Beginning Karate

COURSE SYLLABUS AND STUDY GUIDE

I. Course Title: Beginning Karate. Class time: TBA. Class Location: TBA

II. Course Textbook: Karate-Do: My Way of Life by Gichin Funakoshi

III. Course Instructors: Sensei Grant Nichols, Sensei Brian Memoli

IV. Campus Phone: NA, E-mail: grant@verticalfist.com Office Hours: TBA

V. Course Fees: Will include Sparring Gear and Ranking

VI. Course Description: This class requires Introduction to Karate as a prerequisite or corequisite. This course will be a basic class in Isshin-Ryu Karate. As such it shall focus on the Isshin-Ryu kata, basics, and sparring, while looking at the concepts of economy of motion and sanchin breathing. This course is a Karate course as a result, students will be expected to conduct themselves per standard Dojo etiquette (showing proper respect for higher belts, bowing to get on and off the floor, speaking up at the appropriate times, etc.)

Class attendance and academic misconduct policies of the College will be followed. These are given

in the student handbook.

VII. Course Objectives: As a result of complete participation in the class (coming to class on time,

attending all classes, working hard during class, and practicing outside of class), the students should

be able to:

Perform all the requirements of previous Karate Course.

Perform Seisan Kata with sanchin breathing.

Perform Seiunchin and Naihanchi kata with bunkai.

Perform basic falls and rolls.

Demonstrate knowledge and an understanding of the codes of Isshin-Ryu Karate.

Understand that Karate applies to daily living.

Perform 6 self-defense techniques.

Spar at a beginner level.

VIII. Course Units: Major units with expected outcomes are given below.

No. Topics Expected outcomes*

1 Basic Review/Preparedness Assessment

2. Stances Ability to perform Crane, Naihanchi, Sanchin, and all previous stances.

3. Sanchin Breathing Ability to breath properly for martial applications.

4. Conservation of Motion Demonstrate an understanding of the conservation of motion principle.

5. Kicks Ability to execute a back kick and crescent kick in addition to the previous kicks.

6. Sparring Ability to spar at a beginning level showing good control with proper technique.

7. Falls/Rolls Ability to perform the basic break-falls and rolls.

8. Self-Defense Ability to perform techniques to counter front or rear hair grabs, side headlock, front bear hug with arms free or pinned, and an overhead club.

9. Kata Ability to perform Seiunchin and Naihanchi Kata and Bunkai.

*The students are expected to know the listed expected outcomes.

IX. Course evaluation: Each student is expected to make a good grade in the course.

A. Midterm examination worth 100 points.

B. Final examination worth 100 points.

C. Class participation worth 200 points.

D. Grading: The following procedure will be used to determine grades:

ACTIVITY TOTAL POINTS SCORED POINTS

1. Midterm exam 100

2. Final exam 100

3. Class Participation 200

TOTAL POINTS 400

TOTAL POINTS SCORED = Sum of points accumulated via exams and class participation.

PERCENT POINTS SCORED = Total points scored times 100 divided by total points.

E. Scale of grading

The grade is "A" if % points scored is 90-100.

The grade is "B" if % points scored is 80-89.

The grade is "C" if % points scored is 70-79.

The grade is "D" if % points scored is 60-69.

The grade is "F" if % points scored is below 60.

By following this method, the students can determine their own grade at any time during the semester. If this process is not clear, please ask the instructor to clarify the process.

X. Study Guide:

The course is information-intensive. It will require a significant input of time, certain amount of pure memorization, and consistent study habits. For many students, the bottom line is their grade, but there are no shortcuts to a good grade. It is one of life's little truths that the more time you spend in serious study, the more you will learn, and improvement in your grade will automatically follow. The following steps are designed to help students in their study habits:

Read the assigned material before coming to class.

While in class, listen and watch carefully, ask questions if you do not understand a technique or concept.

Study the handouts/text outside of class. Make your own notes from the handouts/text. If something in the handout/text is not clear, ask about it in the next class.

Write questions and answers on index cards to quiz yourself periodically.

Try to study with a variety of your classmates.

If you are having a difficulty, please come and talk with the instructor. DO NOT WAIT TILL THE END OF THE SEMESTER TO SEE THE INSTRUCTOR.

NOTE: This course is a three hour course; therefore, each student should spend at least 2 hours per week outside the class for each one hour of class period. As a result, you should spend 6 hours per week working on this material in addition to the scheduled class time. If each student follows this guideline, he should be able to make a good grade in the course.

XI. Over the course of the semester, students will have the option of ranking for belts. Belt ranking is separate from and has no impact on the grade given in the course. However, belt ranking is tied to class participation, which is used in determining your final class grade. During this semester, if you work hard, you may be allowed to test for blue, green, and purple belt. However, belt ranking is at the discretion of the instructor. Therefore, do not expect that you will be allowed to rank simply because you have completed the minimum requirements for the class.

All syllabi, handouts, etc. will be available online at http://acadoma.com and http://verticalfist.com