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Kids and Youth Programs

Martial arts are an ancient method of training your mind, body and spirit to act as one.  Kids who practice martial arts will strive for harmony, but also learn effective and powerful self-defense techniques.  Children who get involved in martial arts reap many benefits in many areas of their lives such as:

Fitness:  Warmups with jumping jacks, pushups and stretches are common and the movements of the martial art itself often challenges your muscles and cardiovascular system.  Martial Artists are known for being toned, flexible and physically fit.

Childhood ADD/ADHD:  Kids with Attention Deficit Disorder and kids with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) can greatly benefit from our class. Many parents see dramatic changes within just weeks of starting our karate programs.  Our programs can greatly help with the typical symptoms to lower stress levels, enabling kids to focus much better on homework and their studies.

Self-Defense:  The ability to defend yourself against an assailant is an empowering feeling.  Martial arts uses self-defense as a cornerstone of the entire program.  These precise methods will vary from discipline to discipline but you can be assured that your child or teen will have much great self confidence because they are able to defend themselves.

Bully Awareness & Prevention:  At the Gettysburg Isshinryu Karate School, we take bullying seriously and it is totally unacceptable.  Our karate classes educate kids and teens in raising self-confidence and gaining respect for others.  Bullying has historically had detrimental results in kids lives.  We teach kids how to deal with bullies, which has a drastic change in a child’s ability to focus on important tasks such as school, homework and health relationships with other kids.  Bully awareness and prevention can be absolutely life changing for any kid or teen who has been bullied.

Self-Discipline:  Karate helps to instill mental focus in your child, giving him/her the ability to much better concentrate on a task and see it through to it’s conclusion.  The discipline that is taught in our dojo in regard to uniforms, customs and techniques often translates into other areas of a child’s life including school, homework and household chores.

Respect:  Martial arts is all about respect.  Punching, kicking, throwing and blocking are all secondary to the respect that is shown from the moment you walk into the dojo.  Children learn to bow to the master instructors who came before them and also to their current instructors just as a sign of respect for the art form.  They also learn to treat other students as they wish to be treated.  Quality karate programs such as ours press upon the respect issue regularly and instruct students to practice respect for self, parents, teachers, and peers.

Self Confidence:  A child who is involved in our martial arts programs is generally a child who is confident.  Working through a a martial art and belt ranking system gives a child measurable goals that are realistic to attain.  The sense of accomplishment a child feels by mastering a new technique or graduating to a new belt follows him/her everywhere.  Today, more than ever, self esteem is more of an issue than ever, especially with heightened peer pressure.  Self confidence/self esteem can rapidly rise in a child participating in our programs a the Gettysburg Isshinryu Karate School.

Teen and Adult Programs

Teen and adult karate classes focus on all of the benefits of the kids and teens programs, but at a different and higher level.  The continual development of a person never stops at any age, but changes in scope.

Safety: Self-defense karate classes can teach you how to defend yourself in a variety of situations.  Knowing karate can help you feel less anxious in public.  You will learn the basics of how to quickly disable an attacker so that you can escape, focusing on learning how to take advantage of time and space to make a quick getaway.  Simple karate maneuvers can disable an attacker in seconds, allowing a safe getaway.  “Learn to fight so that you don’t have to”.

Exercise: Karate classes can offer exercise benefits such as muscle toning and strengthening, improved balance and coordination and an effective cardiovascular workout.  Our karate classes can also help improve your overall physical condition, your mental approach to health and fitness and your chances of escaping from an attacker.  Various moves, kicks, punches, twists and turns used in karate also increase flexibility, stamina and strength. Weight loss could also be another benefit through excellent cardiovascular workouts provided in our Karate classes.

Increased Self Confidence: Training in karate, especially women, develop more confidence in themselves and their surroundings.  Karate helps you learn to be more aware of your surroundings and to be prepared for the unexpected at any time. Knowing that you have the ability to defend yourself often helps you more fully explore the world, meet new people and find new ways to engage with other. Increased self confidence is visually apparent in body language, posture, attitude and subliminally.

Social Interaction: Karate classes can give you an opportunity to gather with peers, meet new people and develop new friendships. Isshinryu Karate is a worldwide sport made up of people in many different age groups or with different ethnic or cultural backgrounds, which can help you build greater understanding of other cultures.  Karate teaches the importance of respecting differences, honoring your elders and showing respect to others.

