We offer:

• Traditional karate

• Competitive karate

• Realistic self-defense

• Street fighting

• Kyusho Jitsu - vital point stimulation 

Our school

Karate for adults?

At my age?

Our karate school is traditionally oriented (see also mission statement)

The wide spread of karate has had a positive and a negative part thanks to the cinema. On the one hand, it enjoyed immense popularity - on the other hand, it spread a completely distorted image. Many people thought that karate training consisted of a group of young people beating each other up, kicking around wildly and shouting loudly. They also smashed bricks with their bare hands.

Of course - mature people would hardly feel comfortable in such a place.

But the reality is very different...

Our training routine:

- The training begins with a careful and controlled warm-up, followed by a few exercises to improve flexibility according to the available possibilities. Then the basic techniques - called kihon - are practiced, checked and honed.

- Subsequently, the study of attack/defense is often applied in pairs or simulated in movement sequences.

- A large chapter is devoted to the katas.

The katas are the heart of karate. Hundreds of years ago, the old masters hid their personal applications in the movements of the kata out of sight, as writing them down in a book was too dangerous due to theft. Researching them from today's perspective is endless and extremely interesting.

- Finally, the training ends with some relevant physical stretching and strengthening exercises.

As you can see, this practice is fairly calm and suitable for all ages.

And the fight?

What is known as kumite is only one aspect of traditional karate, but it is the most familiar sporty side (only non-dangerous techniques) from the media. Therefore, especially young competitors can train this regularly.

But for those who are already of a certain age, we perform fighting exercises in pairs to a lesser extent - always in a controlled manner to avoid rough contact and injury.

To put it another way, nobody has to go home with a black eye or go to work with any significant injuries.

There are various ways to be physically active; I have also tried different things - but no other "sport" has given me anywhere near as much. Karate promotes the development of the entire musculature and works towards increasing strength and improving elasticity, always adapting to fitness and age, with the sole aim of surpassing oneself every day. This means that even veterans rarely overload their bodies.

Not enough - the structure of a karate session begins and ends with a moment of meditation - mokuso - and favors a complete mental disconnection from everyday life during training.

Switching off with physical activity/concentration brings far more relaxation than would be possible in a resting position.

Walter Stürzinger 7th Dan Shitokai, representative Shitokai Karatedo Switzerland

We are the leading regional karate school in Dübendorf and the Glattal  www.shito.ch