Canadian77

Ours is about $100 per month, but that is unlimited training, includes all belts, exams, gi, special guest sessions, etc. I haven't had to put out any extra money for anything else. I think it is fair, and encourages regular participation. I am generally in the dojo three days a week, occasionally four.

That's actually a good advice. I will try it with my next kata I'm going to take this advice too! I'm still on my first kata, but will likely start learning my second in a few weeks. Safroot, thanks for getting another helpful discussion going! I feel the same way as you so this thread is helpful for me too. I am finding it is slowly improving with the remembering. I've been avoiding our Friday session, as I found the sensei who runs it to go pretty quickly, and the few times I tried it (early in my first month of taking karate) I felt a bit overwhelmed. I decided to try his class again this past week, three months into training now, and I actually really enjoyed it. The basics are starting to come a little bit quicker, so the combinations he had us do didn't completely lose me, for once! It actually made the class a lot of fun, and I think I'll aim for more Fridays!

Our dojo does something similar, although we still have grading. We pay a flat fee and no extra costs for anything, including belts, exams, etc. For coloured belt grading we are observed always, our attendance is also taken into and stripes are given monthly if the director feels we have earned. When we have earned six stripes we are ready for grading, so if we are invited to grading then we likely will not fail, since we have been observed throughout and earned the stripes. Our classes are not huge, so this is doable. I know that black belt grading is different, and not done at the dojo, but I don't know much about it. (I'm a beginner, not an instructor, but hopefully posting here is ok as long as it is relevant - - let me know if only instructors are to post here and I won't again.)

I'm not an instructor but thought it might be worthwhile sharing what I have observed in our dojo that seems to address this issue. In adult classes we have a high-ranking black belt who does the warm-ups, and once the director takes over the class this person helps out, walking around during drills, etc. There is a different person in this position on the different days of the week, which I find helps a lot, as their teaching styles are all slightly different. For the little kid groups there are also some higher coloured belts (usually brown) that also assist, making corrections, walking around, etc. I find that the variety of instructors really does help with the different ways that people learn. I have both a student and parent's perspective on this, since my little guy recently started as well, so I have observed many classes as well as participated in them. I am pleased with this approach, as it does seem to work well.

I agree with you. Doesn't it make sense that there is a difference between tradition and what was understandably normal for the time? Imagine the effort and resources needed to wash a gi back then compared to now...I imagine that had more to do with why a gi wasn't washed regularly. Some things make sense to keep as a tradition. Others, not so much. Personally I keep my gi clean and neat. It is a rule in our dojo to do so, and I agree with it.

Thank you for all the encouraging replies! I do consistently attend three times a week, and I feel pretty comfortable with my kata - - although there's still a lot I want to clean up technically. But from what I understand, they expect you to continue to perfect it as you move up in ranks, so I think I have it well enough for my first grading. (We add a new kata each level, and the newest will be your grading kata, but you are expected to know all the ones you have been taught and your proficiency in each is expected to improve - - not sure if that is standard across dojos but it is how ours works). We will see how it goes in two weeks. I'll update the thread after the grading!

Will do for sure Safroot! Thanks for the advice Nidan Melbourne. I always find anticipation is usually worse than the thing I'm worrying about, so I'll probably feel better once I get started as well.

I will be grading for my yellow belt on Feb 26th. Am excited and nervous. I'd love to hear other first grading experiences!

