Practical Karate

Martial Arts Classes for Adults and Kids in San Diego

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Stop in For a Free Trial, MMA classes in San Diego

If you are looking to learn MMA in San Diego the MMA classes at Practical Karate area a great way to get fit, learn how to fight and be a part of group with the same goals. Practical Karate’s MMA classes are structured so that experienced martial artists, complete beginners and everyone in between works up a good sweat while learning the fundamentals of MMA. Only a 1/4 of a mile from the Garnet/Balboa exit on the I-5, Practical Karate is centrally located within 20 minutes of every part of San Diego. Gabriel Miglioli, the head instructor, is experienced in teaching everyone from top ranked professionals to soccer moms to middle school kids looking to gain some confidence.

mma classes practical karateThe average MMA class at Practical Karate is a cross section students from all over San Diego with a wide range of ages and abilities. Middle schoolers learning take down defense and elbows right next to Karate and Jiu-Jitsu black belts is a common sight. “I think it is great having people from different backgrounds, in both martial arts and life, training together and helping each other learn and get better” says Frank McCarroll, the owner of Practical Karate. “Yesterday we had a dad who wrestled growing up struggle with the footwork for striking. One of my middle school aged karate students saw him struggling and showed him how to load his weight and pivot after punching. It’s pretty cool to see a tough ex-wrestler in his 40’s learning from a 12 year old girl” McCarroll adds with a smile. “Gabriel keeps the class really fun and stimulating. One of my favorite things about this class is watching people from an interesting cross section of San Diego training, smiling, laughing and sweating together. Because martial arts are so challenging it brings people together more than any other activity that I have seen.” Stop in for a free trial MMA class with Gabriel Miglioli at Practical Karate on Mondays and Wednesdays 6:30-7:30pm.

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Practical Karate MMA Classes, Great Way to Round Your Skills

MMA Classes for Beginners and Experts

MMA classes at Practical Karate are a great way for martial artists to round out their skills and learn what works when competition rules are taken away. Whether you are a grappler or a striker, MMA training will teach you how to adapt your skills to practical self-defense situations. The rules of competition for many martial arts, and martial sports, have created habits and techniques that aren’t practical for self-defense. In traditional Japanese karate and American freestyle karate competitions the competitors are stopped and reset every time a point is scored. This format has created habits such as dropping the hands and standing up straight with the chin exposed after an exchange. The boxing clinch doesn’t allow for elbows, knees, trips and takedowns while Judo, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) and wrestling don’t allow any strikes at all. While these rule constraints can limit the efficacy of each art/sport in street scenario it doesn’t mean that the techniques of these arts/sports won’t work. There is no doubt what would happen if an attacker tries to stand and trade with a skilled boxer or if an assailant tried to tackle a BJJ black belt. However, what if a boxer, with no grappling experience, slips and falls to the ground with the opponent landing on top of them? What if a BJJ black belt, with no striking experience, is sucker punched or can’t cross the distance against a taller assailant? A quick Youtube search can answer both of these questions.

mma classes practical karateNobody can deny the efficacy of Boxing, Muay Thai, BJJ, Wrestling or Karate when combined with complimentary skill sets. However, professional MMA has destroyed the illusion that any of these arts by themselves are entirely sufficient for self-defense. With MMA training strikers can learn how to pummel for under hooks, sprawl, stuff takedowns and how to work their way up from the ground. Grapplers can learn basic punches, kicks, blocks and parries as well as footwork for distance control and dominant angles. Knees, elbows and throws are a great addition to any skill set for self-defense. The MMA classes at Practical Karate are designed for everyone from complete beginners to expert martial artists to learn what works when there are no rules or referees and your safety is on the line. Whether you are an experienced martial artist or have no martial arts experience whatsoever the MMA classes at Practical Karate are a great way to get a work out while learning practical self-defense skills. Stop in for a free trial MMA class with Gabriel Miglioli at Practical Karate on Mondays and Wednesdays 6:30-7:30pm.  

