TracyLou

Hi, I have heard it is easier/quicker to gain a black belt in TKD than it is in Karate, apparantly TKD do not have as many belts to get through, they are less strict and things are more relaxed. I have no idea if this is true but I knew a woman who gained her BB in TKD in just over a year whereas some Karate students I know are still purple/brown after 3 years. I have been to both a karate class and a TKD class and the TKD class did seem more relaxed and there were lots of high grades, little kids with brown belts etc that didnt seem *that* impressive in their techniques whereas the karate class seemed stricter, a low number of black/brown belts and a much *tighter* sense of technique, anyone not doing the moves perfectly were pulled up about it whereas in the TKD class the students seemed free to more or less do what they could and thats it. Looking foward to hearing your opinions on this, I apretiate I could've witnessed unique classes that isnt representative of the MA.

Hi, is once a week enough to train in TKD?

Does anyone know anything about KFM (Keysi fighting method) and if its suitable for a 5 year old? Their local classes run 'little dragons' classes starting from the age of 4 but after having one bad experience with a certain karate club Im naturally a bit more wary this time. Thanks

My son is 5 next month and has his heart set on starting Karate (the usual starting age around here seems to be 5). He's had a shot an GKR but that didnt go too well for various reason, probably because he was too young at 4... Anyway everyone keeps telling me that 5 is too young for him to start Karate and that I should wait until he's at least 7...what do you think? Does anyone here have any first hand experience of such a young child training in Karate and how did he or she do? Thanks in advance

Thanks for the welcomes Ill definately give it a go, Ill contact a few clubs next week Thanks again

Hi, Im 23 years old and used to do wado Ryu when I was 15...anyway I fell out with a friend and stopped going and have regretted it ever since. Ive made it my new years resolution to start again next year...is this realistic at my age? Id love to get back into it but am afraid I will be the only woman there...silly i know, am I likely to be on my own if I do start up again? TIA

Thanks for everyones advice I suppose the class has its good and bad points to be fair, the instructor is really good with children for example, Ive never seen him get angry or bad tempered with anyone no matter how many times he has to repeat himself. This was not the case with my last instructor but I guess he just took his classes much more seriously (which is fair enough). My son loves his classes also and is looking foward to getting a uniform which incidently we have never been pressured into buying. I do think the price is too much though, at my last club we paid £2.50 a lesson and the membership fee was around £15 and that covered the insurance and everything else. The instructor has a black belt with a white stripe (as does his assistant) so I guess this is an instructors belt and not a black belt...I dont mind providing he teaches well. theswarm, you are right, this class was an early class and was followed on by another class, I didnt stay to see what went on in the second class however but the early class was one and a half hours and the second class was 2 hours long. I do like the idea of the certificates etc that the club hands out to kids, all kids love to be told that they have achieved something and aparantly my son is due his first certificate in two weeks time (achievement award or something!). I think Ill leave him at the class for as long as he enjoys it, when he's old enough to understand he can choose for himself whether he wants to change styles or stay where he is. Thanks again Tracy

Hello! Im new to this forum and Im looking for some advice... Basically a few weeks ago a man knocked on my door saying he was from the local karate club, I told him I wasnt interested at the moment and he asked about my son who is 4 years old....He said they normally start at 5 but he'd accept him at his current age of 4. Fine I thought...He then charged me £80 for a join up fee without allowing me to see his classes first and then informed me that the classes were £5 a lesson. Dont get me wrong, Im not *that* bothered about the expense but since he joined I have found some disturbing stuff on the internet about GKR and wondered what you guys thought... Is it true that it isnt REAL karate? Is it true that the instructors are not black belts? Is it true that GKR is not accepted by the Karate body or whatever they are called? Is it true that GKR students cannot take part in tournaments? Is it true that GKR have a history of not having proper insurance cover? The two classes my son has attended tend to be fairly 'messy', most of the students (highest rank is an orange belt) seem to obviously do the moves wrong yet the instructor does not help them and he spends most of his time talking and making jokes. I used to do karate (wado ryu) myself a few years ago and the standard of my old class seems to be so much higher than these £5 a lesson classes that my son is attending. I am not saying that GKR is bad or anything, id just like some advice. Thanks (sorry about multiple posts, not sure which forum I should be on)

Hello! Im new to this forum and Im looking for some advice... Basically a few weeks ago a man knocked on my door saying he was from the local karate club, I told him I wasnt interested at the moment and he asked about my son who is 4 years old....He said they normally start at 5 but he'd accept him at his current age of 4. Fine I thought...He then charged me £80 for a join up fee without allowing me to see his classes first and then informed me that the classes were £5 a lesson. Dont get me wrong, Im not *that* bothered about the expense but since he joined I have found some disturbing stuff on the internet about GKR and wondered what you guys thought... Is it true that it isnt REAL karate? Is it true that the instructors are not black belts? Is it true that GKR is not accepted by the Karate body or whatever they are called? Is it true that GKR students cannot take part in tournaments? Is it true that GKR have a history of not having proper insurance cover? The two classes my son has attended tend to be fairly 'messy', most of the students (highest rank is an orange belt) seem to obviously do the moves wrong yet the instructor does not help them and he spends most of his time talking and making jokes. I used to do karate (wado ryu) myself a few years ago and the standard of my old class seems to be so much higher than these £5 a lesson classes that my son is attending. I am not saying that GKR is bad or anything, id just like some advice. Thanks