Training
Pee Wee Class (4 – 6yrs)
Our Pee Wee class is designed for our youngest students, and is a fun and enjoyable class where children can grow, and learn what it is to be a karateka. This class is not a traditional karate class, and there will be very little focus on developing proper techniques or fundamentals, as children this young have a lot of difficulty grasping the complexities of the technical side of karate, and get bored very quickly with the work required. Instead we focus on developing the childrens' confidence, discipline, etiquette, respect, and awareness. These life skills are developed through games, discussions, role playing and drills and they will be able to use what they learn in other facets of their life.
The physical self-defence we teach at this young age is fairly limited. Instead, we focus on developing awareness through teaching children where they are, what they are doing, and who you they are with. We also teach children to be confident and not appear as victims (which is very useful for the school yard).
Childrens Class (7 – 9yrs)
The kids class is a step up from the Pee Wee class and will follow along a very similar vein. There will be more of a focus on learning proper techniques and developing the fundamentals of karate, but the main focus of this class will still be 'fun'. As kids learn best through play and game we continue to use them as a teaching method to help develop them in the tenets of karate; confidence, discipline, etiquette, respect, and awareness.
This class will see a bit of a shift towards developing technique, however instead of focusing completely on the ‘correct’ way, we will be focusing on developing the feeling of the technique. This means we get the kids moving and thinking like a karateka, which will put them in good stead for their later studies. The self-defence in this class turns towards what to do when someone is doing something that you don’t want them to. This can range from school yard bullying to cyber bullying, from verbal harassment to physical harassment.
Junior Class (10 – 15 yrs)
The Junior Class will see a shift towards further developing proper technique and fundamentals. While this class is also very enjoyable for the students, there is less learning through games, and more focus on traditional karate learning methods, such as kihon, kata and kumite. Self-defence will also have a larger focus in this class as students will learn how to properly identify what will be a danger to them. The focus will still be on school yard bullying, but we will also teach about serious incidents that can be quite confrontational; however we do this in a way that students can understand but still feel comfortable with.
In this class there is a focus towards tournament or competition karate. While it is not compulsory it is extremely beneficial for students to be involved in this aspect of karate. What students learn and gain in two minutes inside a tournament ring cannot be taught in class. This is where all of the tenets of karate come together and in its own way is very testing for the student. We compete under WKF rules which follow the no contact anywhere on the body rule for this age group, and with the protective equipment available is very safe.
Adult Class
The Adult class will see a complete shift towards developing proper techniques and fundamentals. The intensity will be a lot higher than the junior class and the kids classes, but students will never be pushed to a point where they are out of their depth. Here you will learn karate the way it is taught, through kihon, kata and kumite; without much room for interpretation or personalisation (which comes later).
The adult class is mainly developed around adults who have come to us later on and are still learning the basics. As adults and children learn in very different ways we cannot teach adults in the same way that we teach children. While there is only a small amount fitness work done, the intensity of the class will have students feeling good about themselves in a short time. This class is also a stepping stone for the students coming from the junior class before they can train in the Black Belt Class. It will get them used to the higher level of intensity, and the different learning style, without being overwhelmed tem with new ideas too early.
Self-defence now turns to focusing on how to properly gauge the level of threat, and deal with it appropriately. There is a big focus on how not to find yourself in situations that can be hazardous to you or people around you, and also teaches ways which you can safely remove yourself from the situation, or if not possible end the situation as quickly and safely as you can. We teach that there is a big difference between fighting and self-defence and not to confuse the two; confusing it one way will get you hurt and the other way will get you in trouble with the law.
Black Belt Class
The Black Belt Class is designed to extend the learning of our black belts past what is taught to them. Up until now the black belt student’s are shown how everything is done, but from then on the journey changes and becomes more about how to make it work for you. Different students have different strengths and weakness and, with the help of the instructors, they choose which areas they want to develop. There is very little content that is taught in this class, but students are able to make huge leaps in their understanding and abilities through this method of learning.