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MMA Classes in San Diego at Practical Karate

There are a lot of people that want to train MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) but don’t out of fear of getting injured or beat up. The MMA classes at Practical Karate are perfect for people that want to learn effective fighting and self-defense techniques without getting banged up and concussed. The MMA instructor at Practical Karate, Gabriel Miglioli, is a former professional fighter that believes MMA training, done right, is not only an excellent form of exercise but a great way to empower people with effective self-defense skills. While still fighting professional Gabriel moved to San Diego from Sao Paulo, Brazil to train with one of the top MMA gyms in the world, Alliance MMA. Gabriel’s goal is to take the knowledge he has learned training at one of the top MMA gyms in the world and use it to help people feel more confident and safe in their community.

karate demoSince retiring from fighting Gabriel has parlayed his experience and passion for martial arts into training professional fighters and spreading mixed martial arts to people of all ages and abilities. Although he currently trains top tier fighters such as #6 Ranked UFC flyweight Wilson Reis he also wants to help spread MMA training to everyone from soccer moms to traditional martial artists looking to round out their skill sets. The MMA classes at Practical Karate are structured so that everyone gets a good workout, gains technical proficiency and, most importantly, goes home without getting hurt. Next Saturday you can see Gabriel on UFC on Fox 29 as he corners Wilson Reis in his main event fight against John Moraga.

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Spring Break Camp at Practical Karate

Karate is a highly recognized activity for children to help teach them discipline. It is a form of activity that helps not only teach children discipline, it also helps boost their self-esteem. Many children today lack activity in their lives and sometimes become overweight. Practical Karate and Frank McCarroll offer Spring Break Camps in San Diego.

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Summer Camps at Practical Karate in San Diego

If you are looking to pursue advancement in your understanding of the martial arts, and develop a level of self defense that will protect you in bad situations, you have found the right place. San Diego Karate experts, Practical Karate with Sensei Frank McCarroll, is here to assist you in learning to master a higher level of awareness of your surroundings. Your balance will become more refined as you progress through a level of training with other beginners to work towards attaining confidence in your self-defense techniques. If you have ever been in a messy situation, where you had to act, and it was to no avail, then we have the tools you need to perfect your greatest weapon of self-preservation: yourself. For more information on San Diego Karate classes, contact Sensei Frank McCarroll at Practical Karate in San Diego, frank@practicalkarate.com.

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Practical Karate Grand Opening

Come Down and Visit, Practical Karate Grand Opening

Grand Opening Party!, June 14th from 1-4pm

Practical Karate is excited to show everyone our new dojo. Bring your friends and family to celebrate the opening of the new location.

The day will be filled with fun including:

Martial Arts Demonstrations
Special performance by traditional Okinawan dancers
Taco truck and Japanese treats
Fun activities for the kids
Hope to see you all this Sunday!

Practical-Karate-Grand-Opening

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Giving Parents a Peace of Mind over the Summer, Kids Karate in San Diego

Practical Karate, Teaching Kids Karate in San Diego

Sadly, in today’s world, children aren’t as safe as they could be, and one of the only ways to change that is learning to defend themselves against the violence. Sensei Frank McCarroll of Practical Karate, has the answer for many an anxious parent at Kids Karate in San Diego. Sensei McCarroll does more than teach self-defense at the physical location of Practical Karate in San Diego. His workshops are known throughout the area, and are available as private sessions for families or small groups that prefer to learn at home. For a parent’s peace of mind, both sexes need to learn the art of self-defense. Bullies don’t just zero in on boys. Girls need to learn how to protect themselves as much as their brother does. For more information on kids karate in San Diego with Practical Karate, contact Sensei Frank McCarroll at frank@practicalkarate.com.

practical-karate-warm-upUnder Sensei Frank McCarroll’s guidance, children will learn more than self-defense. They will learn to take pride in their accomplishment. Kids karate in San Diego is also a great way to pry a child away from all their favorite tech toys for some real exercise that they won’t complain about. At Practical Karate, kids will learn that self-defense is an art form, and will be able to take advantage of training techniques known world-wide in specific types of defense. While being taught how to defend against an attacker, coordination, awareness, and the ability to react quickly becomes part of the process, giving them skills that could change, or save their lives someday.

