FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
'Is Karate violent?'
Karate is not fighting nor is it aggressive! Karate is an art that teaches you how to take control of and use violent situations to your advantage. The first rule of Karate when in a violent situation is to walk away. Violent people are not suited to Karate which relies on brain as much as braun. Karate will build confidence.
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​'What is Karate?'
Originating in Okinawa, an island between China and Japan, hundreds of years ago, Karate was developed by Okinawans in order to learn how to fight invading or occupying forces (more often than not, either Japanese or Chinese). During occupation, Okinawans were forbidden from carrying weapons so trained using their farming tools, this slowly developed into a style of defence that did not require weapons only empty hands, hence the word Karate Kara (empty) Te (hand). Karate was developed for and remains for defence only.
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'Will I have to fight?'
Not in the traditional sense no! However, In order to practice the techniques you have learned sparring with an opponent is a very important part of learning. Sparring is always controlled and not aggressive, in the Dojo, noone is trying to hurt anyone else and is done on a very light semi contact basis. You will always spar with a more senior member of the club whose job it is to teach you and help you develop your style, not to 'beat you up'.
'What do I need to wear?'
The traditional dress in the Dojo is a Karate uniform known as a Gi with a belt that identifies your rank and competence. However, if you are starting for the first time, the wearing of a Gi is not necessary and a pair of jogging bottoms and a tee shirt will suffice, at least until you have decided whether Karate is for you or not. If you would like to buy a Gi, you can either source your own or you can purchase it through the club. We wear a traditional white Gi. Ladies and girls should wear a tee shirt or vest top under the Gi top, men and boys should not wear anything beneath the Gi top.
'Do I need to join the club?'
You will not be asked to join the club straight away. When you have attended for a few weeks and are sure that Karate is something you want to pursue, you will be invited to join the club and apply for a license to practice karate. There is an annual membership fee and annual license fee, both of which are very competative which help the administration of the club and provide you with insurance in the very unlikely event of injury, that can occur during a contact sport. The Chief Instructor will advise you when the right time is to join and will invite you accordingly. We DO NOT ask you to sign a contract nor do we ask you to set up a regular direct debit, which is a method used by most clubs today. You pay only as you train.
'How important is health, safety and hygeine in the Dojo?'
Karate is practiced barefoot and it is very important that your toe nails (and finger nails) are kept short and clean. The wearing of jewellry is not permitted during training for obvious safety reasons so necklaces should be removed and earings and rings should be ideally removed or covered with a strong plaster. It is also important, due to having close contact with others during training, that your breath is fresh and that you use deoderant. It is advised that you brush your teeth or use a breath mint prior to training.
'What are the rules of the Dojo (Etiquette)?'
Not important on your very first visit, but when entering or leaving the Dojo it is customary and respectful to bow. Bowing is a sign of respect and shows respect for your place of learning! More details can be found by scrolling down. It is very important that you read and adopt these rules.
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'What happens at a typical training session?'
After signing in, the session will always begin with line up and bow in followed by warm up where you will prepare you body for training, Sensei will then break into small groups and each group learing the same techniques will be taught by the instructor, you will learn both Kihon (basic) technique and a Kata which will conclude every three months with a grading where you will use your new skills to progress through the ranks. A typical training session will include one of two short sessions of light sparring. Grading are heal every year in March, June, September and December. Coloured belts (Kyu grades) will grade each time if Sensei is satisfied with levels of attendance and understanding, Black belts (Dan grades) are taken only in December. You will need to attend at least two sessions per week in order to qualify for consideration to grade. Each training session ends with a line up and bow out.
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'Do I need to book lessons?'
No, you can simply turn up at any session and any Dojo (location) you want and you will be very welcome. We are always pleased to see any new faces.
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'May I bring a friend with me?'
You most certainly can, you can bring as many people as you like and they would be very welcome.
Karate gradings are held every three months and if Sensei McKenzie is happy that you have reached the required competence, you will be invited to take that step. Gradings are generally held half way through March, June, September and December. Gradings are held on Sunday mornings and are preceded by a grading course which is mandatory before the grading can be taken. All members MUST attend this course whether grading or not. Dan gradings (Black Belt) courses and gradings are held in December only!
Shotokan Karate rank structure is as follows;
Shotokan Rank Structure & Club Gradings
BOWING
Bowing is part of most Martial Arts and is particularly important in Shotokan Karate. You are not bowing to the person, you are bowing to their rank, experience and more importantly to the style.
You should ALWAYS bow, facing the front of the Dojo, when you enter and leave the Dojo; when given an instruction by a senior grade, when beginning and ending a Kata, at the beginning and end of Kumite and at the beginning and end of a training session. You will learn when to bow in time but at the beginning you will be told when you should do it.
OSS!
Bowing is almost always accompanied by the word OSS (quietly or loudly depending on the reason) When being given an instruction by a senior member of the club (usually Brown belt and above) you should reply with the word 'Oss' which is the recognised term for 'I understand' or acknowledgement, you should also bow to the senior. During line up at the beginning and end of the training session, you should not be standing ahead of the senior grades, so look to your left and you will always know where to stand. You should always ask the permission of a senior member if you need to leave the Dojo and on reentering, you should kneel at the edge of the Dojo and wait for the senior instructor to invite you back in. Eating and drinking is NOT permitted in the Dojo.
Dojo and training etiquette.
NO DIRECT DEBIT - NO CONTRACT - PAY AS YOU TRAIN - FIRST LESSON FREE -