1. Where are you from? Ontario, Canada 2. Why did you get started in the martial arts? I am new to karate. I only just started a few months ago, as a Mom in my mid-30s. We put our young son into karate first. I really liked what I saw at the dojo. It is a very supporting, encouraging environment, and there is a lot of variety in what is done in class. I have always wanted to try karate, and the dojo does offer adult classes for beginners, so I joined! 3. Please briefly describe the styles of martial arts that you have taken and your ranks in them. Just karate. This is my first time in any martial arts. I am a white belt, but will be grading at the end of February. Our dojo's style of karate is shotokan. 4. Do you remember how you found KarateForums.com? Why did you join? And why did you stay? I enjoy discussion forums to do with my hobbies, so I searched for one to do with karate. I found this one, and lurked for a while. I liked what I saw, and decided to join in on the discussions. 5. What does KarateForums.com mean to you? It is a great place to discuss the martial arts with new people who share this interest. It also seems to be very a positive environment, and I have learned a lot here too. 6. Can you share a memorable moment within the community where you received great advice or an experience that really affected you and your martial arts journey? There was a discussion on sparring that really hit home for me. I haven't started sparring yet, and it is the only aspect of training that has been intimidating me a lot, and that I'm not sure I'll enjoy or be good at. I want to work hard and excel at my training. I have been looking forward to new kata, new movements, and learning new things in general, but I haven't been looking forward to sparring. However, the post I read put a new perspective on this. On the one hand it helped me realize that the higher belts will be supportive in helping me learn, not there to just 'beat me up', lol. It makes sense, as that is the general attitude I do find, so I should have thought of it that way already, but I hadn't. Plus, there was the point made that if I am too hesitant and worried I will develop bad habits, and I really don't want to do that. I'm not explaining it very well, but overall the post really did re-frame my idea of sparring, and I now look at it more like I look at the other aspects that will be new to me. I really appreciated that thread, and it was perfect timing for me.

I just thought I'd update and confirm that yes, the style at my dojo is indeed shotokan. We had a mini history lesson at the end of our last class, which was really interesting. I hadn't had the nerve to ask, but I was suspecting shotokan based on what you had said and what I've read. But it was nice to have it confirmed.

Welcome JJ77! I'm around your age and just started two months ago. And yes, the Octopus trying to dance at a disco is a great way to describe what I've gone through as well. Seems pretty normal - - two others have started since me and expressed the same thing. Yes, it does get better, and quicker than you think. I found I figured out different moves at different paces as well. The outside blocks are just now starting to feel a bit easier, where high blocks came more quickly. I still get muddled when trying to put things together, but it is definitely improving. It's great to see another newbie in the 30s! I look forward to comparing notes.

I'm thankful to read this post. I'm still very very new at karate (still white belt, woman, just started in my late 30s and loving it) and I haven't done any sparring yet, but it's the only thing I'm really nervous about. We had a cardio class the other day where we did an exercise a little bit similar to sparring - - the idea was simply light contact so not dangerous, it was just another way to get us moving - - and that was the first I've had of anything at all similar to sparring. We had to switch partners, and a few of the yellow belts were kind of scary to me even in that. I honestly have felt relief in the fact that white belts don't spar. But I am loving karate and want to do this for the long haul, so I know I'll have to face my fear eventually. This thread has helped ease my fears a lot. The people at my dojo are great, so the encouraging comments here do ring true. It really hit home to hear that I can develop bad habits if I don't speak up. Also, I can see how partnering with someone higher up could be beneficial due to their experience and control. So far I generally try to partner up with white belts when we do self-defense techniques and pad drills. That works out fine for the most part (usually it's easiest if they are also female). But I've also partnered up with higher-level belts (blue and purple, which in our system are before brown - - blue, blue advanced, purple, purple advanced, brown, brown advanced, black) and it has been a good (not scary) experience. The most challenging partnerships for me so far have been yellow belts - - all of them have been men which doesn't help lol - - and it makes sense that the lack of experience and control would make that difference. Anyway, thank you for this thread, very helpful! I will try to keep it in mind when I reach the level of training where sparring begins.

This kind of thing I'm sure happens in any place where people come together. I'm pleased with the dynamic at my dojo though. I have seen maybe some very minor flirting among the teens before and after class, but during class it is all about the karate, and people seem properly focused. The director is married and does not display any inappropriate behaviour at all. He sets a good tone for a fun but focused class. As far as relationships within the dojo, I think it probably could work, but people would have to be mindful of the complications.

I found the same thing when I first started! I've been going few about two months now. I found that it happened slowly. Some of the basic blocks, kicks, and punches were pretty well entrenched in my mind by about the fourth class, a few of them (especially inside and outside blocks) took a bit longer. Wait until you try to get your kata into your head! That took me about a good month, and I go about 3 times a week. It gets better though, it comes faster the more you go. And remember that the expectations aren't as high when you are a beginner. I do find that I'll start to get the hang of something, get a new correction, and I need a few more classes to get it back in my head again - but this time with the new correction. Glad to hear about another newbie here! I'm loving it too.

