Karate as a sport is but one aspect of karate-do training. Competition
is not a requirement for Ichibankarate students to progress through towards their black belt, although they will need to have
knowledge of competition terms. Sport karate provides an excellent venue to test self-defense skills in a safe, well-defined
environment. We encourage, but do not require, all our students to participate in competitions at least at the local level.
So often competition can easily lure practitioners away
from the true spirit of karate-do; however, it can serve as a mechanism for focus in karate training with the proper perspective.
As with any field of study or athletic endeavor, it is much easier to stay on task and manage time if a clear goal is well
defined. Distractions can be weighed against that goal to see if they bring one closer to the goal or do not serve to
progress towards the stated goal. Competition can very well provide that moment in time for which to build a training
plan culminating in that competitive event. A succinct training plan can hone skills that otherwise might take more time to
develop.
For karate-do practitioners, the “Do”,
or “Way” part refers to the character building part of karate training: self confidence, empathy, commitment and
humility. Often this crucial part of karate training gets pushed aside in the quest for a goal of winning a particular
competition or becoming part of a particular team. Instructors, even, get caught in that same quest for their students
and lose sight of their original mission and, instead, make seeking advantages to win their top priority.
At Ichibankarate we believe competition can provide the focus young minds need
in their karate-do training. We seek to guide each student participating in competition to develop goals that are independent
of extrinsic rewards for which they may not have full control. This allows them to focus their training and feel inspired
regardless of the actual outcome. We provide state of the art training programs to bring each student to their fullest
physical and mental potential. We strive to nurture the feelings of accomplishment, integrity and confidence in each
student not only by attaining their goal, but also by the hard work put into their training.
Ichibankarate participates primarily in the Traditional Karate Federation International sponsored events. This includes
local, regional, National and International events. Secondarily, Ichibankarate participates in other traditional karate events
sponsored by such organizations as the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) and the USA National Karate Federation (USA-NKF).
Our competition program is geared toward traditional karate
competition. The program includes dedicated training classes for those members competing for spots to represent the USA Internationally.
It also includes a developmental program that builds a foundation for the youngest and least experienced students with the
desire to compete at the world level in the future. As part of our base curriculum, we hold weekly classes dedicated to competition
training.
In the fall, we offer a Core Conditioning Course
to teach students how to engage their core muscle group (e.g. abdominals, obliques, back, hips and gluteus) for better athletic
performance. When the spine, pelvis and shoulder girdle are properly stabilized during athletic endeavors the athlete is able
to generate more powerful movements of the extremities. This has direct applications to all aspects of karate training.
In the winter, we offer courses in Karate Conditioning that
emphasize plyometric exercises (e.g. jumping, kicking, quick body sifting), isometric exercises (e.g. karate stances, holding
static forms), resistance exercises (e.g. stance and kicking drills with rubber bands), and speed and agility drills (e.g.
agility ladder, cones, kicking and punching) .
Sport specific
training starts at the beginning of the year and finishes after the last major competition in the summer. Our sports specific
training includes drills specific for each individual athlete designed to enhance their individual strengths. We teach not
only kicking and punching, but also sweeps and throws. We also offer nutritional consultations for those athletes competing
at the highest level so they may attain their peak performance by addressing all aspects of their training.
To view our gallery of competitions click on the picture below.
