Club Members December 2014
Sample Training Session
Where possible the class will be split into beginners, novices and higher grades.
Due to the often small size of the class and the range of grades this is not always possible, so the instructor will vary the activities to suit each set of grades.
Children's classes are generally for children under the age of 13.
The class will line up and bow to start the session, after which follows a short warm up to stretch the muscles and joints. Warming up is a vital part of the class and controlled stretches are performed on most parts of the body.
The start of the lesson will involve basic punching and kicking techniques, correct use of hip movement, correct stance application, blocking techniques and footwork positioning.
The instructor varies the level of techniques to the students attending, depending on their ability and knowledge.
Kumite (sparring) is performed at a variety of levels.
Beginners will perform very basic and non-contact pre-arranged kumite with another beginner, using the techniques practised in the basic part of the class. Higher grade kumite is built up in the same way but may advance to semi free movements between partners to practise techniques such as timing or countering.
Kata is a fixed sequence of movements stressing different aspects such as breathing, balance, speed etc taking the form of several imaginary attackers from different directions with a specific defence and attack.
Depending on the level of the student, kata is broadly split into basic and advanced with basic techniques usually practised as part of the warm up or basic class being applied later in the kata part of the lesson.
Just as it is important to warm up at the start of the lesson, it is important to warm down before the end. A few simple stretching exercises with possibly a few sit ups/press ups will conclude the class.
The class ends as it started, lined up and with a bow.
How Do I Start?
Starting karate is easy, just turn up!
Training Sessions at Paulton Village Hall :
Tuesday 7:30 - 9:00 (Children finish 8:30)
If you do not have a karate gi (suit), then just wear some loose-fitting clothes or a tracksuit and remove your shoes and socks.
Children under the age of 16 must have their parent or guardian's permission to train.
We recommend that parents of young children remain in the dojo during the lesson until they feel confident to leave their child on their own.
Parents should arrive 10 minutes before the session ends.
Whilst we make every effort to ensure our junior members safety, once they have left the training hall, the ultimate responsibility is with the parent.
We charge £5.00 for each session.
Annual club membership is £25
In addition, the annual cost of a JKA England licence is currently £30.
How Do I Progress?
Progress in karate is represented by rank which in turn is represented by a coloured belt.
Beginners start with a white belt and progress to black, which has in itself additional grades.
Up to black belt, the belts are ranked as "kyu" or student grades, from beginner or ungraded (10th kyu) to 1st kyu (brown belt).
Black belts grades are known as "dan" or master grades. These grades run from 1st dan to 10th dan.
A grading is held at Wells every three or four months.
The grading is a relatively simple test in which the student will be asked to perform a set of basic techniques along with some pre-arranged sparring and one kata.
The techniques, sparring and kata performed will depend on the level the student is trying to achieve.
The grading syllabus is taught as part of the routine club training sessions.
Depending how often you train, it can take about four years to achieve black belt.
A fourth dan will have around twenty years' experience.
Where possible the class will be split into beginners, novices and higher grades.
Due to the often small size of the class and the range of grades this is not always possible, so the instructor will vary the activities to suit each set of grades.
Children's classes are generally for children under the age of 13.
The class will line up and bow to start the session, after which follows a short warm up to stretch the muscles and joints. Warming up is a vital part of the class and controlled stretches are performed on most parts of the body.
The start of the lesson will involve basic punching and kicking techniques, correct use of hip movement, correct stance application, blocking techniques and footwork positioning.
The instructor varies the level of techniques to the students attending, depending on their ability and knowledge.
Kumite (sparring) is performed at a variety of levels.
Beginners will perform very basic and non-contact pre-arranged kumite with another beginner, using the techniques practised in the basic part of the class. Higher grade kumite is built up in the same way but may advance to semi free movements between partners to practise techniques such as timing or countering.
Kata is a fixed sequence of movements stressing different aspects such as breathing, balance, speed etc taking the form of several imaginary attackers from different directions with a specific defence and attack.
Depending on the level of the student, kata is broadly split into basic and advanced with basic techniques usually practised as part of the warm up or basic class being applied later in the kata part of the lesson.
Just as it is important to warm up at the start of the lesson, it is important to warm down before the end. A few simple stretching exercises with possibly a few sit ups/press ups will conclude the class.
The class ends as it started, lined up and with a bow.
How Do I Start?
Starting karate is easy, just turn up!
Training Sessions at Paulton Village Hall :
Tuesday 7:30 - 9:00 (Children finish 8:30)
If you do not have a karate gi (suit), then just wear some loose-fitting clothes or a tracksuit and remove your shoes and socks.
Children under the age of 16 must have their parent or guardian's permission to train.
We recommend that parents of young children remain in the dojo during the lesson until they feel confident to leave their child on their own.
Parents should arrive 10 minutes before the session ends.
Whilst we make every effort to ensure our junior members safety, once they have left the training hall, the ultimate responsibility is with the parent.
We charge £5.00 for each session.
Annual club membership is £25
In addition, the annual cost of a JKA England licence is currently £30.
How Do I Progress?
Progress in karate is represented by rank which in turn is represented by a coloured belt.
Beginners start with a white belt and progress to black, which has in itself additional grades.
Up to black belt, the belts are ranked as "kyu" or student grades, from beginner or ungraded (10th kyu) to 1st kyu (brown belt).
Black belts grades are known as "dan" or master grades. These grades run from 1st dan to 10th dan.
A grading is held at Wells every three or four months.
The grading is a relatively simple test in which the student will be asked to perform a set of basic techniques along with some pre-arranged sparring and one kata.
The techniques, sparring and kata performed will depend on the level the student is trying to achieve.
The grading syllabus is taught as part of the routine club training sessions.
Depending how often you train, it can take about four years to achieve black belt.
A fourth dan will have around twenty years' experience.
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