Karate is a fascinating art with a storied history. It began in Okinawa, sometime in the 1600s in response to Satsuma samurai’s attack and vassalization of the island. During this time, much of the population was forbidden from carrying weapons, so the Okinawans invented a fighting style that didn’t require weapons.
This style became known as karate, Japanese for ’empty hands,’ and today it is among the most famous martial arts in the world.
Perhaps you want to learn karate, but don’t know where to start. Maybe you’ve already begun but could use a little extra advice. Either way, we’re here to help. We’ll offer some great advice on karate for beginners in the paragraphs below.
1. Understand Karate
Before committing to anything, you need to understand the entire point behind this martial art (and most martial arts). It’s all about confidence, respect, and strength of both mind and body.
It’s about peace, not conflict. The philosophy is that there are going to be bullies in the world, and that’s inevitable.
However, bullies are after power and control, except that they are after power and control over others, not themselves. Knowing that somebody can stand up for themselves, if need be, should ward off some of them.
Karate can also help you dismiss certain bully tactics like namecalling and hurtful remarks. If they can’t make you care, then they may leave you alone.
Conflict should be avoided at all costs, but karate will help with the conflicts that can’t be avoided.
Of course, it’s also best to understand how a certain karate class works before joining it. Every group has a different dynamic, and every teacher has a different approach. It may be best to observe a class before deciding if it’s right for you.
2. Be Respectful
If peace is the first cornerstone of karate, respect is the second. Respect is one of the key factors in avoiding conflict. It is the difference between a difference of opinion or a friendly debate and an argument.
This will be evident during your first day in the dojo. You will be expected to address your teacher as Sir, Ma’am, or Sensei. You will also need to see and treat your fellow students as equals.
3. Stretch
One great tip about karate for beginners is to stretch. Karate is just like any other physical activity in that it helps to warm up first.
Stretching before and after any kind of workout offers a whole host of benefits for the body.
For karate, in particular, it’s best to use stretches that require a wider range of movement. Not only will this prepare your whole body for physical activity, but it can also help prevent injuries.
Keep in mind, that injuries are going to happen occasionally, and there’s nothing anyone can do to change that. However, the less often it happens, the better your experience is going to be.
4. Expect to Work Hard
Karate is different from any other class or school. In some ways, it’s more like a sport.
It’s not about knowing answers, because there’s no right answer to anything. It’s about improvement. Even if you’re good at something, you can always get better at it.
Bruce Lee once said “I fear not the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks once, but I fear the man who has practiced one kick 10,000 times.” In other words, there’s no such thing as too much practice.
You may know what you’re doing this week, but there’s always more to learn. Karate is something that should always demand your 110%.
As an added bonus, all this hard work can even make you healthier.
5. Meditation
As with everything else, karate should be approached calmly. While being nervous and unsure of yourself is understandable, it doesn’t help you.
Meditation is a practice of understanding your thoughts and worries and learning to put them into perspective. This is a skill and it takes some practice to learn.
That being said, it will definitely help, not only with your karate but potentially with life in general. Too many mistakes in life are made because we’re nervous or not thinking clearly.
6. It Doesn’t End in the Dojo
We’ve already mentioned that martial arts are about more than just learning to hit things. It’s a philosophy, and it’s a philosophy that carries far beyond the walls of the dojo.
You may find that the discipline, respect, and personal knowledge you gain begins to affect other aspects of your life, most likely for the better. You may find that you concentrate harder on work and other tasks you have to do.
Perhaps you have less conflict in your life. Perhaps you don’t take things as personally as you used to. We all take things the wrong way sometimes, and the self-awareness you gain through karate can be a great help.
Karate for Beginners: Advice for Starting Out
Karate, for beginners, can be confusing, but the biggest thing to remember is that it’s a philosophy above all else., a lifestyle, even.
Sure, learning to fight is some of it, but through that process, you learn discipline. You learn that there are going to be issues and conflicts in the world, but at the end of the day, all you can do is your best, and live your life in the best possible way.
If you want to learn more about karate and other martial arts, especially in the Las Vegas area, please visit our site. We can start by telling you about the differences between Kung Fu and karate.