Your First 12 Weeks Practice.

 

The following text is designed to give you some idea of what to expect during the first twelve weeks of practice as a new practitioner in Kyle Karate Club. It should be noted that the following schedule is only given as a guide, and will be adapted to each individual's needs.

 

Week One The first thing you will learn is how to be aware of your posture and how it alters when you move. After you start to become aware of this, then will be the time to start learning to make the hand movements, ( i.e. blocks etc. ) whilst disturbing you posture as little as possible while moving. As you learn more than you expect to remember there is no need for anxiety, since there will always be at least one instructor or coach watching you at all times to try to ensure that you don't learn bad habits by doing things wrong.   It is our wish that all the habits you learn during your sessions with us are beneficial to you.
Week Two Recap what was learned the previous week. ( not always by doing the same thing! ) Now that you have some hand techniques it is time to be introduced to Kata, which is a method as a "beginner" to practice posture, stances, techniques and most important of all, do all these things whilst moving in all directions. Introduction to the basic ideas of leg techniques ( kicking, blocking etc. ). Breathing and how it is affected by what you do, and how what you do is affected by how you breathe.
Week Three As always a recap of what has been done before to make sure that no unrealistic movements or techniques have come into you practice. Now when you practice kata you must copy as closely as possible the person at the front of your group. In doing so some of the things you will learn about will include form and timing. Also when performing kata, imagine what the consequences of each action would be in a real situation. This imagination will be the key to your successful development.
Week Four Now it should be time to practice with a partner so that you can see if what you were imagining was real. Learning to cross-reference all that you do is a fundamental part of shotokai training. The first practice with a partner will be Sanbon. This involves being attacked three times in succession with the same technique to which your response will be to move back while maintaining good posture and finally using the appropriate block on the third attack. The better you are at following in the kata, the easier you will find this part of the practice.
Week Five Practising will now be intensifying to such an extent that you must allow yourself to do so on motor function only ( i.e. stop thinking through each step of a movement - let your body do it naturally ). Techniques must now start to be practised with sincerity to allow them to be absorbed into your being. Learn the secret of how to absorb information from demonstrations.
Week Six It is important that you learn to use your natural instinct to copy that which you wish to emulate. Imagination is the best method of carrying out this process. The more you use imagination the less judgmental you will be, and you will be able to learn more in a shorter time. You will begin to appreciate Kata.
Week Seven Remember that you should always practice what you have done before and add to this store any new information you may have received. In this way the new information is linked with the information you already have. Recap everything you have done until now to make sure you understand what is required of you. When you now practice with a partner remember that you are having a conversation - not an argument. Now you must recognise the need to do as many repetitions as time will allow to enable the techniques to become genuine.
Week Eight It is still necessary to keep repeating techniques to allow you to feel when they are correct. In this way you won't be distracted by having to continually check by looking. Start carrying out practices like Sanbon quickly to check for any changes in you body condition.
Week  Nine Now is probable the time to start trying to use and understand sensitivity in your practices. You are still required to perform all the previous practices, but now you are trying to include feedback from more of your senses. You will now be feeling your body condition and you emotional feeling as you move. Check the relationship between them.
Week Ten Keep practising the form of the kata, techniques etc. Also, check as you practice your "learning state", to allow you to add to your existing understanding.
Week Eleven Try now to find as many methods of practising what you have learned to date. This will enable you to use these techniques in a variety of situations. Discuss amongst you peer group what you have been doing, and start to put your own interpretations onto the various movements. Use your imagination to motivate yourself to continue improving.
Week Twelve Everything you do now should be done in such a way as to guide your whole body and mind towards your set goal. Keep practising the basics and take onboard all the information made available to you. This is only the start - there is no way that everything could or should be covered in such a short space of time.

 

 

Your advancement now will only
be restricted by the limits you
put on your imagination.