Training Outline

• Meditation (Mokutso) - Class begins and ends with meditation and breathing exercises
• Warm up and stretching - This is an important aspect of training to avoid injury
• Basic Training - There are three components to Shotokan karate training: kihon, kata and kumite. Each plays a crucial role to the development of karate skills
  • Kihon - The practice of fundamental techniques : blocking, punching, striking, and blocking
  • Kata - formal exercises which combine basic karate techniques (blocking, punching, striking, and kicking) into a series of predetermined movements. Kata combines offensive and defensive techniques, proper body movement, and changes in direction
  • Kumite - Kata and kumite are complementary training methods. In kata, one learns basic techniques; in kumite, one applies them with a sparring partner

Teaching Methodology - Children's Program

We balance Karate training with fun physical and mental activities that include:

• teaching Japanese Shotokan Karate-do skills and techniques
• showing students the path to improve daily no matter how small the improvement
• physical and mental exercises (meditation, coordination skills, focus, etc.)
• emphasizing character growth, courtesy, honor, self-respect, obedience, pride, humility and respect to others
• personal safety and awareness as self-defense
• training safety. Children don’t hit each other. Contact is restricted and limited under Instructor guidance and supervision
• teaching Karate as a competitive sport. Children will be trained and able to compete in local and regional tournaments
• And, above all, FUN for everybody involved!

Awards, Rewards & Ranking

For children and adults, we do not give ribbons, medals, trophies, belts or certificates to our students. Training provides the student with the confidence to earn them, and the respect to wear them!! And by doing so they learn the values of humility, pride, patience, perseverance and hard work. For children this is all shared in a family environment with the involvement and participation of their parents/guardians if they decide to do join. (Special fee available for Parent/Child Pairs)

Teaching Methodology - Teens & Adults

We follow the guidelines established under the Japan Karate Association and JKA of Vermont for Shotokan Karate-do training, ranking and competition

• emphasis on self-development: physical, spiritual and mental
• coordination, endurance, flexibility and balance
• advanced training for competition
• workshops, seminars, tournaments (regional, national and international level)
• adhere to principals and code of ethics of Bushido ("way of the warrior")