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Some new students receiving individual instruction from senior students.

Shotokan Karate is a traditional Japanese style of Karate. It combines both mental and physical training to refine the character of its students. Karate means empty hand, and as such, Karate uses no weapons in its training and relies on the hands, feet and body of its participants.

The physical training of Karate is divided into three components: Kihon, Kata and Kumite:

Kihon	Kihon is the most basic of training. Kihon training is the formalised practice of punches, blocks and kicks, during which clearly-defined stances and body positions are adhered to. This training provides the equivalent of learning to walk.
Kata	Kata uses the same techniques and stances learned in Kihon training, but links many different techniques together to form a type of choreographed dance. As the student progresses, he/she learns new kata which become increasingly more complex and demanding. It is through Kata that the student learns about direction, timing and movement.
Kumite	Kumite is the sparring training in which the student faces a partner. Kumite ranges from highly formalised (kihon-kumite), in which the opponents know exactly what attacks and blocks are to be used, to completely free-sparring (jiyu-kumite). Although all techniques must be delivered with spirit, the student must be in total control at all times. Thus the student learns how to deliver exactly the force necessary for a given situation.

As mentioned previously, Karate is not all physical. An important part of Karate is understanding oneself and improving one's own nature. Master Gichin Funakoshi, the founder of Shotokan Karate (see History of Shotokan Karate ), defined five important principles about achieving Karate-do, about living an honorable life: the Dojokun. Each student must learn the essence of the Dojokun. These principles are repeated in unison at the end of each class session (in English).