WOOLTON/GARSTON SHOTOKAN KARATE CLUB

Welcome to the WGSKC web site
Shotokan Karate is open to everyone. We offer a caring, safe environment, where children and adults can learn the art of karate. We enable everyone at our club to fulfill their maximum potential. Our web site is where we would like to let all who are interested know about our club. Our club is made up of many members of different ages and coming from all walks of life. We feel one of the greatest things about being a member of the WGSKC is the togetherness and comradeship within the club. Each member is encouraged to develop a web page within this site dedicated to their individual path within Karate.

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Notice to all members that the brown and black belt training has been suspended until the future so training for all grades will continue as normal on Friday's, Monday's and Tuesday's

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Beginning Training in Karate

To begin training in karate all that is needed is a t-shirt and tracksuit bottoms, after a few weeks of training you can purchase a GI (pronounced gee) or karate suit, from your instructor or Sensei (sen say). Your Gi will come complete with a white belt.

When you enter the training hall, Dojo (doe joe), you should pause and with your heels together and hands flat at your side in the attention stance. When standing in the attention stance you should perform a standing bow to the centre of the dojo, this is to be done even when the dojo is empty and it is also done when leaving the dojo. Always treat the dojo with respect along with your fellow students (karateka) and warm up quietly before the class begins

When called to line up at the beginning of training karateka line up in order of the belt grades, from black to white, line up with everyone else and check you are next a person with the same belt colour as yourself. Before training begins the class will kneel down, sitting back on your heels, and then perform a sitting bow on the command of "sensei rei" after this the class is asked to stand and assume the attention stance. This kneeling bow is performed at the end of training also.
If you arrive after the class has begun, quietly prepare yourself and then kneel at the edge of the dojo and wait to be called by the sensei to join in the training. remember training begins and ends with courtesy.

After the formal beginning there will be a warm up routine followed by the training, karateka must again show respect to the sensei and the class by not talking and replying to any instruction from the sensei with "Oss" to show they have understood. If the karateka needs to gain the attention of the sensei they should raise their hand and wait to be acknowledged. If you are asked to move to a different place in the dojo or asked to face another karateka when more advanced always perform a standing bow.

During training when full power is used karateka will use "kiai" (kee eye) to enhance power, kiai is a loud noise made by the karateka on completion of a powerful technique it is similar to the noise made when lifting something heavy as your muscles tighten on impact.

 

The Language of Karate
On our site you can read about the "20 Principles of Karate" as set out by "Shihan" Gichin Funakoshi. Also, Shotokan Karate has its own unique terminology. The language used in the "dojo" can be studied and may help students grasp more while starting initial Karate training.
Read more

©wgskc 2011