Start Learning Karate: Things You Should Know Before You Start

Karate is a complex and wide-ranging philosophy. There have been thousands of years of armed and unarmed combat. Every new generation continues to perfect techniques that were perfected hundreds of years ago.

The development of martial arts philosophy has been influenced by Buddhism, Taoism, and the Bushido code. Modern Karate originated in Japan around 400 years ago with roots mainly in Chinese Kung Fu. Begin learning the basics of this art form by following.

Karate – Understanding It

Understanding the entire point of this martial art (and most martial arts) is important before committing. Both the mind and the body must be strong, confident, and respectful.
Rather than conflict, it’s about peace. Bullies will always be around, and that is inevitable.

Bullies, however, seek power and control, not over themselves, but over others. Being aware that someone can stand up for themselves should deter some of them.

Karate can also help you avoid bully tactics such as name-calling and hurtful remarks. They may abandon you if they cannot make you care.

In the event that conflicts cannot be avoided, karate will help resolve them.

Prior to joining a certain karate class, you should also understand how the class functions. Every group dynamic is different, and every teacher’s approach is different as well. Before deciding whether a class is right for you, you may want to observe one.

Be Respectful

If peace is the first pillar of karate, respect is the second. Respect is one of the most important factors in avoiding conflict. It’s the difference between a disagreement or a friendly debate and an argument.

This will be evident from your first day at the martial arts dojo. You will need to address your teacher as Mr., Mrs., or Sensei. You also need to see and treat your peers as equals.

Stretches

A great karate tip for beginners is stretching. Karate, like any other physical activity, allows you to warm up first.

Stretching before and after any type of workout has a variety of benefits for the body.

In karate, in particular, it is best to use stretches that require a greater range of motion. Not only does this prepare your entire body for physical activity, it can also help prevent injury.

Remember that injuries can happen from time to time and there is nothing anyone can do about it. However, the less this happens, the better your experience will be.

Expect to Work Hard

Karate is unlike any other class or school. In a way, it’s more like a sport.

It’s not about knowing the answers, because there’s no right answer to anything. It’s about getting better. Even if you are good at something, you can always improve.

“I do not fear the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks once, but the man who has practiced one kick 10,000 times,” Bruce Lee said once.” In other words, there is no overtraining.

You may know what you’re doing this week, but there’s always more to learn. Karate is something that should always demand 110% of you.

As a bonus, all that hard work can actually make you healthier.

Meditate

As with anything else, karate must be approached calmly. While it’s understandable that you’re nervous and insecure, it doesn’t help.

Meditation is a practice of understanding your thoughts and concerns and learning to put them in perspective. It’s a skill and it takes some practice to master.

That means it will definitely help you, not just with your karate, but potentially with life in general. Many mistakes in life are made because we are nervous or not thinking straight.

Don’t Stop at the Dojo

We already mentioned that martial arts is not just about learning to hit objects. It’s a philosophy, and it’s a philosophy that goes far beyond the walls of the dojo.

You may find that the discipline, respect, and self-knowledge you gain affect other areas of your life, probably for the better. You may find that you are more focused on work and other tasks you need to complete.

Maybe you have less conflict in your life. Maybe you’re not taking things as personally as you used to. Sometimes we all take things the wrong way and the confidence you gain through karate can be a huge help.

The Experts, When Did They Start Learning?

When you find out when great martial artists began studying, you may be surprised. At the age of 13, Bruce Lee began learning the art of martial arts, which made him one of the most skilled martial artists of his generation. According to most accounts, Cynthia Rothrock was the same age as Jean Claude Van Damme, who was 11. Michelle Yeoh, star of “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,” learned martial arts at the age of 22!

The youngest of the two, Jet Li, was eight and the youngest, Jackie Chan, seven when they began their training. According to research, most martial arts instructors begin training by the time they are 10 years old, while grandmasters usually begin when they are 6 or 7 years old. Children under the age of six do not benefit from proper karate training.

Is Karate Good for Kids?

Karate is really great for kids. We are not talking about children between 2 and 3 years old but between 3 and 10 years old. Karate and other martial arts undoubtedly remain one of the most beneficial activities you can enroll your child in. Even 3-4-year-olds show cognitive improvements and greater motor function later in life when learning karate.

Having multiple authority figures within a smaller society or community is also said to increase a child’s gratitude and sense of belonging. This has very positive effects on general mental attitude as well as social skills and the ability to respect and communicate with others.

From a physiological point of view, karate is also fantastic for children. It combines stretching, strength training, cardio, and flexibility to bring out the best possible fighter in everyone. All this is good to improve not only the physical condition of the child but also the mental one. You will learn to be still and listen, self-discipline, and self-management of pain.

