Why should somebody want to start karate training? There are many reasons, including of course to learn how to defend oneself.

Specific benefits of karate training include improvement of cardiovascular endurance, muscular strength, balance, flexibility, and coordination.

Karate, literally translated as "empty hand", is one of the oldest and most effective means of fighting known to man and is considered to be the ultimate in unarmed self-defense. Karate consists of blocking, shifting, punching, striking and kicking. Although it can be aggressive, it is taught and practiced by most groups as self-defense-countering an attack on the individual.

The layman has often been misled about karate. With few exceptions, erroneous information about the art has stressed the bizarre: board breaking, tile crushing and brick breaking. To add to the confusion, many instructors have capitalized on such feats of strength to display themselves as mystical members of some sort of Oriental secret cult and allow karate to be termed a killer art. It is true that a karateka can smash stacks of tiles with their bare fist and chop through bricks and boards, but such exhibits are only used to demonstrate the power of a karate blow.

Another misconception of the art is that one must harden or mutilate the hand in order to be effective in karate. Although a zealous student may form calluses on certain parts of the hands and feet by repeat practice, no one has to condition his hands to the extent that they become deformed or impaired.

Karate is not only a great workout and stress reliever. Karate offers a complete mind/body experience that develops physical strength and mental disipline. Our qualified instructors teach traditional Japanese Karate. Instruction includes stretching, basic techniques (ex., stances, punches, kicks, blocks), forms, sparring, and self-defense. Students train at their own pace and only participate in sparring to the extent they feel comfortable doing so.

All ages, and experience levels, are encouraged to join. Classes are offered for all levels, with specific additional classes for begining and advanced students. True Karate is a physical Art, a technique of self-defense and a sport. Through Karate, students form relationships much deeper than in any other sports offered in fitness clubs.