A Typical Class

A typical class consists of four parts:

• Warm-up (just to make sure you're  fully awake and rearing to go).

• Kihon (basics): here we practice all the kicks, punches, blocks and other techniques we will be using, individually and in combinations.

• Kumite (partner work/sparring): Here we apply the techniques and combinations we’ve been practicing with a partner appropriate to the grade of the class participants/

• Kata (traditional forms): here we practice the traditional shotakan kata and their meaning. There are 26 in total from the very basic to the very advanced.

Depending on the class, we might also do some impact training that involves kicking and punching pads and kick shields.

Below are two typical classes, taught by Tatsuya Naka Sensei (7th Dan, JKA) in Tokyo.