De Anza Shotokan Karate Club

Print version

Course Information: PE 2A, Beginning Karate

Instructor: Pete Rabbitt

Required Text: Fit & Well, Sixth Edition (Brief Version), Fahey, Insel & Roth

Course Content: The philosophical and physical aspects of Shotokan karate will be introduced during this quarter. The basic techniques of blocking, punching, striking, and stances used in this Japanese martial art will be taught, and students will have the opportunity to both observe and practice these techniques individually and with a partner. Practical self-defense drills involving escaping and counter-attacking techniques will also be practiced.

Classroom Proceedure: This class is structured and balanced to provide the student with both self-defense skills and traditional karate training, as well as a general understanding of the Japanese language, culture, and etiquette as it relates to karate. Classes will begin with warm-up and stretching exercises to increase flexibility, enhance performance and help prevent muscle injury. In addition to the fundamental training exercises, there will be hands-on practice of skills using a partner (non-contact), as well as contact drills using training bags.

Classroom Conduct: No food or drinks are allowed in the gym (water is okay). Please remove any trash when leaving the classroom. Students arriving more than 20 minutes late to class will be considered tardy. Those arriving more than 30 minutes late will be counted absent. Aggressive behavior, either physical or verbal, may be grounds for dismissal. Any student disrupting class may be asked to leave. Administrative follow up may result.

Attire: Clothing must allow for freedom of movement (exercise clothing). A karate uniform (gi) is optional. Remove jewelery, watches, pagers, and shoes. No street clothes allowed during training. Lockers and showers are available directly across the pool in the Men and Women's locker rooms, and students can get a locker assignment for the quarter without charge.

Grading Policy: Regular and punctual attendence is essential to gain karate skills. Points are given to each student for classroom participation. Students are allowed to miss two (2) classes without it affecting their grade. Each absence after that will cost the student 30 attendence points. Those not participating in the final exam will lose 30 points. Each tardy will also cost the student 5 attendence points, so please arrive to class on time. Additional points earned through quizzes, the mid-term and final exams, and a short written assignment will determine your final grade. Those missing more than 5 classes will be dropped from the course unless they have made prior arrangements with the instructor. Make-up classes are available, and students will be allowed to make-up as many as three absences. There will also be opportunities for extra credit points for students who are interested.

Recommended Reading: The following books, while not required reading for the course, contain pertinent information regarding karate-do (most of them, Shotokan karate in particular). Those interested in further reading would do well with any of the books listed below.

Shotokan Karate- A Precise History, Harry Cook, 2001
Karate-Do: My Way of Life, Gichin Funakoshi, 1975
Karate-Do Kyohan: The Master Text, Gichin Funakoshi, 1973
Best Karate Volumes 1-5, Masatoshi Nakayama, 1977, '78, '79
Karate, The Art of Empty Hand Fighting, Hidetaka Nishiyama, 1960
Complete Idiot's Guide to Karate, R. Hassell & E. Otis, 2000
Notes on Training, Tsutomo Oshima, 2001
The Shotokan Karate Dictionary, Schlatt, 2001
Karate-Do, Perfecting Kumite, Schlatt, 2001