Frequently
Asked Questions (FAQ)
We have tried to answer as many of your questions as
possible in this section. However, if you require any more information
please feel free to contact us using
our online form.
Why
should I practice karate?
There are many benefits of training in karate. Physically it enhances
strength, coordination, stamina, balance and flexibility. Regular
exercise can improve both the quality and longevity of your life
and make you feel happier and more alert. There is also evidence
that exercise can help cognitive brain function.
With continued Karate training, you will gain.
- fitness
- confidence
- flexibility
- improved reflexes
- coordination
- muscle strength
- relaxation
- discipline
- etiquette
- respect for all
- strength of character
Karate trains the mind as well as the body, resulting in improved
self-awareness, discipline, confidence and will power. Not only
will you have the peace of mind that you can defend yourself,
but your confidence will help you to tackle all life throws at
you.
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What
will I learn?
We teach traditional Wado Kai Karate in a safe, friendly and respectful
environment. Wado Kai is a traditional, defensive style of karate
which focuses on technique and using the opponent’s force
and aggression against themselves. Our syllabus, from England
Wado Kai, is structured and progressive to allow you to develop
in easy steps.
The teaching focuses on the following main areas:
Kihon Waza
Foundation Techniques, such as punching, kicking and blocks.
Renkei Waza
Combination Techniques.
Ippon, Ohyo and Kihon Kumite
Pair work, putting the foundation techniques into practice.
Kata – ‘Form’
Predetermined sequences of movements.
Ji Yu Kumite
free fighting/ sparring, only started once you have learnt the
necessary techniques and control.
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What
do I wear
When you start karate you will need to wear loose clothing so
that you are able to move around freely. Suitable clothing would
consist of jogging/ tracksuit trousers, and a T-shirt. It is important
that whatever you choose to wear is both comfortable and suitable
for physical activity.
When you are confident that you want to continue with karate
training you can purchase yourself a ‘gi’, which is
the cotton jacket and trousers worn in karate. (Say ‘G’
as in ‘Game’ and ‘ee’ as in ‘Bee’).
The karate gi is a devolution of the judo uniform, which in
turn originates from the undergarments of the Shaolin
monks and comes in varying weights. With the gi, you would
wear a white belt until you are ready to grade.
For more information
on belts click here›
Learn how to tie a karate belt›
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Who
will teach me?
The instructors at the Reading Karate club are insured and registered
with England Wado Kai.
Amongst our instructors are qualified
First Aiders, as is the Club
Secretary who also holds a child protection certificate in
sport.
All adult instructors and the club secretary have had CRB checks.
Currently the club instructors are Carl
Spiller (1st Dan, Black Belt) and Rob
Barrett (1st Dan, Black Belt). more›
The senior instructor for the association is Sensei
Barry Wilkinson (7th Dan, Black Belt).
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How
fit do I have to be?
Most people are unfit when they start karate and often it’s
the reason why they take it up in the first place. We offer person
centered training, so your fitness (or lack of!) will not prevent
you from enjoying and developing in karate.
Our syllabus is constructed so that the most physically demanding
techniques are introduced in a phased manor. This means your fitness
will develop as you train more and this in turn helps you to progress
through the belt system.
Wado Kai is a softer style of karate which focuses on technique
and less on physical strength, making it ideal for all fitness
levels. For more information on Wado Kai Karate click
here›
As with all sports its recommended that you consult you GP first
if you have any concerns about your current level of fitness/health.
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Am
I too old?
You are never too old to start Karate; there are many older karate-ka
(one who practices karate) including some Japanese masters who
practice well in to their 80’s and 90’s.
Wado Kai is a softer style
of karate which focuses on technique and less on physical strength.
This makes it ideal for all ages to participate.
We believe in adjusting the way that you practice karate to
suit your body so you're not expected to perform like a 21 year
old athlete if you're in your fifties. If you are over 35 and
have not exercised in a while, or have any concerns about your
current level of fitness/health it is recommended that you check
with your GP prior to training.
Find out more about our adult karate
classes here›
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Is
karate suitable for children?
 Karate
is one of the best activities a child can practice, with the degree
of discipline, respect and etiquette taught in the class the child
will learn to accept more responsibilities, become more aware
and confident. Add to this fitness and the ability to be able
to stand up for themselves, you can see why so many parents enrol
their children in karate classes.
Children from 6 years of age are accepted and we have a good
mix of boys and girls.
At Reading Wado Kai Karate Club we have a separate class for
children which is designed to cater for their attention
spans, physical limitations and their ability to take
new things on board.
The main aim of the children's class is to teach the principles
of karate and self defence, for them to get some exercise and
to work within structured groups following instructions from an
adult. Over a period of time it also has a positive influence
on their self discipline and attention spans.
Find out more about our children’s
karate classes here›
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Is
karate suitable for women?
Wado Kai is a softer style
of karate which focuses on technique rather than physical strength,
this makes it an ideal style for women.
 You
will learn to use the strong parts of you body against the weak
parts of your attackers, along with ways of using your whole body
to defeat an opponent rather than using strength alone.
Karate also exercises and tones up the entire
body helping you look and feel great whilst increasing your confidence
and awareness.
At the Reading Wado Kai Club we have male and
female instructors and mixed
classes. See our Instructors Page›
Find out more about our adult
karate classes here›
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How
long must I train before I can defend myself?
