Beginner’s Karate
Our Beginner’s Karate program is a nine week course for students aged 7 years and older. Classes are two nights a week and are tailored to introduce new students to Karate through a time tested training system.
Each Beginner’s Karate course starts with the first week as a free trial week. All students wishing to continue training must enroll before registration closes at the end of the first week.
At the end of the quarter our club will conduct an examination. Qualifying students may test the skills they have learned over the quarter to gain a higher standing in rank. The fee for this test is in addition to course tuition.
No special uniforms or equipment is required to participate in the Beginner’s Karate course. However, an approved uniform will be required for any students wishing to test at the end of the quarter.
The uniform, called a Karategi, may be purchased from us by enrolled students. Students may also acquire their karategi elsewhere with the Sensei’s approval.
New students with any previous martial arts experience may be evaluated for placement into a more advanced rank. This evaluation is conducted over during the first several weeks of class, so new students with prior experience must still sign up for the Beginner’s Karate course first.
Intermediate Karate
Students who have passed their examination at the end of the Beginner’s Karate course will now be welcomed to participate in the intermediate classes. These classes are quarterly based with testing at the end of each quarter where each student may then progress to the next level or Kyuu.
In our program there are nine Kyuu required to attain the rank of Black Belt. Most Kyuu grades can be completed within one quarter, however some of the higher ranks require at least two quarters to complete. Not all students progress at the same rate, so some students may spend more time than others at any given level.
It typically requires at least a three year commitment to become a disciplined Karateka (practitioner of karate) with the rank of Shodan, or First Degree Blackbelt. But karate training does not end at Shodan, it merely begins there.
Currently our highest ranking students have attained the rank of Yondan or fourth degree Black Belt, representing more than 12 years of training on average. Some of our higher ranking Black Belts are the Sensei, or instructors of the classes. They fully understand what it takes to become a Dan ranking student of karate.
Kobudo
The Japanese word Kobudo means “old warfare methods”. Since the early 1600s Okinawans had been forbidden to have traditional weapons. Okinawan Kobudo is the use of ordinary tools for defensive “weapons”.
Our Kobudo program is focused on the study of four of the traditional Okinawan Kobudo “weapons”, the primary of which is the long Bo staff studied every quarter. The other three “weapons” are studied one at a time on an annual rotation basis along side the Bo staff.
In our Kobudo program we study the fundamental and effective methods of handling these basic “weapons” with a focus on efficiency of movement and consistency of control. Kobudo training compliments the study of Karate and helps to develop a more competent and more confident Karateka.
However, Our Kobudo classes are by invitation only with the approval of the Sensei. Students must first show the proper discipline in Karate before they will be invited to join our Kobudo program.
Special Classes
Every quarter offers special seminars and events designed to accelerate student’s skills and performance. These classes may be limited to certain kyuu levels or open to all enrolled students and may also require an additional fee to participate.