How to Learn Shotokan at Home

Purchase or borrow some Shotokan karate books and videos. Many of these are available but the best ones to start with were written by the Japanese masters. Some authors to consider are Gichin Funakoshi (the founder of Shotokan), Kanazawa and Nakayama. The "Best Karate" series by Nakayama is a particularly good starting point.

Surf the Internet for Shotokan karate sites that offer free links to historical or modern-day videos of masters performing katas. Katas are traditional, pre-arranged routines in which you fight an imaginary set of opponents using kicks, punches and blocks. Shotokan has 26 kata, ranging from very basic to highly advanced. Most Shotokan practitioners spend at least half of their training time on kata.

Purchase a karate uniform ("gi") and belt. Although not strictly necessary, the gi actually offers some benefits. It is loose fitting and tailored so it doesn't restrict movements and the "snap" of the thick cotton sleeves and legs can tell you if you are doing a technique properly. Getting used to a gi will also help if you eventually join a traditional school, or "dojo."

Find an area ideally at least ten feet by ten feet where you can practice. The area should be clear of obstacles and should have a floor that is not too rough and not too smooth (hardwood is perfect). Most beginners prefer a private space so they don't feel as though they're being watched.

Set aside a time each day to practice. If you have a set time, you are more likely to stick to it. Half an hour to an hour is a reasonable amount of time to start with. It's better to practice a bit every day than train for a longer length of time only occasionally.

If possible, arrange to have a training partner. Your partner can be a beginner or someone who has done karate before. Having a partner not only helps keep you motivated, it can help you realistically practice the timing and precision of blocks and attacks.

Read over the books and watch the videos to study some of the basic Shotokan stances and moves. Don't try to learn them all at once. To begin with, study and practice one or two stances, such as the front and back stance, and a few moves, such as the lunge punch and front kick. It is impossible to practice a basic move too often in karate, so focus on repetition. Don't go for speed and power right away; instead, focus on perfecting the body motions to perform the move correctly.

Learn the moves to a kata. The most basic Shotokan kata is Heian Shodan, which is where you should start. Begin by practicing the moves a few at a time over and over until you have memorized the entire kata. Then practice the kata repeatedly until it begins to feel natural and you have a flow or rhythm. Kata allows you to "fight" opponents with full power and speed without the danger of hurting anyone, so make sure you incorporate an aggressive, fighting spirit.

Come up with a rough plan for each workout. This can be written down or just kept in your head. Having a plan keeps the workout moving along, so you don't have to stop and think what to do next. A typical workout should include a 10- to 15-minute warm-up (jumping jacks, stretches and sit ups are common), 30 minutes of basic techniques (punches, kicks and blocks) and 20 minutes of kata practice. If you can find a partner, incorporate sparring drills, but go slowly and start off with pre-arranged "one step" sparring where you call out the target first.

Work on your cardiovascular fitness and flexibility whenever possible, since both are vital to good karate. Try jogging or other conditioning when you can. Do a lot of stretching whenever possible. One approach you can try is to avoid chairs and sit on the floor so you can stretch while reading or watching TV.

As you progress in your workouts, add more difficult or complex moves, such as the side kick or round kick. Try more advanced katas as well. However, you must always keep practicing the more basic moves and katas. Aim to perfect a few techniques as much as possible rather than learning a wide range of skills.

Consider joining a dojo at some point, or attending a seminar (these are frequently held by high-level karate teachers in larger cities) so you can get a first-hand look at how karate is practiced and receive some feedback on your progress. Never wear anything more than a white belt, though, unless you have been officially graded.