Near, middle, far: distance games
Ready when: Dojo manners and the stance line (b1) started.
What you are learning
Judging distance (ma-ai) with a partner, with no hitting: near (hands touch with bent arms), middle (arms straight), far (two arm lengths). Knowing the distance tells a karateka when they can reach and when they are safe.
Words on this card Guard, Ma-ai
- Guard
- The ready position with the hands up to protect the body.
- Ma-ai
- The gap between two partners.
Show it first for the one teaching
- Face the child in the guard. Reach out with bent arms until open hands touch: near.
- Step back until straight arms just touch: middle.
- Step back to two arm lengths: far.
- From far, step quickly to middle on a call, then back to far.
Your part while they practise
Be the partner; call the distances; set the rule aloud: open hands, touch only the shoulder, no hitting.
Step by step
- Learn the three distances: near, middle, far.
- Start far.
- On a call, step quickly to near or middle.
- Then back to far.
How much: 8 calls, 2 rounds 6 min a session 2 days a week
Say one thing Pick one line from "What you will see" for today and say only that.
The game: Mirror distance
One moves forward, back or sideways in the guard; the other keeps the same distance.
Who plays: the child against you; swap who leads.
How to play, turn by turn
- Turns
- Start at middle distance, both in the guard
- The leader moves for 30 seconds; the follower keeps the distance
- Every 10 seconds, call "check": both reach out an open hand toward the other's shoulder
- 3 rounds each
- Fair play
- A grown-up leader moves at walking pace.
- Points
- The follower scores 1 point at each check when the fingertips just reach the shoulder; the leader scores 1 point when they do not.
- Fouls
- A point to the other player
- A hard touch or a push
- Crossing the feet
- Touching anywhere but the shoulder
- Winning
- The most points after 3 rounds each.
- 4 points for 1 star
- 7 points for 2 stars
- 9 points for 3 stars
Easier or harder
Walk, no hops.
The caller moves while calling.
What you will see, and what to say
- touches get hard
Light as a feather
Fingertips only. - the child stays close after a move
Back to far
Step back straight away.
Self-check
8 calls in a row at the right distance.
Stop and get a coach when
The game turns into hitting; stop and play b1.
Fitness for this
Warm up first: how to warm up, at workonfitness.com. For strength and stretching, its exercise library shows each exercise step by step, with an easier version.
This card trains distance (ma-ai), footwork, reaction.
Basic is done when the instructor grades the child.
awiseathlete.com/sports/karate/karate-b5