Fighting is a skill that everyone should have but endeavour never to use
Red Belt (9th Kyu) Basic Techniques: Junzuki, gyakuzuki, jodan uke, gedan barai, mawatte (all in zenkutsu dachi), hizageri, kingeri, 1-10 in Japanese. Yellow Belt (8th Kyu) Basic Techniques: Yoko uraken, tettsui otos hi uchi, mawashi empi, uchi uke, soto uke … Continued
The reason why karate is a beloved art form and way of life is because of the beautiful paradox that it presents. Karate is about learning to fight so that you don’t have to. The crucial lesson that karate-do teaches … Continued
Only when done incorrectly. You’ll note from this picture that the right way to hold a stance is to have the knee point in the same direction as the foot. It’s a natural position. When the knee is at a … Continued
This is a grey area in karate practice which I’d like to explain in more detail. In our club, all contact is by consent. In an effort to clear up any misunderstandings, a quick chat before engaging with your … Continued
It was once possible to choose karate or judo as a PE module for GCSE and A Level certification. The grade required in karate for GCSE was 8th to 7th kyu (yellow or orange belt) and the grade required for … Continued
Absolutely not! Karate is for people of any age, not just children. Every week I teach karate to many adults wanting to learn self-defence skills, get fit and stay fit without the tedium of going to the gym, build confidence … Continued
Many people are aware that there are several different styles of karate, the most popular being Wado Ryu, Shotokan, Kyokushinkai and Goju Ryu, in no particular order. But did you know that different types of karate have developed through the history of its evolution? … Continued
When karate came to Europe from Japan, it was very much a martial art for young men. Kumite among students was often full contact and with just thinly padded gloves designed to protect the knuckles, not your opponent’s face. The … Continued
Karate training is a combination of both a cardiovascular and strength workout. Nutritionally, you need the right amount of good carbohydrates, proteins and fats for progression. But how much food and when? Well there’s no one size fits all answer … Continued
Regular practice is essential to progress through the belts. For home practice, there are some (limited) online video tutorials at https://loughtonkarateclub.co.uk/tutorials/. Alternatively, these are the YouTube links for the katas in our syllabus: Orange Belt, Pinan Nidan – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjEHXPd3I2I Green Belt, Pinan Sandan – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0cVH1JYwIw Blue … Continued