Shotokan Karate FAQ – Answers to Your Most Common Questions

Yes! a beginner can learn Shotokan Karate effectively online. While a traditional dojo provides a unique experience, a comprehensive online curriculum offers a flexible and highly effective alternative for new students. Our courses are specifically designed to build a strong foundation by meticulously covering fundamental stances (dachi), blocks (uke), and strikes (tsuki and uchi). The structured lessons progress logically, ensuring that you master each technique before moving on. The approach is built to overcome the common beginner's dilemma, allowing you to start and progress on your own terms. Try our first course, this course is a comprehensive Shotokan karate course with over 30 classes including 5 follow along classes. https://www.shotokankarateonline.com/shotokan-karate-course-limited-time-offer/

Our platform is meticulously designed to provide the same detailed guidance you would find in a physical dojo. Our comprehensive video library offers multiple camera angles, slow-motion breakdowns, and verbal cues for every technique, allowing you to see and practice movements with precision. The curriculum also includes detailed instructions on how to use mirrors and video recordings of yourself to self-correct your form and alignment. Additionally, our online community and instructor-led forums provide a space where you can upload videos of your progress and receive personalized, constructive critique directly from our seasoned instructors. This turns a perceived disadvantage into a core feature of the platform, leveraging technology to provide detailed, personalized feedback. The two main instructors are Sensei Linden Huckle 7th Degree black belt with over 50 years experience and Sensei Stuart Amos 5th Dan former world HDKI kata champion.

While online training cannot fully replicate the experience of physical sparring, it provides a robust foundation for self-defense and combat skills. Our curriculum focuses on the practical application of techniques through solo drills and shadowboxing exercises that improve form, speed, and power. The philosophical and tactical aspects of self-defense are also a core part of our courses, providing a crucial understanding of principles that extend beyond physical combat. For those interested in competitive sparring, our online training serves as excellent preparation for when you can eventually join an in-person dojo or seminar. The focus is on building the core skills and knowledge that are prerequisites for safe and effective sparring, positioning online training as a foundational step. One of the most important concepts of karate is Ikken Hissatsu or to finish with one blow. We try and instill this concept in our members by explaining that when blocking and attacking techniques are practiced at speed, they should be executed as if your life depends on it, when you hit the makiwara a full speed, you should not just try to hit it, but break it,destroy it! (obviously after you have executed hundreds of techniques lightly.

Yes, absolutely. Shotokan Karate is a way of life that can be learned at any age. Our online curriculum is designed to be accessible to everyone, regardless of current fitness level or age. The program allows you to learn at your own pace, focusing on the techniques and forms (kata) that are most relevant to your personal goals. ¹ The emphasis on controlled, precise movements and the absence of high-impact sparring in the early stages makes it an ideal discipline for older adults who may be concerned about physical strain. This approach allows you to improve physical fitness, balance, and mental discipline in a safe, controlled environment. We have just started our Online Dojo specifically for people over 50. https://www.shotokankarateonline.com/enso-dojo/

Choosing an online martial arts school requires careful consideration. It is recommended that you look for a platform that offers clear, well-structured lessons for beginners, provides access to expert instructors with verifiable credentials, and offers some form of community or personalized feedback. It is also highly beneficial to find a platform that offers a free trial or a sample of the lessons, as this allows you to evaluate the quality of the instruction and the teaching style before making a commitment.  By evaluating these key factors, you can find a platform that aligns with your goals and learning style. Check out our blog for some of our latest content: https://www.shotokankarateonline.com/blog/

Maintaining motivation is a key challenge for any online learner, and our platform is built to address it directly. We recommend setting clear, realistic goals and using a training journal to track your progress, which provides a tangible record of your dedication. Our progressive curriculum and private community forums connect you with fellow students from around the world. This allows you to share your journey, ask questions, and celebrate milestones together, providing the camaraderie and accountability of a traditional dojo. The community transforms the solitary experience into a shared one, providing a powerful system of support. 

It can accomplished quite quickly, but is entirely down to the individual and also the results can sometimes be very confusing and not make sense at all, let me explain.....If someone is practicing once per week and someone else is practicing three times per week, you would expect the person practicing three times per week to way more advanced after six months, but it depends completely on the attitude of the karateka whilst training, if someone is totally focused and applying the concept of Ikken Hissatsu with all their fast moves and train once per week, they will be way stronger and progress much faster than someone training three times per week, but simply going through the movements with no intent, so it's all down to the attitude of the karateka.

We have members that have injuries and they work around those injuries, we have some members that do not kick and thats fine, they focus more on upper body work.

One of the main benefits of learning at home is the minimal equipment required. For your first few months, a clear, open space is all that is necessary. A carpeted surface or interlocking foam pads are highly recommended to protect your joints during practice, especially on hard surfaces. Eventually, we do like our members to video their exams in a karate uniform (gi), but this is not compulsory. We have a Dojo patch (see question 5) Other equipment is purely optional, as in a punch bag, makiwara (striking board), recommended books, etc.

There is no stipulated time frame between gradings as many of our members have trained before, some members seem to fast track through the first 3 or 4 gradings.  Our offline Dojo has examinations every three months, but really its all down to the individual, as people progress at different speeds.

The monthly Dojo fee you pay from the start, will remain the same, but new members who take up this offer may pay more in the future.

Depending on what package you go for, determines the testing. For The Ultimate Package members there is no grading/testing fee, all the way to 1st Degree Black Belt.

Everyone else has the option to purchase the tests as and when they are ready for an extra fee. 

There is a higher fee associated with the black belt test, as this test is the big one and very time consuming. 

We do ask our members to get their own karate uniform (gi) and belts when they pass their rank tests. Our members receive really beautiful digital certificates when they pass and also have the opportunity to order printed certificates direct to their home (image below). 

We would prefer our karateka to wear Gi for testing, but this is optional and up to each member.

We have official EIKA Dojo patches which our members can purchase inside the Dojo. Image attached (the edges are actually white, not grey)

All fitness levels are suitable because you train at home and only do what you feel you can handle, you are in total control, the fitter you get, the more you can put into your karate practice.

You do not need much space at all, even with the kata, we have a technique where you can practice the whole kata in a five foot square space