New Beginners Courses!
Starting soon!
See New Members page for details.

Starting Tuesday 19th September and Tuesday 26th September ~
Adult beginners' course 7.30 - 8.30.
This is a 12/13 week course for adults (13yrs and above) and includes a karate gi, full insurance and licence, all training fees and a grading examination for £80.

Starting Thursday 21st September and Thursday 28th September ~ Childrens' beginners course 7.00 - 8.00.
This is a 12/13 week course for children (age 7-12yrs) and includes a karate gi, full insurance and licence, all training fees and a grading examination for £60.

By the end of course you will have learnt the first kata, Heian Shodan, basic punching, blocking and kicking techniques and structured sparring.

Turn up in loose clothing for the first session, karate gi will be ordered for you once we have your size (tends to go by body height).

Call or email Clive Young for more info: 
Telephone 01753 869970 or 077 488 43159
Email: cliveyoung@f2s.com

Background
Established in Windsor in 1976, Kokuban Karate Club practices the Shotokan style of karate introduced to Japan in 1926 by Gichin Funakoshi. He studied martial arts in Okinawa around this time and formalised a style of empty hand fighting and self-defence. Gichin Funakoshi set up a school of Shotokan karate and soon produced a number of high graded students to spread the teaching of karate throughout Japan. One such student is Hirokazu Kanazawa now 75 years old who is the President and Chief Instructor of our organisation, Shotokan Karate International (SKI). Master Kanazawa is a regular visitor to Kobukan and runs national courses in the UK twice yearly. Karate instruction at Kobukan is therefore authentic Shotokan that can be traced back directly to the source of karate in Japan.

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Training sessions
Master Kanazawa has developed a syllabus for the study of karate that contains: basics, fighting techniques (sparring) and form. These are referred to as kihon, kumite and kata respectively. Each lesson starts with a comprehensive warm-up and stretching routine to prepare the body for punching, blocking and kicking techniques.
Anyone can train in karate and develop their fitness and technique. Kobukan treats each student as unique and adjusts the training programme accordingly. The emphasis is on safe, gradual progression through the syllabus so the body has time to adapt to the new ways of moving and the mind has time to learn new techniques without becoming overloaded. Karate taught in this way has a beneficial effect on the body and enhances one's fitness, health and general well being. Correct training enables a person to continue practicing karate into their 50s, 60s and 70s and beyond. Karate training is particularly beneficial for young people for improving their co-ordination and concentration.

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Kihon (Basics)
These are the building blocks of karate where you learn stances and how to punch, block and kick. In the first few lessons students are taught front stance, back stance and side stance and how to move forwards and backwards in these stances and how to turn. The standard striking techniques in karate are; forward punch, reverse punch, snap punch and knife hand strike. Blocking techniques are taught for attacks to the head, stomach and groin. Front kick, sidekick and roundhouse kick will all be covered in the beginner's course. Karate power is often talked about in magazines and films as a kind of super-human force. In truth, karate power is generated by maximising the biodynamic potential of the human body. For example, executing a reverse punch in front stance utilising a twisting motion of the hips, exhaling and tensing one's muscles for a fraction of a second will generate considerable power. This is achievable by anybody, male or female, independent of their size, if they have trained in karate and developed a level of competency in basics.
For more information see the Kihon page.

