Shotokan Karate Club at Cornell University – General Information about Shotokan Karate

The Shotokan Karate Club at Cornell University is a not-for-profit organization located in Ithaca, NY for the sole purpose of teaching traditional Shotokan karate. We are the regional affiliate of the International Shotokan Karate Federation (Philadelphia, PA), a not-for-profit organization that is recognized by the Japan Karate Association (Tokyo, Japan). We welcome any individual who wants to learn traditional Shotokan karate. We extend an invitation to all Shotokan karateka in our region to join our practices.

The Shotokan Karate Club at Cornell University is a nonprofit organization teaching Japan Karate Association (JKA) Shotokan Karate, one of the more traditional Karate styles from Japan. The emphasis is on mental and physical development.

The classes combine self-defense skills and mental discipline in a thorough physical workout. Students frequently begin training in Karate for different reasons, such as self-defense, exercise, curiosity, or self-discipline, but generally remain dedicated to the art because of completeness of training in both mind and body. Students begin at white belt, or beginner level, working at their own pace to build strength, agility, speed, and understanding as they advance in rank to yellow, orange, green, purple, brown, and finally black belt levels.

About The ORganization

The Japan Karate Association is the central technical governing body for all countries and regional organizations that practice JKA Shotokan Karate. The JKA headquarters, located in Tokyo, Japan, has trained and assigned international instructors to teach and established central sites of expertise in major regions of the world. Ninth degree black belt, Teruyuki Okazaki, is the chief instructor of the International Shotokan Karate Federation (ISKF). The ISKF in the United States is an official representative for the Japan Karate Association in the Western Hemisphere. The ISKF in the United States is divided into geographical regions, our region being the East Coast Shotokan Karate Association (ECSKA). The headquarters for the ISKF and the ECSKA is in Philadelphia, PA where Sensei Okazaki directs ISKF operations, teaches, and runs ongoing instructor training programs for other instructors in the organization.

Who The Class Is For

Men, women, and children who wish to benefit from traditional karate training.

Class Instruction

Classes are run a disciplined, structured manner. The usual sequence of events for each class is:

1. Opening ceremony

2. Warm ups consisting of light stretching exercises

Proper warm-up is essential for a good training. Neglecting the warm up will ultimately lead to injuries; therefore we put a special emphasis on warm-up.

3. Basic practice (stances, kicks, punches, etc.)

During this part of the work-out the different techniques are practices many times. The instructor highlights the important points about each technique, illustrates the proper execution of them as well as common mistakes and improper executions. The main emphasis during this part of the work-out is that the students will understand how to perform various techniques and why to perform them in a certain way.

4. Kata practice (forms training)

Forms training combines basic punches, kicks, and blocks into set forms that have to be executed according to their proper rhythm, speed, and timing. These exercises simulate real-life fights; therefore they have to be executed with a fighting spirit.

5. Sparring practice (basic to advanced, depending on proficiency level)

During sparring exercise safety is of primary concern; therefore free sparring is reserved for advanced students (brown belt and above), however, we don’t use any protective gear during practice. Beginners and intermediate students spar in a very controlled manner. During these controlled sparring exercises the attackers announce the target area and the techniques they will use, so the defender can execute proper defense.

6. Self-defense practice

Self defense training is for everyone, beginners and advanced students alike, however, exercises will be tailored to the experience level of the individual.

7. Warm downs (similar to warm ups)

8. Closing ceremony (recite the Dojo Kun)

Dojo Kun

Seek perfection of character

Be faithful

Endeavor

Respect others

Refrain from violent behavior

Fees

Any individual who wishes to take an examination for advancement (when eligible) must become a member of the ISKF prior to grading. An individual ISKF membership fee is $20 for university students. This payment is due when you take the first examination. This entitles you to an ISKF membership card and a periodic ISKF newsletter. Exams are held two times a year. The cost of an exam is $15 dollars. The total amount due for a new member who is a university student is $35 ($20 ISKF membership plus $15 for the exam).

There are no membership fees for The Shotokan Karate Club at Cornell University.

Students must purchase their Gi (training uniform) by the time they take their first test. This can be done through the instructor if the student wishes.

Restrictions

People with medical problems must obtain a medical release from their doctor.

Everyone must sign a liability release prior to participation classes.

Shotokan Karate

Shotokan Karate is a Japanese style of Karate founded by Gichin Funakoshi. He brought together two systems of open hand fighting techniques that flourished in his native Okinawa to form a new system he called Karate-do (way of the empty hand): his followers referred to it as Shotokan. Shotokan means “hall of Shoto”, Shoto being the pen name Funakoshi adopted in his calligraphic works. As a teacher assigned to instruct in many schools and different parts of Okinawa, he traveled extensively. As a result, he was able to study with different masters over a long period of time. Through this process, he synthesized what he thought to be the best elements of the techniques and kata (formalized sequences of movements) that he was taught and created a new system known as Shotokan. Funakoshi continually edited, revised, and updated the various kicks, blocks, and body dynamics until his death in 1957.