We train 8:30pm - 10:30pm Mondays & Thursdays in the bottom half of Hutton Hall (above the Font Bar), near the stage.

Training involves:

1. Physical Training
Karate practice is an excellent way of keeping fit, emphasising all-round development of the body. Most people who start karate want to improve their physical fitness. Physical training is usually divided into four categories: The warm up - it is important to loosen limbs fairly easily at first, to prevent muscles being torn. This usually involves jogging or running exercises. Flexibility training - This involves stretching exercises to loosen limbs and muscles and improve joint mobility. Also helps to reduce muscle aches and pains when performed at the end of a training session. Progressive stretching to improve flexibility. Strength - A variety of press-up, crunches, leg and arm exercises. What fun. Aerobic Exercise -This is largely based around sport-specific aerobic development.

2. Kihon (basic practice)
This often involves practicing with a partner. It is during these practices that students learn the skills that will be the foundation on which the rest of their karate will be supported. Skills like how to move in a fast, yet physically relaxed manner; how to punch, kick or deflect attacks -all of these are covered in a systematic manner.

3. Kata (forms)
A Kata is a series of karate movements and techniques joined together to make a sequence. Kata are designed to enable the practice of all karate techniques. There are just over 25 kata, ranging from quite simple kata involving only a few techniques, to very complex kata requiring jumps and disarming techniques. If a particular kata can be performed well, then one has grasped many of the fundamentals of karate - concentration, balance, coordination, technique etc.

4. Kumite (free technique)
This practice is one of the most difficult of karate practices to accomplish well, and the easiest to perform badly. At it's highest level, kumite involves the free use of any karate technique, usually against a single opponent. The only rule is that you must not seriously injure your opponent, and for this reason the techniques are controlled. Kumite is usually only practiced by those of considerable experience, although it is practiced by lower grades under carefully controlled conditions.