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Kumite (Sparring)
Sparring is a hugely enjoyable part of karate where you can test your skill and fighting spirit with a partner. Sparring by definition is competitive and the aim is to score points and "win". Kobukan teaches students to use controlled aggression safely; we operate a strict no-contact policy in all forms of kumite. Sparring is introduced in the following way:
5-step (gohon) kumite is taught to beginners where the attacking technique (i.e. forward punch) is announced and performed five times stepping forward. The defender knows in advance which block to use and steps back to block each punch. The kumite proceeds to the instructors count and is first performed slowly gradually building up speed. After a few months training 5-step kumite is performed with speed and power and with no count.
3-step (sanpon) kumite is taught next. The first attack is a punch to the head stepping forward, the next attack is punch to the stomach and the final attack is a front kick to the stomach. There are 3 different blocking techniques used here but the defender again knows in advance, which block to perform. Sanpon kumite is carried out to count and then with no count using speed and power.
1-step (ippon) kumite
One step sparring is performed with one attack forwards and the defender stepping back to block and counter attack. There are 5 different blocking and counter attacking combinations of increasing complexity for punches to the head, punches to the stomach and front kicks to the stomach. There are also 3 different blocking and counter attacking combinations for a side thrust kick to the stomach and a roundhouse kick to the head. This makes a total of 21 different blocking and counter attacking combinations to learn and practice. Ippon kumite takes several months to learn.
Semi-free sparring (jyu ippon kumite)
Semi-free sparring is similar to ippon kumite in that there are 5 different blocking and counter attacking combinations for punches to the head and stomach and kicks to the stomach, 3 blocks and counters for side kick, roundhouse kick and reverse kick and 3 block and counters for jab punch and reverse punch. This makes a total of 30 blocking and counter attacks of increasing complexity and difficulty. The attacks and counters are executed from a higher stance (free style stance) and the kumite is a much more realistic fighting situation with counter punches being pulled back in readiness for the next attack. Jyu ippon kumite is also performed with out any count, the attacker announces the area for the attack (e.g. jodan; head) and then attacks when he/she is ready. The defender has to anticipate the attack, block, counter and pull back and be ready for the next attack.
Free sparring
This is a karate fight with a free choice of any technique for attacking. Karateka usually develop a range of combinations that they employ to try and outwit their opponents. This could be a front kick followed by a jab punch and reverse punch in quick succession for example. The defender has to anticipate this, block/avoid and launch their own attack. The sparring continues with both sides launching attacks and looking for openings to score points. A point is scored when a technique is perfectly executed and finds its target. At this level the discipline instilled in the student from earlier kumite training is vitally important as this sparring is still a non-contact discipline. In practice there will be light contact to the front of the body but strictly no contact to the face or groin or back. Skilled practitioners are able to control their technique to within a few centimetres of the target. This would score "ippon" or a full point. If the technique is partially blocked or slightly off target it may warrant "wazari" or half a point. Competition karate is scored in this way with 4 corner judges and a referee. At Kobukan we teach free sparring combinations in a slow and controlled manner at first, gradually allowing students to speed up as their confidence increases. By this stage, students will have developed their own favourite combinations and will become skilled in their execution. There are opportunities within the Association (SKKIF) to enter the individual and team kumite competitions at the National Championships held each year.
For more information see the Kumite page.

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Kata (form)
A kata is a pre-arranged set of movements in karate. The first 5 katas (heian) are all performed along an imaginary figure "H". Funakoshi Gichin devised the Heian katas from the very old and complex forms such as kankudai and gion. He wanted a progressive structure to kata suitable for introducing into high schools and universities in Japan. The heian kata are an excellent introduction to the art of kata and lay the foundation for the many brown and black kata in Shotokan karate. There are a total of 26 kata (including the 5 heians) to learn in what many students consider to be a lifelong study. The majority of the moves and techniques in kata are performed dynamically with speed and power. There are also pauses in the kata where slow, soft movements are executed.
The original Shotokan katas have been passed down through the ages and were originally created as a complex and highly effective form of defence and counter attack. Many of the techniques in Shotokan kata have a practical application culminating in a killing blow. Over the years kata have evolved to be an expression of the art of karate but we still teach the controlled application (bunkai) of these moves as students become more skilled in their execution.
Each kata has an identity, an expression and a flow. Kata exude the power and speed of karate and at the same time have an elegance of movement. The performance of kata is a true expression of karate as an art form.
For more information see the Kata page.

A full glossary of terms in English and Japanese is included on the website.

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