Wow, some great ideas here. I see quite a few that sound like a good start. Thank you! Time to hit up my library.

I love to read, and I understand that researching and reading about karate is encouraged as a part of the training. I wondered whether there were any books you knew of that would be useful to be read by a beginner like myself. I did pick up from the library and read The Karate Way: Understand the Spirit of Practice by Dave Lowry. I think it was a good choice, because although some parts were over my head, I did still get a good deal out of it. I liked that it was a mix of historical information and practical information, dispelled some common myths about karate, and helped a little bit with the lingo. I have seen threads on here about books, which area great, but a little overwhelming for me. Can you recommend books that a beginner could get the most out of?

Interesting. Ok, so essentially it sounds like it will focus on self-defense material. We do cover a lot of various self-defense techniques in our classes. It will be interesting to see what the guest instructor teaches.

Thank you! The video is helpful to get an idea. The event is in a month, but I'll be sure to update how it went afterward!

We have a guest instructor coming to our dojo who is a Goshindo Master. I was just wondering if any of you could tell me what Goshindo is? I do plan to attend the class, but I was just curious to know about it beforehand. I'm still a white belt so this is all new to me.

My son has started at 4. We brought him in for an assessment when he was still three (it was free), but they said he wasn't quite ready - although other karate schools in the area would have taken him, ready or not. I really respected that they told us to hold off. At four he has now been in school (we start Junior Kindergarten at 4 here) so he has an understanding of how to behave in a structured class. He had a second assessment at four, did much better, and has now recently begun classes. He is not going to progress as quickly as a 6-year-old, but I'm ok with that. He is a quiet, shy boy for the most part, and this is giving him something to feel proud of. It is giving him discipline, teaching respect, and he is learning a fair bit. He knows the difference between a side kick and a front kick, knows which hand is "jab" and which one is "cross" based on how he is standing, knows when to bow, fairly good positioning for punches, low blocks, high blocks, etc. He enjoys learning the various self-defense routines, and one of his favourite things is when he gets to take his sensei down to the ground, hee hee. He is actually quite particular at this age, so his technique is slowly improving. He absolutely loves class, and beams from start to finish. I don't think he needed to start this early - - I don't think his progress will be much different than if he had waited until six. But he is definitely still gaining a lot from the class, and loves it. We do not view this as a babysitting service, nor do we allow our son to think it is play time. If he is particularly distracted or is acting silly in class at all, we speak to him about it afterward. For the most part I know he does try to maintain the proper attitude. He should enjoy it, and he does, but he is there to learn, and that is how he should act. I wouldn't necessarily say that age four is the ideal age to start. I can understand why a lot of you say six or seven. My daughter is 6 1/2, and I know that she will pick it up much more quickly than he has (she plans to start in the spring when another of her activities finishes). But I think that for my son it was the right choice, that he is definitely learning a lot and getting something substantial from the experience, and I'm pleased.

This is interesting. I am still learning the finer points of karate, but I'm really enjoying the way it does go with natural movements - my Sensei has said to me "If it feels awkward it is probably wrong.", and it does often feel better when I am given a correction and apply it. Previously I have done highland dance, where the opposite is true - more trying to contort the body, and it generally has to feel awkward to be right, especially early on. This is refreshing, with karate, to be more natural, and I'm sure will lead to fewer strain and muscle injuries. Interesting to read about your style chambering so high. I don't think we do that. Also thank you safroot for the welcome!

Is breaking boards something you normally have to do to get a rank? White belt here, just beginning!

We have one per belt in the belts before black, so 10. Not sure what happens after black though.

My favourite things so far are the variety in what we do and how positive and encouraging everyone is. Both are definitely making me want to continue for a very long time!

Even as a newbie I hear you! Cardio ability goes quickly, and my muscles had just started to stop hurting after every time, now I'm back to square one with lots of panting and pain lol.