The Workout

Okay, you go to karate class. You receive a lesson. You practice. What is it, exactly, that you do? Exact! That, is a key word to remember.

Isshinryu Karate emphasizes three areas of practice; basics, kata, and kumite. Therein lie the movements, techniques, and strategies, that define karate.

There are general exercises that help prepare a student to meet the unique physical demands of karate. All students progress at their rate, according to their own ability, and should be taught how to perform the exercises properly and safely.

Calesthetics, stretching, and strengthening exercises that you might find in a high school gym class are most popular: push-ups, running in place, squat jumps, yoga type flexing, twisting, bending, loosening the joints.

The routines may vary, but the exercises are performed in every class. The amount of time spent on the preliminary exercises usually lessens as fitness levels increase. This allows more time to be spent on the execution of karate; the stances, blocks, strikes, kicks, throws, takedowns, and manipulations. Developing theses skills thus becomes the workout. A student may begin with a 50/50 ratio of preliminary exercise to karate execution; then gradually evolve to 40/60, 30/70, 20/80, 10/90. Even the most skilled practicioners find it prudent to warm up before beginning their karate workout.