a beginner, for instance, a student will learn the basic stance, movement in stance and the execution of techniques such as blocks, kicks and punches.

Kata (Forms) is a sequence of techniques performed in various directions, similar to that of a choreographed dance, that allows the student to display his capability to execute techniques in varying stances. Each grading (signified by a different colour belt) students are required to learn a new Kata, encompassing different moves. Twenty-six Kata are practised in the art of Shotokan Karate, each one displaying increasing complexity of techniques and movements, as students progress through their grades.  

Kumite (Sparring) is taught with strict control and requires students to partner up. At first instance, students are taught pre-arranged sparring where one person shouts an attack and the other prepares to block it before countering. Various types of pre-arranged Kumite are taught which allows the student to become aware of requirements such as timing, distancing and control. All Kumite, it is stressed, is practiced under close supervision and strict control of techniques.

Jiyu-Kumite, known as Free Sparring, allows students to practice Karate techniques against each other in a controlled environment helping to improve, to name but a few, reaction, speed, timing and distancing. 

How has Shotokan Karate evolved since the seventies?  

A lot has changed since the seventies regarding Shotokan Karate. In the past three decades, Karate has gained a reputation for being an aggressive martial art in which students spend their time beating each other up! However, for the last fifteen years, Shotokan Karate has gone through many changes regarding the practice of the art in a Dojo (training hall) and in the competition arena.

These days, control of techniques is strongly emphasised to students and taught with the utmost of care and attention. For children, even skin touch is regarded as too much contact when applied to the face at most tournaments of high standard. These same rules are taught to young students in everyday classes, such is the importance of their safety and well-being.

In Kumite competitions of the highest quality, speed, agility & athleticism have become the major requisites required from students in recent years. A far cry from the olden days where brute power and force was once an important aspect of tournament karate. With the possibility of Sport Karate becoming an Olympic Sport in July this year, controlling of techniques has now become part of training, even more than before.

How Does One Improve and Progress?  

Shotokan Karate, as mentioned earlier, is made up of three components – Kihon (Basics), Kata (Forms) and Kumite (Sparring). As a student progresses through the grades (various belt colours), he/she is required to perform a more complex set of basic technique combinations featuring kicks, punches, blocks and strikes more often than not. There are usually approximately five or six different combinations required to be learned by the student for each grading.

The student is also required to learn a different Kata (form) for each grade he/she passes.

Finally, students are required to block and counter attack, with control, various pre-arranged attacks. This is known as Kumite and teaches the student important skills such as correct distancing, timing and, of course, control.

As well as the above, students will be required to perform kicks, punches and strikes against focus pads and large kick pads in order to improve many aspects of their techniques including strength and targeting.

Free sparring, jiyu-kumite, is often practiced at the end of many sessions of karate and as well as being much fun for youngsters, it helps them learn control, distancing, timing and correct execution of techniques to name but a few. 

Approximately every three to four months, most students are often ready to progress to the next level. These levels are determined by a grade number and a belt colour, for example 7th Kyu is the grade number and green is the colour of the belt worn to signify the students grade.

The progression is made when a student successfully passes their grading or examination, as it were.

What is Competition Karate?  

Competition Karate features the two of the main elements of the Karate – Kata and Kumite (forms and fighting).

Kata – as already mentioned above, is a sequence of techniques performed effectively with the correct timing, speed, power & grace. Each technique has a meaning and in the performance of Kata, this must be evident in the competitors attitude and display.

In competitions, two competitors, in turn, will perform their Kata and the better of the two as judged by the officials progresses into the next round.

Kumite – two competitors face each other wearing mitts, gumshields and other protective gear if required. From the practice gained in the Dojo, the object is to score more points than your opponent. Remember, great control is an important factor in Kumite as well as good execution of techniques and attitude. 

Why is Karate more popular than ever?  

It goes without saying that we live in a society which can often attract unwanted danger and situations out of our control. Constant practice of Karate teaches a student to react naturally should they need to defend themselves. In children, discipline is often a popular attribute a parent may want their child to learn. Parents, more importantly, want their children to learn self-defence and a means to protecting themselves if necessary.

Children often enjoy the fun aspects of Karate such as Sparring, agility games and pad work. Youngsters also love to learn and perform Kata, allowing the more creative students to express themselves freely.

As well as the above, Sport Karate is becoming much more popular in terms of publicity. Major tournaments such as the European Karate Championships are now screened on channels such as Eurosport, for instance.

And Karate may even become an Olympic Sport in the very near future which would allow any aspiring student to channel their talents towards those areas whilst at the same time learning to protect themselves.

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