Are you still breathing? Can you still move? If the answer is yes! Then you’re not too old. Granted, those more advanced in years will have a different Karate journey than the younger folk, but that doesn’t mean that you will not develop and gain much from beginning.
From our experience over the decades, we have found that 6 years old is generally the youngest age where students begin learning correct techniques.
Of course! Karate is for everyone, though not everyone is for Karate. Karate is more than physical activity, you will develop mentally and philosophically too, and we will work within the framework of your capability.
SKIA will automatically recogise your gradings from approved Shotokan styles. We will just need your grading certificates to pass on to head office for confirmation.
For those styles not automatically recognised then it is up to the discretion of Sensei to assess and discuss with you your karate journey at Epping Shotokan Karate.
SKIA hold an annual State competition and then a national competition. Every 3 years SKIF hold the World Championships, which, like the Olympics is held in different countries each time.
Competition is a fantastic supporting factor in your Karate Development.
Since the Shotokan Dojo was founded in 2000, we are proud to have representatives at State, National, International and World Championships, with medalists across the board that call Epping their “home”.
You will never be forced to compete outside of the Dojo, and at the same time, it is widely acknowledged that competition is an outstanding contributor to personal growth.
Everyone’s Karate Journey is different, and a black belt is really the beginning!
Depending on the students’ application to their Karate journey, it can be achieved in as little as 3 years. Typically 4 to 5 years is the usual for this part of the journey.
Grading is based on the mastery of techniques, and you will be invited to grade by one of the Instructors. This could be up to 4 times a year with dedication to training in class and supported at home.
The club holds examinations up to four times per year, and based on the adherence to the SKIA Grading rules, and your dedication and development to learning Karate you could be invited to attend each examination.
For Black belt (Dan) examinations, these are normally held at the SKIA National Seminars with SKIF GHQ Instructors who visit from Tokyo, Japan.
The trial lessons give you an opportunity to see who we are, what we do, and how we do it. It is important to find a Dojo that you are comfortable training in, one where you are more than just a number. The trial lessons also give the Instructors an opportunity to assess what would be the best approach for your Karate Journey.
The class is broken up into small groups of 5 students per instructor. This is so the students get all the benefits of small class instruction. In our experience we have found that this approach helps to avoid overwhelming new students with all the details in the foundations of the new skill being learned, and sets the students up for success in their Karate journey.