Karate takes dedication, and so naturally teaches a child how to focus on goal, then be responsible enough to work hard at achieving it. Much of the training involves repetitious movement to build up reactionary nerves, but you won’t hear any complaints about boredom. It doesn’t take a child much time to realize if they want to make it to mastery levels, they have to work at it, and that’s just what they do. It usually isn’t long before most students at Practical Karate would rather spend extra time with Sensei McCarroll perfecting their training, than hours at home sitting in front of a computer, or the television with a favorite DVD. These lucky kids know a better way to spend their time. Healthy and fit children aren’t the only ones that can benefit from time spent with Sensei Frank McCarroll. Special-needs children are not left out at Practical Karate. They learn according to their abilities, and have the same pride of accomplishment as any other child. For more information on karate for kids in San Diego contact Practical Karate at frank@practicalkarate.com.


– Article was written by Frank McCarroll at Practical Karate

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Summer is Here, Learn a Sport and Life Skills with Kids Karate

Help Your Kids Enjoy the Summer, Kids Karate San Diego

Many parents are concerned about the nature of being a kid today. It seems that kids are so centered upon technology that every other aspect of life is ignored. News about cyber-bullying has permeated our society causing low self-esteem issues and side effects up to and including suicide. Kids karate in San Diego at Practical Karate gets kids out of the house, into an atmosphere that boosts self-esteem, enhances physical fitness, makes kids aware of others, and helps children to learn to focus on the important things in life.

karate-classes-for-kidsThe lead instructor at Practical Karate is Sensei Frank McCarroll. Mr. McCarroll provides a unique blend of formal education in Special Education and a complete and exhaustive physical experience in martial arts including all forms of Karate, Ju-Jitsu, and Judo. A third level black-belt, Frank received his Master of Science in Special Education in 2011 from National University. After receiving his degree, Frank started a karate program at The Institute for Effective Education (TIEE) of San Diego, a school that specializes in improving problem behaviors. The program was so successful that enrollment into the program has increased by over 300% in three years.

Still teaching the program at TIEE, Mr. McCarroll has moved into the private sector, accepting the role of Sensei at Practical Karate. Using his extensive martial-arts experience and coupling it with his Master’s degree in Special Education has given Frank a rare perspective on kids today. He approaches each student with an emphasis on the importance of an instructor being sincere, demanding, and consistent.

Karate-San-DiegoUnder the tutelage of Mr. McCarroll students learn discipline, respect, and the value of perseverance along with value lessons to improve self-esteem, concentration, behavior, self-control, and social skills while increasing strength, flexibility, balance, coordination and cardiovascular fitness. All this reduces aggression, anxiety, and stress in a fun environment that motivates students to exercise, learn, and achieve goals. Through these teachings, kids karate in San Diego at Practical Karate helps to enable children to focus, study and excel in school as well as in the community. It is one thing to be bullied on cyberspace. It something quite different to be able to stand up to such bullying simply because of your confidence in yourself.

Such values cannot be self-taught. Kids need a leader. So, get their noses out of their phones or other devices and get them down to see Frank at Practical Karate. You will see the difference within a matter of days.

For more information on Kids Karate in San Diego and Private Karate Classes in San Diego contact Sensei Frank McCarroll frank@practicalkarate.com.


– Article was written by Frank McCarroll at Practical Karate

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Karate for Kids in San Diego with Practical Karate

The Advantages Provided by Karate for Kids in San Diego

There are many benefits a child experiences from training in the martial arts. They are valuable skills that can be applied to other parts of a child’s life. In order to advance in karate, a child must focus on what is being said to them. Listening to instructions is essential. Karate requires children to commit to a goal, and then work to achieve it. Learning the martial arts is a physical activity. Kids who may not be interested in other types of sports, find karate a lot of fun. Karate for kids in San Diego can provide a child all these benefits and more. For more information on kids karate in San Diego, contact Practical Karate and sensei Frank McCarroll.

