Saturday, March 7, 2015

The Elements of a typical traditional martial arts class west chester pa

Are you looking to join your local karate club or have you already taken the first step and signed up? If you haven't yet visited your local martial arts school, you're probably wondering what a typical karate class looks like. This article will break down the main elements of a good karate class.

Obviously not every club will follow this format and within each martial arts school the weekly classes will also change but this is meant to be a guide of what to expect in general.

Classes also vary in length ranging from short 30 minute classes for young kids to 1 hour classes or longer for older kids, teenagers and adults. The following example is based on a one-hour class and not all of these elements will be covered in each lesson.

1. Formal etiquette The majority of karate schools adhere to some kind of formal etiquette at the beginning and end of each class. This practice can be attributed to traditional Asian culture where bowing and formal chanting are often used to begin and end any type of structured activity. Depending on your chosen karate school you could see the full routine of formal etiquette including kneeling, multiple bows and the verbal recital of the school creed to a more laidback approach of an informal hand clap followed by the words, "Let's begin".

2. Warm-up and stretching Before any type of physical activity it is highly recommended that you warm-up and stretch. It is often a good idea to end the activity with more stretching (sometimes called a warm-down). Karate is a very physical activity and so it should be obvious that a warm-up is an integral part of each lesson.

3. Practice of basic techniques Right after the warm-up ends many karate classes begin with basic practice. This includes drilling stances, punches, kicks, blocks and strikes on the spot and up and down the floor with the focus being on multiple repetitions of the main techniques required for each rank level.

4. Forms practice Forms are pre-defined sequences of techniques that a practitioner must memorize. The forms are often a main requirement for each test, and they help the practitioner to understand how different techniques fit together and integrate into sets of techniques. There are many different forms and each one has a set pattern with a central focus.

They are often likened to the martial arts equivalent of a dance routine but most forms have accompanying application drills that show how each technique can be used against an opponent in a self-defense situation.

5. Short break Depending on the length and intensity of each class, practitioners are often given the chance of a short "water break."

6. Partner work drills These types of drills are usually one of the fun parts of a karate class because the practitioners get to practice their techniques with an opponent to see how they are used and to drill appropriate reactions to different types of attacks. Partner work drills aren't always limited to two people but can often include multiple opponents or group training drills. This usually depends on the creativity of the instructor and the overall level of the class.

7. Pads and targets An important part of karate training is to practice your techniques against different types of targets. These targets include soft or hard focus targets, body shields, hanging bags or the more popular free-standing Wavemasters, plastic sheets and even wooden boards from time to time. Pads and targets are usually a lot of fun for all involved and give you a real sense of what it feels like to actually strike a target.

8. Conditioning drills This is really where your level of fitness can improve dramatically. Conditioning drills include running, jumping, push-ups, sit-ups, jumping jacks, star jumps, squats, relays, and any number of stamina-focused activities. Depending on the level of the class and the age group these drills are not always for the light-hearted but you did want to get a good workout, didn't you?

So in a nutshell a typical karate class will include some or all of these different elements.

For more information about the programs at Dragon Gym, please visit our main website:

Saturday, February 21, 2015

Kids Martial Arts west chester pa

The Kids Martial Arts program at the Dragon Gym will really help to arm your child with a host of positive mental and physical skills that will help them in school, at home, and in life.




The Martial Arts will improve your child’s grades.

The unique Dragon Gym Kids Martial Arts (Moo do) System offers a lot more than just self-defense and physical agility.  Our educational martial arts program and unique achievement program will teach your child history, geography, safety and much more.  The best part of all is that the Martial Arts will give your child the self-discipline to study.  This leads to increased concentration at school and pays off in the form of better grades.

The Martial Arts develop your child physically.

The martial arts will also help your child develop physically.  Our programs increase speed stamina, and strength in children.  The program also develops balance, coordination, and timing.  This will help in sports and all activities.

The Martial Arts develop your child mentally.

Perhaps the scariest problem facing many parents today is the thought that their child might get involved in drugs.  The number of “good kids” taking drugs at a younger and younger age is staggering.  We help promote anti drug programs.  On top of this our programs are designed to promote self-confidence and self esteem which gives your child the courage to say NO in the face of peer pressure.  Recent studies have shown that programs that focus on personal achievement such as martial arts are vastly more effective in this area than team sports.

The Martial Arts promote leadership skills in children to help them succeed in life.

Dragon Gym programs will teach your child about setting goals, leadership, and taking responsibility.  These qualities more than any others will help your child ensure their success in school, in college, and in life.

The Martial Arts teach children self-defense skills that save their lives.

While we wish it were not even a factor in our program, the fact remains that we live in a world full of undesirable people.  The martial arts will teach your children how to protect themselves from danger. 


Your Child will enjoy the Martial Arts because our high-energy classes are full of excitement and Fun!

Perhaps the best part of our program, from the children’s point of view, is just how much fun the classes really are.  Our high-energy classes will focus your child’s energy in a positive and productive manner.

Martial Art training at Dragon Gym will provide your child with personal attention not found in other schools.

We focus on quality instruction and personal attention to our students.  All our classes are taught by highly trained instructors committed to excellence and continued learning.  When you enroll your children in the Dragon Moo Do System, you can feel safe with the knowledge that they will be receiving the finest instruction available. 

Not all Martial Arts Schools are created equal.

Few Schools in the country have the unique combination of martial arts, education, facility and leadership that you will find with our programs.



Our Team of over 20 instructors is the finest anywhere in the world.  Each instructor is highly qualified and experienced, trained directly under Master Sikdar and Master Beck.  It is each instructor’s primary goal to make every effort to provide you with a safe, fun and educational Martial Arts Program

Master Somnath Sikdar

Somnath has been training in Martial Arts for almost 30 years and has attained the rank of 5th Degree Black Belt.  His training has covered a broad spectrum of martial arts to include a variety of weapons, self-defense, traditional and sport Tae Kwon Do.   In addition, he was the President, Head Instructor, and Coach of the University of Pennsylvania WTF Tae Kwon Do Team

Master Lonnie Beck

Lonnie combines his experience in Western Athletics and Eastern Martial Arts to effectively instruct both the children and adult students of the Dragon Gym.  Through over 25 years of intense training in Tae Kwon Do, Hapkido, and a variety of weapons Lonnie attained the rank of 4th Degree Black Belt. 

We offer convenient schedules & affordable rates.


The Dragon Gym is open six days a week and offers convenient schedules.  So make an investment in your children that will pay off for the rest of their lives.