Classes – Michigan Ryusyokai Karate Club

Classes & Training

Michigan Ryusyokai Karate Club holds classes at Endurance Fitness and Wellness, 2930 W Main St, Kalamazoo, MI.

Class Schedule:

Mondays, 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM: All Ranks, Age 14 +
Thursdays, 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM: All Ranks, Age 14 +
Saturdays, 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM: Open Training

New Students should call before dropping in.

Spring through Fall, we schedule special classes off-site as opportunities arise. Michigan Ryusyokai Karate Club does not hold kids’ classes. Students of age 14 and older are welcome and we all train together.

Training

Training requires a little planning by students in order to optimize their time in the dojo. The dojo is leased from a health club and used by other groups when not reserved for karate classes. Locker rooms are available and the dojo is an open space with wood floors and mirrors as well as storage for training tools. The only items lacking are mounted equipment.

A true “dojo” is defined by the intent practitioners bring when bowing in at the door. Following the Dojo Kun (rules) helps students reinforce the atmosphere of a traditional dojo. Most classes follow a standard format with some variations.

Class Format

Clean the Dojo

Yobi Undo – Preparative Exercises

Kata Practice

Partner Training

Kigu Undo – Training with Equipment

Seri Undo – Cool Downs

Yobi Undo

Aside from warming the body up to prevent injury, the preparative exercises relate to proper movement and technique. The term “Kihon” exercises is often mistranslated as “basics”; it more accurately translates to “fundamentals” essential to executing advanced technique. These include drills for stances, striking, kicking and blocking.

Kata

Kata are considered both an exercise and a training manual. Each of the movements has meaning and each kata has a theme. Through practice and research, students develop aptitude for movement, biomechanics, speed, strength, and how to attack, defend, and counter aggression. The Ryusyokai system includes 12 kata:

Ryusyokai kata

Sanchin (Three Battles)

Gekisai Ichi (To Demolish, Destroy)

Gekisai Ni (To Demolish, Destroy II)

Saifa (To Break Through, Tearing)

Shisooshin (Overcome Four Directions)

Seisan (Thirteen Hands)

Sanseryu (Thirty-Six Hands)

Seunchin (To Go Far and Conquer)

Sepai (Eighteen Hands)

Kururunfa (Holding Ground)

Suparinpei (One-Hundred-Eight Hands)

Tensho (Six Breaths)

Conditioning

Both partner training and kigu undo(training with tools) involve conditioning the body to withstand and deliver attacks. Exercises like kote-kitai (body pounding) and training with the makiwara (striking post) toughen the limbs in ways that weight training cannot accomplish. Demonstrations of practitioners breaking boards with bare hands and feet would likely cause great injury without years of conditioning. Conditioning limbs is a slow, incremental process but can work to great effect if studied properly.

Working with partners to learn and explore techniques, or to condition the body, leads to one of karate’s highest goals; the creation of deep and lasting friendships. Partners need to trust each other in order to make techniques as real as possible. Neither partner seeks to dominate the other and both develop the skills necessary to push each other beyond comfortable limits and grow stronger together.

Partner Training

Partner training develops reaction time, proper distancing, spontaneous strategy, and group problem solving. Pre-arranged drills and free sparring both give students the opportunity to apply what they have learned and add realism to practice in a relatively safe way.

We take precautions to ensure nobody acts recklessly or maliciously, but getting hit is part of training. This can be a shocking experience at first, but most strikes in class are not painful. Learning to absorb attacks is an essential skill. In a controlled environment, this helps practitioners overcome the intimidation and shock they could feel in a violent situation.