Parents of Little Tigers

Guide to The Solebury Club Shotokan Karate Program

Little Tigers: Ages 4-5  The Little Tigers Program is a program designed for children who are too young to experience our youth program. In this class children will learn basic karate techniques and participate in drills and games that help them to learn: Balance, Coordination, Focus, Self-Control and Respect.  There are seven levels ranging from White Tiger to Red Tiger. Red Tiger graduate to the Youth Program. **note: Some 3 year olds are accepted. 

Character - To strive for perfection of character. One of the first lessons the child will learn is to bow as they walk in the door to the Dojo (classroom.) This is to teach respect, not only to the people in the room but also to the room itself. The act of bowing when entering and leaving the dojo, helps to remind the student to enter with respect and leave with respect.

Sincerity - To be sincere and honest. We strive to teach the students to be honest within themselves and towards others.

Effort - To show strong spirit. The student will start learning this in the first five minutes of class everyday. Parents can watch this as the student is taught to clap their hands and Kiai (a forceful yell from the diaphragm to improve muscle contraction when centering the mind and body for defending and attacking) during the warm-up.

Self-Control - To control bad temper. Students will learn that temper tantrum will not be tolerated as well as calling out and disobedience. Through strong classroom structure and physical conditioning the student will help achieve this.

Courtesy - To practice courtesy. Students are taught this through bowing, handshakes, giving each other and instructors high fives, as well as making orderly straight lines during class.

Vocabulary Terms Parents can review with their children:
Sensei- The instructor (literally means- one who has gone before)

• Sempai- Assistant instructor
• Karate- Empty hand
• Shotokan Karate- The Japanese style of karate that your child studies.
• Dojo- Classroom
• Kiai- A forceful yell from the diaphragm
  
• Counting in Japanese- The short Japanese annunciation of each number helps to teach the student to count from their lower abdominal as if they were doing a Kiai.

1- ich 2- ni 3- san 4- shi 5- go 6- rok 7- shich 8- hach 9- ku 10- ju