A karate assembly was put on for all 7th grade students by Mr. Center’s karate dojo and the school’s karate club on January 6.

This event took up two periods, and went along with the history unit the students were learning in class on Japan.  Students learned the origins of martial arts, background knowledge about Japanese weapons, and got to watch martial artists in action.  

Many of the participants in the assembly were in the karate club as well as the dojo. A typical meeting for the club starts with an introduction of bowing while lined up in seiza position, or kneeling. The class then breaks into groups and works on various katas, which is a sequence of predetermined attacks and sparring. 

Mr. Center, who is a 5th degree black belt, explained what he thinks about learning karate. 

“[It's] not hard but it takes practice like everything else. Some people are naturally gifted while others have to work at it,” he said.  

7th grader Jianna Folek, a red belt, was also among the people who put on the assembly. She believes others should also join the sport.

“They should definitely try it.  If they don't like it, they can at least say they tried it.  Its extremely fun.”