These are the building blocks of karate where you learn stances and how to punch, block and kick. In the first few lessons students are taught front stance, back stance and side stance and how to move forwards and backwards in these stances and how to turn.

The standard striking techniques in karate are; forward punch, reverse punch, snap punch and knife hand strike. Blocking techniques are taught for attacks to the head, stomach and groin. Front kick, sidekick and roundhouse kick are all covered as a beginner.

Karate power is often talked about in magazines and films as a kind of super-human force. In truth, karate power is generated by maximising the biodynamic potential of the human body. For example, executing a reverse punch in front stance utilising a twisting motion of the hips, exhaling and tensing one’s muscles for a fraction of a second will generate considerable power. This is achievable by anybody, male or female, independent of their size, if they have trained in karate and developed a level of competency in basics.

The 3 Amigos

Kevin Leigh, 7th Dan, Clive Young, 6th Dan, Peter Edwards, 6th Dan

The January Challenge:

For the first month of the year, we up our training regime to remove the Christmas/New Year cobwebs!! A fitness target for each of us according to age and current level of fitness (-: