Resources

Enso Karate Training Guide

A general guide to practicing at home. Just a few minutes a day can greatly improve your skills. Choose one area to focus on or do a bit of everything. Keeping a notebook and recording your practice can help you build a regular routine. Write down what you did and how long you practiced for. Over time you will see the minutes add up. Setting goals and writing them down can also help. Aim for a certain amount of minutes per week, a better kick or a number of push-ups to reach. A long term goal may be earning your next belt. If you can, set up a space at home for training, either in the yard or garage. Make sure you have enough space to safely practice.

Warm Up: Loosen up muscles and joints for a few minutes with gentle movement as we do in class.

Kihon: Practice basic techniques. Moving through stances, defence techniques, punches and kicks. Practice slowly to focus on details then speed up and add power. 

Kata: Kihon Kata, Sanchin, Tensho, Saifa, Rohai, Kusanku.

Choose one to practice or go through as many as you like. Watch the videos on our website to check your technique. Run through a kata slowly to focus on details, then add speed and power. Visualize the use of the movements on an imaginary opponent. If you have someone to practice with, carefully try to use the techniques against an attack. Think about other ways you could use various movements.

Video Gallery: https://ensokarate.net/videos/

Kumite: If you have someone to practice with, try some light, careful sparring. Use protective gear when possible. If you are alone, try to move freely through various techniques, imagining an opponent.

Kobudo: If you do weapons, practice your weapon kihon or kata. If you have a partner, practice slow and careful free sparring with your weapons. If you are alone, try to move freely between techniques, imagining an opponent. 

Bag/Pad Work: If you have a punching bag or handheld pads and a partner, go through a few punches, kicks or other strikes. Start slow to check technique then build up speed and power. 

Strength: Push-ups, squats, plank, lunges or other suitable strength training with weights. Try to do a few sets of each movement. Record the number you can do and try to do more next time. 

Cardio: Activities such as running, cycling, skating and swimming will improve your endurance, enhancing your karate training. 

Stretching: A thorough stretching routine after training will reduce soreness and improve flexibility.

Meditation: Sit for a few minutes, focusing only on the feeling of your breath.

Study: Read books or watch videos on karate history and technique.