What Happens In a Normal Karate Class?

Every class starts off in kneeling meditation, where we acknowledge the head instructors and the one we are currently traing with. We then move into some light stretching. This is not only a warm up , but helps prepare the muscles for the training ahead. After stretching, we move into basic techniques to further warm up the body. Class work can vary depending on what events are coming up in the calendar…but a general class would consist of the following :

1. Standing and Moving Basic Techniques.
2. Standing and Moving Combination Techniques.
3. Kata (sets of combination techniques).
4. Self Defence Techniques - escapes, takedowns, restraints.
5. Controlled Sparring* - No Contact, Medium Contact, Full Contact
6. Sprint and Endurance Exercises.

* Students pad up and undertake very light sparring (fighting) with a partner. This is an important part of Karate especially if the student is hoping to learn self defence. It is where we practice and 'test' our techniques and ability, and experience first hand how we would react in a situation where we are being 'attacked'.

At the end of every class we close with kneeling meditation, where we recite the Dojo Oath and again acknowledge and thank the head instructors and the one we are currenlty training under.

What Happens In a Normal Kickboxing Class?

Every class starts off with Skipping. This is not only a warm up , but helps develop hand/eye coordination and fitness. After the skipping the class will stretch to prepare for the class ahead. Class work can vary depending on what events are coming up in the calendar…but a general class would consist of the following :

• Partner pad work. One partner holds the Thai Pads whilst the other practices drills. After instructed sets are completed, partners change over.
• Partner drill work. The instructor gives a set combination of moves where one partner will practice an attack, the other the defence or block against and perhaps a counter attack. A good way for people to work on their skill set in a safe and practical way.
• Fitness and stamina work . This could be bag work, shuttle runs, Footwork drills, shadow boxing etc.
• Strength exercises. Push-ups, Sit-ups, Squats, Dips, and other physical exercises that help students develop body strength and conditioning.
• Controlled Sparring. Students pad up and undertake very light sparring (fighting) with a partner. This is an important part of Kickboxing especially if the student is hoping to learn self defence. It is where we practice and 'test' our techniques and ability, and experience first hand how we would react in a situation where we are being 'attacked'.

Are There Ranks?

The Titans Kickboxing is structured in such a way that a student can train for and undertake gradings or tests for different levels within the syllabus. Each different level is recognized by a different coloured singlet. There are 6 singlets that can be obtained ranging through white to black similar to karate belts.

Coloured singlets or ranks are not necessarily a traditional aspect of kickboxing or Muay Thai, but help to motivate students by supplying them with goals to train for, and the satisfaction of achieving them. Gradings are held approximately 3 times a year, and are optional for all students.

Can I compete in Tournaments?

Yes. There are numerous tournaments available for students to compete in as part of their training if the student wishes. These range from point type sparring where the contact is minimal and students wear full protective gear (including shin-pads, mouth guards and head guards etc) to those for the more serious and experienced competitors where serious contact is allowed.

Can kids do Kickboxing?

Kickboxing classes at Eltham Martial Arts Academy are restricted to students aged 13yrs and over. Students under the age of 13 should consider undertaking the Kyokushin Karate classes offered at the school until they are of age to join the kickboxing. The Karate has many similarities, and will set the student with a good foundation allowing them to transition very easily into the kickboxing when they are ready. (The only exception to this age rule is for advanced Karate Students.

The Kyokushin Syllabus requires that students wishing to test for levels higher than green belt participate In kickboxing classes as some very basic kickboxing skills are part of their test. Any student under the age of 13 needing to fulfill this part of the Kyokushin syllabus will need to come to class with another student of same age and rank as Juniors cannot train with adults. Attendance will need to be discussed with and approved by the instructor.

Which martial art is right for me?

I am often asked this question by people wanting to do start martial art. Well, here’s how I see it. Every martial art uses a weapon and/or the 9 main weapons of the body – head, elbows, hands, knees and feet. So punching is punching and kicking is kicking etc with their own little variations. Pretty much every art is going to involve these.

To me, kickboxing is the easiest and quickest to learn because it mainly concentrates on basics and there are no large variations with punches and kicks etc. It’s a good workout and within three months (attending at least two to three times a week) you can probably learn to defend yourself quite well and build up some awesome fitness. Eltham Martial Arts Academy offers Titans Kickboxing for Adults only.

Karate, Taekwondo, Kung Fu and the like of what I would call very traditional and they usually take around 3-5 years to get good at them. This is typically because there are many techniques, combinations and katas (or patterns) to learn. The advantage of these arts is that they provide you with a tradition, discipline, history and a broader range of fighting techniques. They usually vary slightly in stances and such depending on the part of the world the art originated from. Eltham Martial Arts Academy offers Kyokushin Karate for Adults and Kyokushin Karate for Kids.

Where these Arts generally fall down, Jiu Jitsu excels. It's a very powerful groundfighting art that I think is very good for women or smaller people. It does not generally focus on the 'stand up fighting' component as other arts do, but Jiu Jitsu favours 'shooting in' and getting the opponent to the ground where a range of locks, chokes and other holds are applied with immediate results. This art requires you getting in close with your opponent because it involves a lot of grappling (close body contact). My limited experience in BJJ was @ Dominance Brazilian Jiu Jitsu which I highly recommend.

If you’re talking weapons, Philipino Stick Fighting, Karli or Arnes (they are all the same) is my favourite. It encompasses the use of one or two sticks with stand up fighting (head-butts, punches, elbows, knees and kicks). What I would sum up as ‘Scarry Close Quarter Fighting’. Probably not what I would recommend until you have reasonable stand up basics. The sticks can be replaced with other similar weapons and this is why I particularly like this art. Train with Andrew Sotiro @ Melbourne Martial Arts

The most important thing to remember is to continually train. Most people believe that they just need to get their blackbelt and that’s it. It’s not! Just like anything if you don’t use it you loose it. With Martial Arts it's all about fitness and conditioning which can only come with training. Your training should be continual and you should not be focused on attaining the belts or singlets but rather whether what you are learning can be used effectively. You should question the quality of training you are getting if you find yourself advancing through the belts faster than one or two a year.

Martial arts is all about combat which is about strategy. Being able to execute an effective fighting strategy under pressure can only be learned while training to fight. Make sure your academy has a significant component of medium to full-contact fighting, or else you should be questioning whether what you are learning will be effective when it comes time to use it. There is also the fear of being hurt when it comes to fighting and unless you know what it's really like to hit and to be hit you never really know how your mind will react to it. This training is exactly what all good Martial Arts Schools will give you. Self Control under pressure!