The ability to defend oneself from attack is dependent on many
factors and the longer you train, the more able you will become.
However, you will be better equipped to defend yourself from day
one. At the end of your first class you will know how to perform
several punches and kicks as well as how to block and evade your
attacker.
At each following class you will build on this,
getting better every class you attend. Your confidence will also
grow with your new found skills which will also benefit in keeping
you out of trouble in the first place!
Karate Ni Sente Nashi
In karate there is no first attack
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When
do we get to free spar/ do I have to fight?
Basic sparring and pair work is worked on during the early stages
of karate. Free sparring or Kumite is looked at when you are more
advanced. The main reason for this is that good basic technique
is a prerequisite to effective free sparring and too much free
sparring tends to create bad habits in basic technique.
Beginners occasionally free spar, but typically
it is with senior students as partners or under controlled conditions.
This is primarily for safety reasons - the senior students won't
hurt you because they have learned
to control their techniques, and no matter how unpredictable your
technique is, you probably won't be able to hurt them!
Kumite is only a small part of karate training
and if you don’t want to participate or focus on Kumite
(free fighting), no one will force you.
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Will
I have to compete in tournaments?
No, but you can if you want to. The association has done very
well in recent competitions and has regular training for the Kumite
and Kata squads. Competition is great for developing your
techniques but it is an optional, training opportunity.
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What
do I call the karate teacher?
Karate Instructors are addressed as "Sensei". Sensei is a Japanese
title of respect (sort of like "Sir" or "Mister").
It means "teacher" and is literally translated as "before
birth" which infers that the instructor is someone older
than yourself. In this case we are speaking of "karate age".
In other words, an instructor is someone who has more karate experience
than yourself. Sensei and "Master" are titles which
people use to refer to or address someone else.
"Sempai" ("senior") is
another term of respect that is often used when addressing someone
who is not an instructor, but is senior to you in karate experience;
usually an assistant instructor.
To find out more about the instructors at Reading
Wado-Kai Karate Club click here›
For more karate
terminology click here›
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Why
do we have to bow?
Bowing is a gesture of kindness and respect for another person
common among Eastern cultures. Bowing is a both a greeting and
an acknowledgement of another person's worth.
Karate students embrace a philosophy that all
people are worthy of respect. Learning to respect others is paramount
to correct understanding of martial arts. Great physical and mental
power must be offset by making a habit of putting other people
before oneself, otherwise karate students might easily become
bullies. So as we gain strength with potential to harm others,
we also endeavor to become kinder people. Bowing and other forms
of martial arts etiquette are training tools to help the karate
student make kindness a habit.
For more on karate etiquette and karate
rules click here›
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What
are the belts (grades) in karate and how long does it take to
reach them?
Students start by going through the "kyu" ranks. Progression
in karate is a personal journey, but at the early stages you can
expect to grade every 3 to 6 months. Kyu ranks and the color belts
that go with them are:
8th Kyu (Yellow)
7th Kyu (Orange)
6th Kyu (Green)
5th Kyu (Blue)
4th Kyu (Purple)
3rd Kyu (Junior Brown)
2nd Kyu (Middle Brown)
1st Kyu (Senior Brown)
1st Dan (Black)
2nd Dan (Black)
3rd Dan (Black)
Junior and cadet students (6-15) must take a
Mon Grade prior to taking the associated Kyu grade and receive
a stripped belt.
For further details on karate
belts click here›
For more information on grading
click here›
Learn how to tie a karate belt›
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What
are the dojo rules?
There are rules and etiquette (for example, bowing)
associated with traditional karate. Karate etiquette is based
on respect and kindness toward other people, while dojo rules
are more for safety and not disrupting the class.
For full details of the dojo
rules click here›
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How
often should I train?
As a beginner one class a week is fine. However as you progress
you may want to train a little more often – as with any
sport, hobby or pastime, the more you practice the more proficient
you will become.
“Train hard; grade
easy”
The advantage of training under England
Wado Kai is that we have clubs all over the country, so it
is possible to train every night of the week! more›
The association also has regular courses at
weekends where hundreds of karate students get together to train
and grade. more›
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Where
are you located?
Reading Wado Kai Karate Club meets every Monday at South Reading
Youth & Community Centre. See the
location page for full details.
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How
much does it cost?
Your first introductory lesson is free!
After that a lesson costs £5.00 for children
and £6.00 for adults.
When you are confident that you want to continue
you can join the England Wado
Kai Association and if you become serious and want to grade
for your first belt, it will be necessary
to obtain a license. Full details can be found on our Fees
page.
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Will
I get hurt?
Our main aim is to provide a safe environment for our students
and serious injuries are extremely uncommon in karate.
The injury risk in Karate is much lower than
in most other sports, such as football, rugby and hockey; where
broken bones and noses as well as knee and joint injuries are
common.
All contact is controlled and the most you would
expect is the occasional sore muscle or bruise.
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What
do I do next?
All you have to do is come along and try it out, and we offer
a free first lesson to all new students. You will need some comfortable
clothes (tracksuit and tee-shirt) and maybe a bottle of water.
If you're shopping around for martial arts
schools or unsure whether Wado Kai Karate is for you; you're very
welcome to observe a class and talk to the instructors
or club members when it has finished.
We understand that the hardest step to make
is the first one through the dojo door, so if you have any questions
not answered already please contact us.
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