Frequently asked questions :
- How old can you be to start Karate ... ?
- What do I need to wear ... ?
- What are gradings ... ?
- How long does it take to get to black belt ... ?
- How often do I have to train ... ?
- What does my membership pay for ... ?
Generally, a student taking up karate can start from the age of seven years and upwards. Younger children will find the technical aspects of karate extremely difficult to cope with. A child of four, five or six years of age does not normally have the required concentration to last an hours class. (Be wary of clubs that teach four years of age up and upwards - money is generally the only motive)! Young children would be best suited to a general fitness regime such as swimming or play time activities that they enjoy.
Sometimes a parents motive is to try and "toughen" up a very young child and whilst this is a worthwhile goal it is wise to consider the maturity and physique of a young child and to wait until a child is of junior School age before enrolling them into Martial Arts classes. It is the building of a positive character in children that is much better to consider when enrolling a child on a course.
Generally, karate is suited to men and women of all ages and physique. We would recommend however, that a person over the age of sixty years have a general health check by their doctor before enrolling on a course. Fitness is not an issue - this is normally gained through training and patience is the key!
A new starter in Karate can train in what they feel comfortable in, such as jogging bottoms and sweatshirt or T-shirt. However, after a couple of weeks if the student has settled in it is recommended to purchase a Karate uniform so that you feel part of the training group.
All training is bare foot. Jewellery, watches, ear-rings etc are not allowed to be worn and plasters to be worn over jewellery that cannot be removed
Every four months of training a student of Karate can, if they wish, attempt their next level of grade. In the grading they will have to demonstrate their technical skills and ability to use those skills against an opponent. 'Gradings' are useful to guide a student up through various stages towards black belt and beyond and are useful for students who like to set "goals" with which to advance further. There are ten grades to attain before black belt.
No student is pushed into taking gradings and only if a student is ready is a grading assessment considered.
For every student that trains the answer to this question is always different. On average a student can, by passing every grading, and by training regularly, attain black belt in four years. However, it is more likely to attain this high level within five years.
Many people place a lot of emphasis on "getting to black belt" but it is not as important as developing a strong character and a good, strong physical condition. A black belt is representative of the skills learnt over years of practice and to the strength of character a student has developed in this time..
As often as you wish.
For anyone training in Karate it is advisable to try to train at least twice a week on a regular basis. Most students find that the further they progress in the art of Karate that they want to train three or four times a week and sometimes more. If a student is serious about their karate practice then it is inevitable that the more you train the better you will be.
As a guide we recommend 15 lessons for beginners, 20 lessons for intermediates and 25 lessons for advanced grades to be taken over a four month period between each grade.
A membership fee pays for your first training gi, grading record book and also pays for insurance cover. The insurance covers a member against accidental injury occurring during training. Glamorgan Karate School operates a standing order system to collect training fees
If you have any futher questions please call or e-mail us