Karate is a surprisingly beneficial activity for children. So if you have a younger kid who has a crush on Jackie Chan or Bruce Lee, check out nearby karate training centers.

Here is our full article on karate for kids. Be careful when enrolling your child in a course.

What Are the Benefits of Karate?

Karate has many benefits, both sanitary and utilitarian. When the term karate is mentioned, many people immediately imagine the scene where the locker room bully tries to push the boy against the lockers to intimidate him, only to be knocked out with a circular kick.

These fantasies are often very unrealistic, the general image or message that karate can help defend yourself is not a lie. In the most common types of karate, you will learn to punch, kick and block correctly. How to have a solid stance and how to use all your strength to the fullest, which certainly helps in any situation on the road.

In terms of health, karate improves cardiovascular health by exercising the heart, increasing muscle strength and generally muscle mass, lower BMI, and making children more agile and faster. Karate has many health benefits and once you know them it is clear how all martial artists look so healthy, young, and fit.

Karate training also has many mental benefits. Traditional forms of karate use different types of breathing techniques to calm the mind and teach focus. Especially for hyperactive kids, but also for all kids, it can be a big help if they have a passion like a karate, which they like and appreciate, but which also teaches and controls them.

They can pour all their energy into a karate class and go home much more relaxed and confident, which can really help them deal with hyperactivity. In addition to curbing hyperactivity and promoting relaxation and calm, it also helps with patience, especially in children. They must learn to be still and listen to the teacher or tutor, which increases concentration and tolerance for discomfort, all skills that the child later likes to possess.

Karate is a fantastic martial art and sport that enhances the cognitive and physiological processes of children and adults in a way that no other activity can, except perhaps different types of martial arts. If all the benefits sound good to you, consider enrolling your child in these classes as neither you nor your child will regret it, or perhaps enroll.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with older people trying to find another hobby, and why can’t they also use that hobby to protect themselves and their children?

Is Karate Hard to Learn?

One of the most common concerns among adult karate students is learning difficulties.

In short, karate is easy to learn but difficult to master. Most adults will be able to master the basics of the sport in a reasonable amount of time. The level of difficulty increases as you progress.

A useful visual aid for visualizing progress in learning karate is the hockey stick growth chart.

Imagine the tip of the hockey stick blade being the starting point for a complete beginner in karate. At the tip of the blade, where the stick begins, the beginner masters the basics of karate. The end of the shaft represents a karate master.

As you can see, at the beginning you will experience strong growth in a relatively short period of time. Learning the basics of karate such as proper balance and punching and kicking forms is easier than you probably think! However, the road to mastery is much longer.

Learning a new skill will present challenges. It will take time and effort to get used to a new skill. As adults, we often feel more confident when trying something new. Adult learners are often discouraged by the level of difficulty in acquiring new skills.

Don’t be discouraged! It is a mistake to think that children are inherently better learners than adults. Karate can be learned at any age and the good news is that the barrier to entry is low in terms of difficulty.

Group Karate Lessons for Adult Beginners

Good news for all seniors who want to learn karate: most karate dojos offer introductory courses for adults!

Most karate classes start with a warm-up session. The karate teacher can vary the intensity according to the needs of the class. You can expect dynamic stretches that will prepare you for the techniques that will be practiced later in the class.

Beginner classes revolve around the fundamentals known as kihon in karate. Adult beginners learn proper form and technique for stances, punches, kicks, and blocks. This can be done while standing still or while driving.

Once the form is mastered, the next step is to learn the kata, exercises that teach you how to move from one position to another. Individually or in pairs, this can be done. The instructor can move on to ippon kumite, which are exercises derived from kata and designed specifically to teach self-defense.

The next level would be jiju kumite or free sparring. Beginners should not participate in these workouts and can choose not to participate, although those brave enough can try.

The class ends with a relaxation session, which typically includes static stretching to improve flexibility and prevent injury.

Don’t fall into the trap of thinking you’re too old to learn karate. The truth is, there are many karate classes suitable for adult beginners of all fitness levels. Finding the right class for you will take you further on your karate journey.

Conclusion

Learning karate is often associated with children and teenagers, but karate is for everyone. It’s never too late to start learning, even if you are older. The advantages are many and there are almost no disadvantages.

Don’t hold back just because you think you’re too old. Age is just a number, and embracing new ventures as you get older is the secret to staying young. The truth is, you’re never too old until you think you’re too old!

Learn karate day by day, focus on yourself and you will see noticeable improvements in various areas of your life. Take the initiative and find adult classes at your local dojo! Try it, nothing to lose!