Below are listed some of the most often asked questions about
the art of Karate by beginners.
Karate is a means of moulding personality. It is a physical and moral culture which is based upon a unique martial art. During the Tokugawa Era, this art was developed on the island known as Okinawa. It is the most violent form of self-defence known to mankind.
2. WHAT DOES THE WORD "KARATE" MEAN?
The word, "Karate", is written in Japanese as two words; "Kara" (empty) and "Te" (hand).
3. I WANT JUST A FEW LESSONS SO THAT I CAN DEFEND MYSELF; SHOULD I TAKE UP KARATE?
No. You cannot learn effective self-defence in a few lessons from Karate or any other source.
4. HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE ME TO LEARN KARATE?
The answer to this question will depend on you . . . how hard you will study, how much you practice, and upon what ability you may have. At no time will you ever be able to say that you have learned Karate, because there will always be room for improvement, even after thirty years of study and practice.
5. CAN I GET HURT PRACTISING KARATE?
No, not under the direction of a qualified instructor whose rules you obey. There is probably less injury in Karate than in any other body contact sport.
6. WILL LEARNING KARATE COST ME A GREAT DEAL OF MONEY?
No. The Karate Club was established in order to teach Karate at a reasonable cost for everyone.
7. IS KARATE DESIGNED TO KILL PEOPLE?
No, it is designed to enable the practitioner to foil an attack upon himself or another person and to counter attack if necessary. A good Karate man can deliver more punishment than any other kind of fighter, yet he has sufficient skill to deliver only as much punishment, if any, as the situation requires.
8. WHAT ARE SOME OF THE BENEFITS I WOULD RECEIVE FROM KARATE PRACTICE?
Again, this will depend upon you . . . how hard you practice and study, and how often you attend workouts. If you work hard, you will find that you will have more endurance, better poise, reaction time, confidence, strength, and agility, and you will also have developed for yourself one of the finest forms of unarmed self-defence known to man.
9. WHO CAN LEARN KARATE?
Almost anyone can learn within reason. There can be found in Karate a curriculum which is suitable to both the very young whose bodies are not developed and to the elderly who wish to retain their flexibility. Karate training is not only for men but also for women.
10. HOW OFTEN CAN I ATTEND CLASS AND WHEN MAY I ENROL?
Classes are established in such a way that a person may enrol at any time. Classes are held twice a week and students are encouraged to attend as many classes as possible.
11. WILL I HAVE TO COMPETE WITH OTHER STUDENTS?
No. Students are enrolled to learn and to develop themselves as individuals, to compete with others will be up to you if you so desire.
12. CAN I WEAR GLASSES DURING TRAINING?
You can wear them during training, but they must be removed for sparring.
