| Normally, someone new to Karate classes will attend | | | | Kata sequence or just simply working on a particular |
| one session per week in the beginning, as the student | | | | technique, like reverse punch. Then you don't see them |
| progresses this will obviously increase. I personally | | | | for another month and BANG, we are back to square |
| recommend training one karate for beginners session | | | | one! |
| per week for the first three to six months, after this, a | | | | Some of you reading this will be laughing, but the |
| minimum of two lessons per week is essential. There | | | | Sensei out there will be crying! Yep, they know what I |
| is so much to learn and practice, if after six months | | | | am talking about and some of you potential Sensei will |
| you are only training one session per week, not only | | | | find out soon enough. |
| will your progress be slow, you will also struggle to | | | | The guys that train very sporadically are always |
| keep up with others in your class and because you will | | | | perplexed by the answer I give, when they tell me |
| struggle there is a good chance you will become | | | | they are going to have to stop training, my answer is |
| disillusioned. | | | | always, 'good!', I then explain why I am happy they are |
| These numbers obviously vary from person to person, | | | | moving on. |
| we have members who go straight into unlimited | | | | Obviously, I want them to train but if they are only |
| training and members who only train one session per | | | | attending one of our karate classes every other week, |
| week but train regularly at home, everybody is | | | | or even less, then something really needs to change, |
| different and everybody has different circumstances. | | | | because, not only are they wasting their time and my |
| The important point to remember is that if you continue | | | | time, but they are also wasting everybody else's time |
| training one lesson per week, your progress in karate | | | | in the Dojo. |
| will be extremely slow, you will struggle to keep up | | | | Everyone at our Dojo is keen, they have great |
| with your fellow karate practitioners and ultimately, you | | | | attitudes, it is very satisfying when you arrive at the |
| will quit. | | | | Dojo and people are excited and looking forward to |
| Over the years I have had people who try and train | | | | training. I believe it is down to the Sensei (teacher) and |
| one karate lesson every other week, or even one | | | | Sempai (seniors) to encourage everyone at the Dojo |
| lesson per month, in the end they either leave or come | | | | to do their best and train as often as they can. |
| to me and say, 'I'm sorry, I'm going to have to stop | | | | Some people are genuinely disappointed when they |
| training', there is always a string of excuses, but in 95% | | | | realise how much work is needed to achieve a high |
| of cases the only true answer is, they're not willing to | | | | level of expertise in Karate, there is one thing for sure |
| dedicate and commit themselves to Karate, which is | | | | in Karate, you absolutely get out, what you put in. |
| fine, it's a free world and we ca not all be obsessed | | | | It does not really take a tremendous amount of |
| with Karate, nothing would get done! | | | | dedication and commitment to progress in Karate, |
| But I absolutely cringe when they do turn up for training, | | | | training two karate classes per week is enough for the |
| I try not to let them hold the class up, but I feel I must | | | | majority of people. Once you get into a routine it is a |
| try and encourage and help them, so I do. I always | | | | lot easier. There are people who are hooked from the |
| come away from the class happy, happy because, by | | | | first day and who wish to take it to the next level and |
| the end of the class, they seem to be getting it, | | | | that is great to see, but the danger of this approach to |
| whatever 'it' is at the time, 'it' may be a combination, a | | | | training is Burn Out! But that is another article. |