We are three weeks into our new fall session for elementary age students and the kids are doing great. We have introduced the concept of kata in our classes and the students, based upon their age and experience level, have begun learning their forms. Kata are the formal exercises of karate. They are mandatory floor exercises consisting of patterns of blocks, strikes and kicks that follow a prearranged pattern. There are specific requirements for kata at all levels of martial arts. As karateka we never stop learning and practicing kata.
I've included a few links below to some excellent Youtube tutorials for the basic Shotokan kata our students must learn this session. Feel free to watch them with your karate kid and celebrate what he or she has learned so far in our classes.
New students who will be progressing from white belt to yellow belt must demonstrate the kata Taikyoku Shodan (First Cause Level One). Here's a classic demonstration of this kihon (basic) kata: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzIQJsRJzEk
Students progressing from yellow belt to orange belt must learn two kata, Taikyoku Nidan and Taikyoku Sandan. Taikyoku Nidan is almost identical to their first kata, so I haven't included a link for that form. Taikyoku Sandan, however, introduces a new stance. Here's a link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jugfPiwN1Dk
Our orange belts who hope to pass to blue belt this session must learn the first form of the Heian (Peaceful Mind) series. This is an essential kata practiced in every Shotokan dojo in the world. Here's a link to Heian Shodan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9D2yOzDsW8k
If you are interested in learning kata along with your child, please join us in our adult sessions on Tuesday evenings in Orono. Good luck and happy training.
I've included a few links below to some excellent Youtube tutorials for the basic Shotokan kata our students must learn this session. Feel free to watch them with your karate kid and celebrate what he or she has learned so far in our classes.
New students who will be progressing from white belt to yellow belt must demonstrate the kata Taikyoku Shodan (First Cause Level One). Here's a classic demonstration of this kihon (basic) kata: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzIQJsRJzEk
Students progressing from yellow belt to orange belt must learn two kata, Taikyoku Nidan and Taikyoku Sandan. Taikyoku Nidan is almost identical to their first kata, so I haven't included a link for that form. Taikyoku Sandan, however, introduces a new stance. Here's a link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jugfPiwN1Dk
Our orange belts who hope to pass to blue belt this session must learn the first form of the Heian (Peaceful Mind) series. This is an essential kata practiced in every Shotokan dojo in the world. Here's a link to Heian Shodan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9D2yOzDsW8k
If you are interested in learning kata along with your child, please join us in our adult sessions on Tuesday evenings in Orono. Good luck and happy training.