How many of you out there have a handbook that you give to students. What is in it? Is the curriculum in a book like a training manual? How is it accepted? Is it something that is given out at registration oris it optional?

in my style it is something that is kept rather secretly and guarded only the advanced, black belts and senior members get their own copies,this forces the students to pay attention in class and remember and practice their skills at home.

In my style, the official curriculum is available to everyone on several public websites (at least up to something like 3rd or 4th dan). No secrets there. New white belt students get a paper or two of some basic information about how the training is to be conducted and how to dress and behave in the dojo. That's about it. I'm not an instructor myself, but thought I'd chime in how it is done in my current karate school.

Don't have to be an instructor toreply would like to know how students feel also.

In my style we were all given a handbook after we'd been training for a few months or so. Just to make sure we were staying. It includes: Etiquette and Rules, History of style, some Philosophy, Notes on Kata, Grading Requirements, Terminology, Recommended Reading, Fees, and also a little on my instructor. It is really very thorough and it cuts down on a lot of questions that a student normally has to ask their instructor.

In my old school our curriculum was always posted for all students to see and refer to. In my new school they give each student a handbook with the curriculum and grade requirements for eack rank. It also contains history and biography, etc. For teaching multiple rank classes I have used a set of cards on a ring, each card having the curriculum for each grade-color coded even (yes, that's pretty anal I'll admit it!!!) .

 

I give a few handouts like a list of the kata, Bio on Funakoshi, some terms, nothing they really need to know at that point but something to keep them excited because you know how all new students are. They can't wait till the next class.

I think there is a list of belt requirements for each belt at my club. I don't have a copy, but I saw a boy flicking through one the other day, so I'm guessing there is one.

 

As far as I know we have no handbook.

 

A list of grading requirements for each belt would be helpful, though. It would be handy to just flick through it and know what you need for the next test, rather than having to ask someone, or wait until the belt tests are coming around and you get to do a practice test.

KSW has it's own text books that shows almost everything required. It's optional for students and a little expensive, but worth it for people who have bad memory. Like me.

In most dojos I've been to there's been some kind of info booklet.