Self-Defense:  For adults, the ability to defend yourself against an assailant is an empowering feeling.  Martial arts uses self-defense as a cornerstone of the entire program.  These precise methods will vary from discipline to discipline but you can be assured that your child or teen will have much greater self confidence because they are able to defend themselves.

Increased Mobility & Flexibility:  As we age, physical fitness and and taking care of your body is essential in maximizing your mobility. Karate is a form of personal training designed to help you meet your physical fitness goals to increase strength, endurance and mobility and keep your body tuned up for maximum agility.  Our karate programs also offer performance training to help you achieve maximum athletic or non-athletic physical fitness goals for peak physical and mental performance.

Weight Loss & Optimization:  Weight loss can be a natural occurrence with regular karate classes.  Through our teen and adult karate programs, karate can provide benefits to your entire body including muscles, musculoskeletal system, increased blood flow and can even help decrease inflammation while losing weight.

FAQ

1.  Is Karate Safe?  Yes, it is very safe.  Like any other sport, there is always the possibility of an occasional very minor injury, however all of our black belt instructors operate our classes under the very safest conditions.

2. Will I see a difference in my child’s attitude?  You should see a tremendous difference with your child’s focus and attention in school and in life in general. Many parents have stated that since their child started karate at gettysburg isshinryu karate, the child is very respectful to them and others, has better focus and is does better in school.

3. Can you explain your style of karate? Our style is Isshinryu – which “Isshin” means ‘One Heart Way’ and “ryu” means school – it is a traditional “street fighting style” martial art which is relatively new among the hundreds of different karate forms, having been founded in 1953 by Grand Master Tatsuo Shimabuku of Okinawa.  Some of the differences in Isshinryu karate from other forms of karate are found in the way that students are taught to hold their hands, block and punch.  Isshinryu karate first teaches respect for yourself and others, with the entire regime at our school focusing on physical conditioning, karate basics, self-defense and discipline.

4. I am out of shape, should I get in shape before I start karate?  Everyone that starts karate are at different fitness levels. You do not need to be in shape to start karate. However, if you have not exercised in a while we recommend that you contact your doctor to have a physical to make sure your in good health before starting class. Karate is a great cardio and endurance workout that helps you build strength, flexibility and stamina in adults and children. What better way to get in shape than to learn karate in the process.

5. Are there contracts that I have to sign?  No.  We never have contracts.

6.  How much do classes cost?  $10.00 OFF First Month For New Students Of All Ages.  Adult Classes:  100.00 per month (three classes per week).  Children’s Classes:  $60.00 per month (two classes per week).  **Ask us about our special family rates that may apply.

7. I don’t have any experience with karate, is that a problem?  We love that you don’t have any experience with karate!  When you have no experience in any other style of karate you are the most teachable student. When you first start, you may feel overwhelmed and it may not all make sense just yet, however soon it will all “click”.  Karate takes a lifetime to learn and is a life long journey.  We love teaching and look forward to having the opportunity to teach you and your family karate!

8. What is the youngest age that someone can start karate?  We accept students as young as 4 years of age, with no age limit for adults. For the children classes ages range from 4-11 years of age and adults are 12 years of age and older.

9. How are the children and adult classes structured?  Children class are one hour. The first half hour is warm ups, calisthenics, stretching and karate basics such as kicking and punching. Then students take a break for a few minutes, then the second half hour is sparring, katas, basic self defense and/or kicking/punching heavy bags.

– Adult classes are 2 hours. The first hour is warm ups, calisthenics, stretching and karate basics. Between the two hours, students take a 5-10 minute break, then the second hour consists of self defense, sparring, katas and/or kicking/punching heavy bags.

– Every class varies slightly however most classes are run very similar. To learn karate you must repeat the same motions of kicking and punching over and over in order for them to be second nature. If you are ever in a situation where you need to defend yourself against an attacker, you want to be able to react and not have to think about how to defend yourself. This is why we repeat many of the self defense moves over and over again.  You want to be able to defend yourself without having to think about what you are doing if you are attacked.

10. How long will it take to get my black belt?  Many people seem to think that reaching “black belt” status is the goal, but that is not true, that is just a step in the ladder of learning. When you make black belt you have been accepted as a true student of karate. That’s when you start to really learn. A good martial artist is very humble.

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