We have all seen at least one of the Karate Kid movies (although many try to deny it!). Daniel LaRusso meets the local caretaker/karate expert who gets him to clean his cars, paint his fence and sand his floor. Don't worry, you don't have to do this! Washing the instructors car is an optional extra!
In reality there are three main sections of training that make up Karate. These are:
Kihon (Basics) - The fundamental techniques of Karate are taught in this and are expanded on into combinations as the karateka (karate exponent) improves in skill. Basics are a good way of improving technique and also testing your body and mind in unison.
Kata (Set Forms) - This solo section is typical of most martial arts and involves performing moves learnt in basics as a set form or pattern in the Dojo (training hall). The movements in Kata are said to come from combinations used to fight an opponent or opponents and teach karateka to get used to defending and attacking along eight main lines (to the front, behind, to the left, to the right and to each diagonal). Combinations can be extracted from the kata and used in Kata Bunki (Kata Application). Kata is said to be the root of all karate. More about kata can be found by following this link.
Kumite (Sparring) - This is the aspect of karate that many people look forward to the most. Kumite is the fighting section of karate and was originally thought too dangerous to practice in its free-style form...this was before the idea of control was introduced! For beginners kumite starts in a set manner. This involves a pre-arranged block and counter-attack. The announcement of the area being attacked and the technique being used is also necessary. Various forms of kumite include Gohon kumite (basic five-step), Kihon ippon (basic one-step), Jyu ippon (semi-free sparring where the attack is announced but performed as in a free-style situation) and eventually Jyu kumite (free-style kumite). A further type of kumite is Kaisho ippon kumite. This involves the the first person attacking, the defender blocking and then counter-attacking, and finally the attacker blocking the counter-attack and counter-attacking that. As you can imagine it is quite difficult to do and so is usually only practised by dan grades (black belts)!
The name Karate is made up of two Japanese characters. The first one, kara,
meaning empty and the second, te, meaning hand. It is called this for the simple reason that
Karate involves no weaponry as the exponent uses their own fists and feet
to inflict damage onto an opponent. As Okinawa (where Karate originated from)
is a small island to the south of Japan it was surpressed by the then rulers.
To stop any danger from Okinawans being able to fight the Japanese soldiers
it became against the law to carry weapons. This is when empty hand fighting
came in useful.
Gichin Funakoshi (1868-1957) is the man who is widely accepted as the father of
modern day Karate although he did not invent all the techniques
and katas. As with a lot of martial arts, modern day Shotokan karate
is an amalgamation of many different fighting styles from throughout
south-east Asia. These styles were passed down from person to person, including
the teachers of Funakoshi, such as Itosu and Matsumura. Sensei Funakoshi,
from Okinawa, took the best parts
from all that he had learnt and called his art Karate.
Karate was then
taken to the mainland of Japan in 1922 and after many demonstrations
and explanations people started to take notice of the art. As Karate
became more popular the universities started to take an interest in it.
These university clubs are now prestigious karate centres
and have taught people such as
Sensei Enoeda
(the chief instructor of the KUGB) who trained at Takushoku University.
Karate began to spread worldwide after the treaty of peace between Japan and the USA when Master Funakoshi went on a three month tour
of the American mainland. He took with him some of his senior students. Among them
was Masatoshi Nakayama (the late chief instructor of the JKA).
Under Nakayama, Shotokan and the JKA developed a structured grading system
which included a grading syllabus and the coloured belt system which we now use
(previously there was only beginner and black belt).
The Dojo Code is the code of conduct under which the art of Karate is practiced.
The KUGB emphasises the character building aspects of karate in
which respect for the dojo, instructors and fellow students is an essential principle.
The ultimate aim of the art of Karate lies not in victory or defeat but in the perfection of the character of its participants
through hard training, sincerity, effort, etiquette and self control.
Here is the Dojo Code in Japanese calligraphy followed by a translation
into English for those of you who can't read Japanese!:
Character - Exert oneself in the perfection of character
Sincerity - Be faithful and sincere
Effort - Cultivate the spirit of perserverance
Etiquette - Be respectful and courteous
Self-control - Refrain from impetuous and violent behaviour
(Dojo Code wording from KUGB 30th Anniverary Programme)
If you have any further questions about karate training at Backwell then 
us.
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