Grey Duck Karate

We are open tonight in spite of the weather!

Our little certificate stamper arrived today.

Dojo is closed today in honor of America's birthday. Enjoy the celebrations, fireworks, brats, and whatever else. Have fun, stay safe.

We are closed this Thursday in honor of America's birthday! Enjoy the fireworks, brats, and whatever you do to celebrate. Be safe, have fun!

For our kids in particular, longer front stances.

Heian Shodan Heian Shodan has 21 movements, using the front and back stances, along with the low block, high block, knife-hand block, and reverse punch.

For those who served and are no longer with us, we honor, and remember, you this Memorial Day.

We will be open this Saturday for those that are in town this Memorial Day weekend. Training starts at 11 AM. Be ready to get a sweat on.

Due to the increasing inclement weather with the possibility of tornadoes and hail, class is canceled today. We'll be back on Thursday!

So this is the second time I’ve heard the argument that our empty hand forms derive from weapons forms. The first was a video called, “Dances With Weapons” I saw about seven or dozen years ago on YouTube. Whaddya’ll think? (I know Sam’s opinion).

Good news for our students!! We've put up all of the testing exams and requirements on our website so you can practice at home, and be prepared for the next rank.

Videos of each test as an example, and of each kata, will be added to the website in due time.

Testing Requirements — Grey Duck Karate 8TH KYU Orange belt Summary of Expectations Perform basic external techniques with simple ex*****on and perform Heian Shodan and the Sanbon Kumite sequence from beginning to end without assistance. Key Points in Examination Criteria Kata: Perform kata with decent balance, posture, stability, & stanc...

Who we are and who we are not

There are more than abundant opportunities in the Twin Cities metro area for people of all ages to participate in martial arts practice, many very close by, so it has occurred to us that we might do well to distinguish ourselves according to what we want from our own practice and what we hope to provide in our instruction. This is intended to denigrate no other class or school, but rather to identify what we see as unique to our approach so that anyone interested in martial arts training might give us a look.

First, we do not pretend to have any “best” style, techniques, or path. All martial arts are based on the human form and such distinctions tend to invalidate individual differences and abilities as well as the cultural sources of other arts.

Secondly, however, we do base our classes and instruction on a formal karate style, Shotokan, informed also by Shotokan’s immediate predecessor, Shorin Ryu. Both styles are often referred to as “traditional” but that term is highly subjective. Shotokan, per se, is a highly modified version of karate, and is more a system of karate “in the Japanese tradition of martial arts” than a carrying on of the preceding Okinawan tradition. Similarly, the version of Shorin Ryu with which we are most familiar, Shorin Ryu Matsumura Seito is one of at least four systems all called Shorin Ryu, each of which claims its own heritage, lineage, stylistic differences, and “traditions”.

Thirdly, we are not here to decide why YOU would be taking karate classes. Karate can be a primarily esoteric practice, performed for its own sake and for the physical and intellectual (some may prefer spiritual) purposes of the practitioner. Karate can be a form of physical exercise which can be used as a foundation or as an adjunct to a varied individual fitness regimen. Karate can be practiced as a sport, with competitions in both individual performance as well as combative duels. And karate can be practiced as a form of self-defense, analyzing the old teaching techniques and movements to tease out the practical ideas of motion, leverage, and body manipulation that are universal to all martial arts.

And finally, you will get two distinctly individual instructors, each with his own preferences, biases, and priorities, and teaching styles to allow you a basis on which to make your own decisions about what you think works and makes sense.

Currently, primarily adult classes are 6-7 pm on Tuesday evenings and 11am - 12 noon on Saturdays, while children’s classes are from 6-7 pm on Thursdays evenings. We are using the term “primarily” as we will welcome our adult students during the kid’s class time, but the kids come first that day, and we will welcome the children the other days with the same stipulation. There is plenty of room to add hours.

Adult fees: $50 / month first family member, $25/month second member, up to two more at no additional cost - or four family members for $75.

Kid’s fees: $25/mo.

Union members, military (current or veteran), teachers, and first responders 10% off.

Location: 3701 E. 50th St. Minneapolis, MN 55417 (United Methodist Church gym)

Contact us: email: [email protected] or check out our website at greyduckkarate.org.

We have an Instagram account now!! We're working on getting videos edited and uploaded there so our students can practice at home. Check us out at

www.instagram.com

For our kids learning Heian Shodan, here is a slow motion version to practice. :)

Shotokan Heian Shodan in Slow Motion! 🥋Join my ONLINE GROUP LESSONS and receive personal feedback!🥋Program Details: https://karateintokyo.com/Any questions or concerns? → Email me at ynkaratedo...

Sensei Stuart will be out of town this Thursday and Saturday; Sensei Sam will be teaching solo. Prepare to sweat and get your Karate on!

Looks like everyone is playing it safe tonight regarding roads and weather, so Tuesday class is cancelled.
Stay safe and warm.

In accordance with our community first philosophy, first responders, teachers, union members, and actively serving/retired servicemen get 10% off of dues.

Five new youth students tonight, maybe four, but maybe six or seven! No guarantee who will come back, but there’s plenty of space on the floor!! 5-8 yr. olds, Thursdays, 6:00 pm at Minnehaha United Methodist Church gymnasium. 3701 E. 50th St. Minneapolis. No obligation until you come back for the second week.

Congrats to Paul for getting first place in Kata, and third place in kumite (against brown belts no less)!

Quacknouncement, Quacknouncement!!

We're starting a kids class on Thursdays, 'Little Ducks,' ages 5 to 8. $25/month; 6-7 pm. First class is a free sample on 2/29.