Gordon Andrade

Feeling afraid of the unknown before joining karate is completely normal. You are walking into a new environment with unfamiliar people, etiquette, movements, and possibly concerns about fitness, embarrassment, or getting hurt—but a good dojo expects beginners to feel exactly that way.What people usually fearMost first-time students are not afraid of karate itself as much […]

You should think about what style of martial arts fits your needs because different martial arts are designed for different goals, training styles, and physical abilities. Ultimately, there isn’t one “best” martial art for everyone. The right choice depends on why you want to train, how you like to train, and what you hope to achieve.

Staying Motivated for Karate Class Staying motivated for karate class means remembering why you started and focusing on progress rather than perfection. Some days you may feel tired or not want to practice, but building a habit of showing up is what helps you improve. Most importantly, motivation comes and goes, but discipline keeps you moving forward. Every karate class is another opportunity to become stronger and better than you were

In Shotokan karate, shōmen and hanmi describe how your torso/hips are oriented relative to the opponent. Simple way to remember Shōmen = square → 🧍 facing forwardHanmi = half-side → 🥋 turned partly sideways Please see video for visual demo.