My Approach

My online Coaching Sessions are conducted in accordance with the following five perspectives

01 Karate Values

Karate is both a martial art and a way of life that helps a karate practitioner to find peace within  his/her inner self.  For self defense, traditional karate aims at taking down an opponent with a single blow through targeted strength (kime), distance management (maai), speed, flexibility, mobility, and control of the attack.  True karate is based on Bushido which dictates that the practitioner should develop the body, the mind, and the spirit.

A Shotokan Karate Practitioner will trains in accordance with:

(a) The Twenty Precepts of Karate laid out by Grandmaster Sensei Funakoshi Gichin

  • Never forget that karate begins with rei and ends with rei (Rei means courtesy or respect, and is represented in karate by bowing)
  • There is no first attack in karate
  • Karate supports righteousness
  • First understand yourself, then understand others
  • The art of developing the mind is more important than the art of applying technique
  • The mind needs to be freed
  • Trouble is born of negligence
  • Do not think karate belongs only in the dojo
  • Karate training requires a lifetime
  • Transform everything into karate; therein lies its exquisiteness
  • Genuine karate is like hot water; it cools down if you do not keep on heating it
  • Do not think of winning; you must think of not losing
  • Transform yourself according to the opponent
  • The outcome of the fight depends on one’s control
  • Imagine one’s arms and legs as swords
  • Once you leave the shelter of home, there are a million enemies
  • Postures are for the beginner; later they are natural positions
  • Do the kata correctly; the real fight is a different matter
  • Do not forget control of the dynamics of power, the elasticity of the body and the speed of the technique
  • Always be good at the application of everything that you have learned

(b) The Dojo Kun developed by Senior Instructors

The Dojo Kun represents five precepts which all JKA members commit to memorize and repeat out loud in each session because this process reminds students of the right attitude and state of mind to strive for both within the dojo, and outside.

Hitotsu, Jinkaku kansei ni tsutomuru koto
Seek perfection of character

Hitotsu, Makoto no michi o mamoru koto
Be sincere

Hitotsu, Doryoku no seishin o yashinau koto
Put maximum effort into everything you do

Hitotsu, Reigi o omonzuru koto
Respect others

Hitotsu, ,Kekki no yuu o imashimuru koto
Develop self-control

02 Agility, Control, Flexibility, and Strength

  • Agility

    Agility is about developing the speed and mobility of your moves required during the three phases of a kumite: Attack, Defense, and Counterattack.


  • Control

    Control is about developing speed, strength, distance, and timing of your moves during the three phases of kumite: Attack, Defense, and Counterattack.


  • Flexibility

    Flexibility means stretching your body to reduce muscle tightness and prevent injuries, but it also means improving your range of motion and the ability to reach the target.


  • Strength

    Strength means utilizing your power at the right time in the right place without spending all your energy (stamina) to be able to stand and continue during a fight.


03 Kihon

Kihon represents basic techniques of Karate focusing on the proper form, coordination and balance to work on improving your techniques during kumite. We usually practice one move or combination of moves. For example:

Sample Kihon 1 – Beginner Kihon exercise

Sample Kihon 2 – Intermediate Kihon exercise

Sample Kihon 3 – Advanced Kihon exercise

04 Kata

Kata refers to a detailed choreographed pattern of karate movements made to be practiced alone or in group.

Listed below are shotokan Katas:

  • Taikyoku Shodan – “Basic Kata One”
  • Heian Shodan - "Peacefull Mind One"
  • Heian Nidan - "Peacefull Mind Two"
  • Heian Sandan - "Peacefull Mind Three"
  • Heian Yondan - "Peacefull Mind Four"
  • Heian Godan - "Peacefull Mind Five"
  • Tekki Shodan - "Iron Horse One"
  • Tekki Nidan - "Iron Horse Two"
  • Tekki Sandan - "Iron Horse Three"
  • Bassai Dai - "Penetrating the Fortress - Big"
  • Bassai Sho -"Penetrating the Fortress - Small"
  • Kanku Dai - "To look at the Sky - Big"
  • Kanku Sho - "To look at the Sky - Small"
  • Empi - "Flying Swallow"
  • Jion - "Love (and) Goodness"
  • Gankaku - "Crane on the Rock"
  • Hangetsu - "Half Moon"
  • Jitte - "Ten Hands"
  • Chinte - "Incredible Hands"
  • Sochin - "Preserve Peace"
  • Meikyo - "Mirror of the soul"
  • Gojushiho Dai - "54 Steps - Big"
  • Gojushiho Sho - "54 Steps - Small"
  • Nijushiho - "24 Steps"
  • Wankan - "Crown of a king"
  • Unsu - "Cloud Hands"

(Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced Level)

(Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced Kata)

05 Kumite

Kumite means the part of karate in which a person trains and fights against an adversary to practice a technique and/or in competition.