Practical Karate

san-diego-karateChildren who experience martial arts training at Practical Karate, are trained by experienced and knowledgeable instructors. The facility is easy to find. It’s located in the city of San Diego. Group classes are offered. Private sessions are available for entire families or private groups. It’s possible for children to participate in martial arts training with a specific group of friends.





Sensei Frank McCarroll

Sensei McCarroll has obtained the rank of 3rd Dan or 3rd degree black belt. He lived in Japan for four years after being awarded a scholarship to Josai International University. During this time, he studied Judo and Shorinji Kempo martial arts. He earned a 2nd degree black belt from the Japan Shorinji Kempo Association. The Kodokan Judo Association awarded him a 1st degree black belt. Upon returning to San Diego from Japan, he earned a 2nd degree blackbelt in Shotokan Karate.

Training

Classes begin and end with meditation and a bow to the teacher. A child will learn proper martial arts form and movements. Technique will be developed through learning repetitive actions. The different katas will be learned. These are a series of martial arts movements. They will help a child develop skills in using their hands and feet, as well as the rest of their body. Each level of martial arts has its own kata routine. All proper work-out techniques are observed before and after a training class.

Improvements

Kids-Karate-San-DiegoMartial arts training has helped many children improve themselves. The self esteem of children improves. As they develop their martial arts skills their confidence also grows. This type of training also helps children develop better socialization skills. They are spending time with other children who have similar interests. It also promotes nonviolent conflict resolution. Children see that aggressive behavior invites discipline. Karate for kids in San Diego is able to help children grow and improve in many ways.


For more information on Kids Karate in San Diego as well as Self Defense for Kids contact Sensei Frank McCarroll frank@practicalkarate.com.


– Article was written by Frank McCarroll at Practical Karate

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Kids Karate Lessons with Frank McCarroll

Kids Karate Lessons with Practical Karate in San Diego, Ca

karate-classes-for-kidsWhile the martial arts films created by Hollywood depict martial arts in a way that seems to condone and even encourage violence, this couldn’t be further from the true teachings of the martial arts way. In fact, martial arts promotes a strong sense of discipline and self-control in children from all walks of life today. This is why many parents use Karate lessons for kids to help instill in their own children these very valuable character traits.

There are a number of reasons as to why Karate lessons for kids should be used in training kids today and they include:

  • An Increased Self-Discipline – This is something that most children fall incredibly short in these days, but this can easily be changed when utilizing the teachings of a martial arts program. The foundation of all forms of martial arts is a total focus on self-discipline and Karate is no different. In a time when children are led to believe that instant gratification is the norm, martial arts teachings can provide a very healthy alternative.
  • Greater Socialization Skills – Martial arts programs, like Karate, provide children who experience difficulties in the area of making new friends with a healthy environment to enhance their socialization skills in. Typical environments, such as the playground at school, are filled with individual children with different objectives and goals, but the atmosphere at a Karate class is one of common goals and shared pursuits. This is why martial arts programs work miracles in the area of building a child’s socialization skills.
  • An Increased Self-Esteem – A child’s confidence level is greatly affected by their surroundings as well as the activities that they participate in. This directly influences their level of self-esteem which is also why martial arts is the perfect tool for building up the self-esteem in children from all walks of life. As a child masters new Karate moves, and moves up in the ranks of the different belt colors, he/she will experience a boost in confidence that can be worth more than anything else that can affect a child’s self-esteem levels.
  • An Improved Ability To Listen – This is a very important skill that children must learn to develop over time. If it has not been taught prior to beginning a martial arts program, it will surely be taught during the program. The only way that a child will be able to move up in the ranks is by closely following the instructions given by those leading the program. Listening will quickly become second nature simply by enrolling your child in Karate lessons for kids.

Karate lessons for kids is a tool that any family would benefit from and this is a fact that will not soon change.

For more information on Kids Karate Lessons in San Diego and Private Karate Classes in San Diego contact Sensei Frank McCarroll frank@practicalkarate.com.


– Article was written by Frank McCarroll at Practical Karate

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