Select a time that doesn’t interfere with dinner plans or schoolwork. Find a friend that’s willing to stick it out and practice the same days with you!
If you have friends that want to learn karate, have them practice with you!
To stretch your thighs, stand on one foot, bend one leg back into your corresponding hand, and apply pressure toward your body. Try Chinese splits, which involves standing upright, placing your hands on the floor, and then extending one leg back and one forward. Face a wall and spread your legs as far out as you can. Each time you spread wider, slide yourself closer to the wall. Gauge your improvement by how close your chest is to the wall each time.
Warm up with your stance before jumping into defensive and offensive techniques.
Every time you block an attack, be sure that you are not falling off balance. If you are, this is a sign that you are not lowering your center of gravity effectively. If you have a body opponent bag, push it away from you while maintaining your center of gravity. As it moves back toward you, practice blocking it while keeping your center of gravity.
Use this block if someone is trying to strike you on top of your head with their bare hand. Imagine you are blocking a punch from both a left and right arm to get comfortable with this motion.
Make sure your hand reaches as high as your head. Use this block to defend a round punch coming to the side of the head. Whether you practice with a friend or alone, always consider punches coming from both the left and right side.
Turn your hips in the direction of your hand movement to increase the block’s power. Use this block to defend a strike coming straight into your face.
Guide the opponent’s punch by using their force against them. Use this block to defend a punch coming into the stomach.
Always tilt your wrist downward so you are hitting with your first 2 knuckles, also known as the unit knuckles. This also prevents you from hyperextending your elbow. Twist your wrist back to facing upward as you draw the punch back to release your locked elbow.
Start by practicing waist-level snap kicks before progressing higher. Be sure to strike blade of your foot with heaviest impact at the heeled of the bladed foot. Use these kicks to lighten up your opponent and throw them off balance.
Practice thrust kicks on a punching bag and increase their force as you get more comfortable. Once you’re comfortable with your kicks, practice on a friend that knows Karate and is comfortable blocking.
