How long for lessons?

[Wado Heretic]

The timing I find most useful and use as my general guidelines;

Children (7 - 12) = One Hour Maximum.

Logic = At seven children begin to develop the cognitive function needed to practice rudimentary aspects of Karate. They will generally have the capacity to pick up the vocal Japanese commands; plus they will have the coordination to at least learn the Kata with some meaning.

However; their primary energy expenditure and use remains aerobic, not anaerobic. Plus, they need to develop strength and speed through play. At this stage I generally spend 20-30 minutes on what would be recognisable as karate; the rest is a mixture of Judo and boxercise. I use this age gap to prepare them to be ready to study karate.

Advanced Juniors (12-14 with Brown Belt) = One Hour and a Half.

Logic = I consider 12 the ideal age to begin authentic karate training; the cognitive ability is there to focus on the details, plus it is the average age where physical development starts to take on different requirements from earlier ages. However, one still has to find the balance, and they are still mentally children. I find an hour and a half to be more than long enough in terms of exercise, and the amount of knowledge they can absorb at this age.

Beginning Adults/14 Years Old = One Hour to One Hour and a Half.

Logic = I find that asking two hours of beginning adults is usually not useful. I often find it takes at least 6 weeks to 3 months of regular training for someone to develop the stamina needed to make a two hour session meaningful. Therefore I often suggest, but am not always listened to, that beginners do only an hour or an hour and a half. It gives them time to adjust to the nature of attending a sessions, and to develop the stamina needed for more extreme training.

I often have 14 year olds begin on the adult syllabus, though modified to account for their being young teenagers (Bogu Kumite instead of Jissen Kumite ect.). It is a tricky age as by the time they are eligible to test for a black belt they will be adults. Plus, by this time they do need more anaerobic training than even just a year ago. It is easier to fit this into an a mixed class, and modifying the strength training they do, then trying to fit strength training into a junior class.

Adults = Two Hours Minimum.

Logic = After a few weeks or months of initial training; I just find two hours to be effective for most people. It gives them enough of a work out, while giving me the time to impart the ideas and concepts I want to. Basically it allows me 10 minutes of yapping time if I need it. Plus; for most students, who regulate their own training, 3-4 2 hour sessions a week seems to be the ideal for effective improvement.

Adult Yudansha or those aiming for Shodan = Two Hours or more, topping out at 3-4 hours.

Logic = Less of a work out, and more or less the fact there is so much more to cover. I need three times the talking time at this level, and I have to observe so much more while coming up to a grading. Really; this is because I am an awful instructor rather than my students needing the time.

[Harkon72]

We train for 2 hours in our Dojo, twice a week. With your own training, I feel this is enough. I know of some Dojo that offer 3/4 of an hour per session and charge £10 per go! I suppose it's ok if you can afford it.

[Spartacus Maximus]

My dojo is what would be called traditional but the training is probably more intense than the average karate dojo. Time constraints and distance only allow me to be in the dojo once or twice a week but those who can make it to every training day can get 5 or 6 days per week with 2 hours each time.

2 hours nearly non-stop is quite intense. There are some people under 18 but they are exceptional. One hour of focussed training should be good enough for the average adult. When I first started I could not keep up after the initial 30mins and I thought I was in decent shape. I and others have collapsed or briefly passed out a few times. Eventually it's possible to adjust but it is very dangerous to do without proper precautions.

[Archimoto]

I agree that two hour sessions are ideal for adults and also agree that most adults don't have the conditioning for a two hour class.

My school has one hour sessions that you're allowed to take back to back so everyone has the option of a one hour or a two session. There are pros and cons to this setup but it seems to work well enough.

I'll say however that I have always focused on my conditioning, I think this comes from my days of competing in Muay Thai logging in miles hitting the bricks. My point is, even a one hour session can be immensely valuable with the proper focus and conditioning. I see so many students waste valuable time sucking wind. I believe strongly that conditioning training outside of the dojo, dojang, or school, should be part and parcel of every training regimen. Just my humble opinion !!!

[RJCKarate]

Up until recently, my kids class was 1 hour, but I've recently shortened it due to their concentration and also timetabling issues, but now...

Kids (beginners) 50 minutes

Kids (intermediate-advanced) 80 minutes

Adults 90-105 minutes

Adults (brown-black) 120 minutes

I do think 2 hour classes for adults is a good length twice a week. However, most of my students train three times, so I find just slightly shorter better.

[bushido_man96]

Kids, between 45 minutes and an hour, if you can do a focused kids class. Adults, hour to hour and a half. I like to go hour and a half anymore, to get in all the segments of the class. Kids younger than 8, really only need about 30 minutes.