Your First Class

If you’re worried that your first karate class will seem strange, don’t worry, it absolutely will. But that’s okay. 😄

Karate training involves a lot of “strange” customs and practices designed to teach respect and humility while keeping everyone safe. Here’s what you can expect on your first day of class (and most days thereafter).

Before Class

When you arrive to the dojo, enter, and remove your shoes immediately. Set them neatly aside, along with anything else you brought to class with you. Before stepping onto the training floor, bow to the front of the dojo and say “Osu.”

Because we train barefoot, it may be necessary to clean the floor before class. If so, everyone, from the highest-ranking black belt to the newest beginner, helps clean the floor.

“Opening” Class

When it’s time for class to begin, students form a standing line, in rank order, with beginners on the far left, facing front. If there are any announcements to be made before class, the instructor will make them at this time.

When all announcements are made, a senior student will open class with a series of commands. As a new student, just follow along.

Class, Itself

Class will begin with a brief series of warm-up exercises. Just follow along and do your best. After warm-ups, the instructor will tell you where to stand and what to do. As a new student, the instructor may assign a more experienced student to help you.

Once class begins, you’ll find that training consists (mostly) of three kinds of exercises: Kihon, kata, and kumite.

Kihon

“Kihon” is often translated as “basics”, but it would be better to say “fundamentals” as there’s nothing “basic” about karate training. This is where you’ll learn to perform individual techniques, like punches, kicks, and blocks, either standing in place or while moving across the floor.

Kata

“Kata” are the pre-arranged “forms” of karate, where you learn to string individual techniques together in a set pattern while moving around the floor. To someone outside karate, kata may look like dances, but they’re really a form of solo practice similar to shadowboxing.

Kumite

“Kumite” are the partner drills of karate, ranging from pre-arranged attack and defense drills to free sparring. Rest assured, beginners will only engage in drills appropriate to their level.

“Closing” Class

When class is over, the instructor will tell students to line up (just like the beginning of class). Any closing announcements will be given at this time.

Then class will end almost like it began. A senior student will “close” class by giving a set of commands, almost identical to those at the beginning. Again, just follow along.

After Class

Just as we did before class, we show respect to our dojo and our training partners by cleaning the floor. Everyone is expected to participate.

When leaving the training floor, bow to the front of the classroom, saying “Osu!”, just as you did when you entered the floor. Gather your belongings and put on your shoes just before stepping outside the dojo.