FAQ – Warman Wado Kai Karate Club
Class (Ages 8 – ??) Mondays 7:00pm –9:00pm Warman High School
Wado Kai is a traditional karate style incorporating punches, kicks, blocks to protect oneself from attackers. Our classes include activities such as perfecting basic techniques, working on Katas (combinations of techniques which are designed to be an imaginary fight), working with partners in either 2-step or freestyle Kumite (fighting) and many other drills and activities to hone the students skills.
Our classes are designed to train all ages and abilities from the newest beginner to our highest Black Belts. We work with the students to increase their flexibility, endurance and knowledge no matter their age or athletic ability. The first few classes are very important because new students are introduced to many of the moves they will be perfect in the next few months so it is best for new students to come out as soon as the session starts so they do not feel left behind.
It is not necessary to be in perfect shape to start learning karate. Many students find that the workouts help them to get into better shape by increasing their cardio workout, increasing their flexibility and also their strength because many of the stances will strengthen and tone your muscles. It is a great “whole body” workout but it also challenges your mind, which running on a treadmill does not offer!
The instructors of the Warman Wado Kai Karate club all volunteer their time to the club. However we must still charge a fee to cover costs and also to go into our club travel fund.
$15/month paid by session (sessions are 5 months; ~$75/session)
$20/month paid by session (sessions are 5 months; ~$100/session)
Pay for oldest 2 students in a family, any others get in half price!
Besides the class registration fee there is also a national fee that must register each student with the Shintani Wado Kai Karate Federation (SWKKF).
The SWKKF is the national organization that members of the Warman Wado Kai Karate club will belong to. It provides guidance, training, certification of students from all across Canada. The Shintani fee is a fee of $40 that each student must pay to the Shintani Wado Kai Karate Federation on a yearly basis. This fee registers the student and provides them with a passbook for keeping track of tournaments and gradings. It also allows students to work out in any Wado Kai dojo across Canada and participate in Wado Kai tournaments. A newsletter and announcements will go out when we are collecting this fee (usually November and/or March depending when you start). For more information on the members and history of the SWKKF please check out our website at www.shintani.ca .
The outfit is called a gi and we will be putting in an order as a class approximately a month and a half into the new session. The cost for a beginner gi is $35 and it includes the student’s white belt, and this payment must be paid before the order is sent in. Equipment such as hand pads and foot pads are not mandatory but range from $15 - $25 a set depending on style if you wish to purchase them. A newsletter and in-class announcements will tell students exactly when we are taking orders. Until the gi’s are ordered it is best for the students to wear a comfortable pair of sweats or shorts and a T-shirt.
All black belts are called Sensei which is Japanese for “teacher”. Whenever a student addresses a black belt they should call them Sensei even if they do not remember the Sensei’s first name. We currently have 2 active Senseis in Warman, plus 4 of varying rank that come from Saskatoon out once in a while, who work together to instruct all the students.
It is not necessary for a student to know how to speak Japanese to participate fully in our classes. Techniques are called by their Japanese and English names when demonstrated and there are usually higher belts doing similar techniques that you can watch to see what they are doing. The Sensei’s are always around as well and happy to answer your questions or clarify a movement.
The colors show different ranks of students. Students under the age of 13 are eligible for stripes (4 stripes = 1 belt) and students 13 and older must go for full belts. Students receive new stripes or belts at gradings. Everyone starts out as a white belt and works their way through, yellow, orange, green, blue, brown and finally black. If you have trained in another style of Karate and are wondering about keeping the rank you have earned please speak to Sensei Crystal to evaluate if this would be possible.