It is possible to learn karate at home, If you are unable to attend a local karate Dojo, or you are just too busy, then learning karate online with the help of video tutorials is the next best thing.
Karate is an incredible and fascinating art form that has developed over thousands of years. Karate fully developed on the island of Okinawa, then spreading around the world, giving us the karate we have today.
There are thousands of karate for beginners classes starting every day, where people, young and old start to learn karate for the first time.
Karate classes usually start with a warm up, followed by a full body stretch. This alone is great for health and well being, keeping the body soft and supple is a fantastic thing, especially in your later years.
Next in a typical class will come basic karate moves (kihon), blocking, punching, kicking, etc. These are practiced on the spot, or stepping forward, back and even at different angles in the many varied karate stances (dachi).
These are the techniques you will be able to practice at home and get an idea of what karatedo (the way of karate) is all about.
Learn Karate At Home
So karate class training has the warm up and stretch, basics (kihon), then next comes sparring (kumite).
Now the word sparring is used loosely in karate because it usually means anytime you partner up to practice karate techniques.
For example, you may partner up to practice a wrist grab and escape, this will be called kumite or sparring in the dojo (training hall).
So try not to think that every time the word sparring (kumite) is used, you are going to partner up with a crazed black belt who is going to try and kill you!
After the warm up, basics and sparring, kata (forms) is usually practiced.
Kata is a sequence of karate moves including, punches, kicks, strikes, jumps, spins, etc, that are strung together in a particular order, to create a pattern of techniques, similar to the gymnastics floor display.
To explain kata fully will need an article all on it’s own, but to me kata is the most important element of karatedo. They say, kumite is the spirit of karate, but kata is the soul! And I agree.
So if you are looking to learn karate at home, I wish you luck and urge you to practice well and more importantly ENJOY your karate.
Good luck with your journey in the wonderful world that is karatedo! Ossu!
People practice karate for many different reasons, some practice karate for self defense, some practice for fitness, some practice for health and well being and many practice for all the above.
You have to find your own way and after a short period of karate training, you will know your path. Be that kata (my favourite) or kumite (sparring).
I have always been a bit of a renegade, some sensei say you must train like this or like that, but as i get older i now say, if you don’t like it do not do it. This way people find their way in karate.
Some people do not like fighting, so some sensei will say, but you must fight! I say NO! If someone doesn’t want to fight, then they do not have to and who’s to say they will not fight in the future.
I do not believe in my way or the high way attitude that some sensei have. We all know how important sparring is, but if someone doesn’t want to spar, that shouldn’t mean they cannot practice karate.
So you see, it’s all down to the individual and with the internet and technology today, anyone can learn karate at home and become very skilled in this fascinating ancient art of karate.
While you are here, why not check out our shotokan karate membership. We have members from all over the world. All training at home with our online tutorials, of which there are many, all highly detailed but easy to follow.
We also have live zoom classes which we record, edit, then upload to our online Dojo which help our members learn karate at home. We also have a ranking system for those karateka who wish to progress through the ranks.
Click below to check out our current offer, or try our free home study course at the bottome of this page. Oss!
