What do I need to bring?
For your first few classes, just yourself and some loose fitting clothes (sweats and a tee-shirt work well). After the first month we ask that you purchase a uniform (gi) either from Japan Ways or one of the numerous retailers. Any instructor can assist you in choosing the right size gi
Do I have to bow?
First of all, it is important to understand that bowing in the dojo does not have any religious meaning. It comes from the Japanese practice of showing respect for one another. One of the precepts, or sayings, of Master Ginchin Funakoshi, the founder of modern Shotokan, is, “Karate begins and ends with courtesy.”
We bow when entering and exiting the dojo and the training area to show respect for all those who train there. We bow to instructors and Black Belts to show respect for those who share their knowledge with us. We bow to practicing partners to show respect for our common goal of becoming better karateka (students of karate) as well as a sign of courtesy. Also, it is part of our tradition.
However, if you believe that bowing would conflict with your religious beliefs, you may abstain from the practice. During the bowing in and bowing out of class, we ask that you simply take a small step backward to disengage yourself while the rest of the class bows and then quietly rejoin the line when they have finished.
We bow when entering and exiting the dojo and the training area to show respect for all those who train there. We bow to instructors and Black Belts to show respect for those who share their knowledge with us. We bow to practicing partners to show respect for our common goal of becoming better karateka (students of karate) as well as a sign of courtesy. Also, it is part of our tradition.
However, if you believe that bowing would conflict with your religious beliefs, you may abstain from the practice. During the bowing in and bowing out of class, we ask that you simply take a small step backward to disengage yourself while the rest of the class bows and then quietly rejoin the line when they have finished.
What if I'm a beginner and I can't make it to the beginner's class?
Then come to the intermediate class! There are usually plenty of black belts attending the intermediate class some one will work with you to cover the appropriate material. We’d much rather have you show up to train in the intermediate class as a beginner than skip training because you have a schedule conflict.
What about kid's classes?
We offer 2 scheduled kids classes (see the schedule). These classes are for kids in the 5 through 7 year range that may have shorter attention spans. The material covered in these class is still traditional karate, just presented at a pace more appropriate for younger students. However, all classes are open to all age groups, and we do have assistant instructors in each class to break out the kids for more age-appropriate material when required. We really want to encourage families to train together and we’ve found the best way to do that is to keep everyone in the same class. If you are worried about keeping the intensity high with kids in the class, don’t be. Most of the time our younger students keep up just fine and we will break them into their own class for partner drills and kumite practice.
How old should my child be before starting karate?
That depends on your child. At Japan Ways, we don’t do “kiddy karate”. We are teaching real, traditional karate, and although it is fun, it’s also serious and requires some amount of maturity and dedication. Many 5 and 6 year olds have done very well, while others at that age find it a little overwhelming. The best way to find out is to come by and have your child take a class or two (the first two are always free) and see how they like it. While you're at it, get out there and train with him – it’s good for you!
What do the different colored belts mean?
Our belt ranking system is consistent with the Shotokan Karate-Do International Federation (SKIF), Japan, as well as the Shotokan Karate-Do International-United States Federation (SKI-USF). The curriculum at Japan Ways Traditional Karate-Do is centered around principles taught by the late Sensei Robert Halliburton and SKIF requirements set by Kancho Hirokazu Kanazawa. The SKIF requirements are further overseen by SKI-USF Chief Instructor, Sensei Jonathan Kwok here in the USA
Black Belt:
Black Belt levels are called Dan (pronounced like Don) of which there are ten levels.
First degree black belt – Shodan
Junior First degree black belt – Shodan-Sho (students under 18 years old)
Second degree black belt - Nidan
Third degree black belt - Sandan
Fourth degree black belt - Yondan
Fifth degree black belt - Godan
Sixth degree black belt – Rokudan
Seventh degree black belt - Nanadan or Shichidan
Eighth degree black belt – Hachidan
Ninth degree black belt – Kyudan
Tenth degree black belt – Judan
Kyu-Color Belt:
The color belt system is represented by Kyu (below black belt) levels. The Kyu levels run 10th (being the lowest level) through 1st (being the highest level before black belt) which is just opposite of the black belt Dan grades in which 1st is the lowest and 10th the highest. The color of the belts assigned to the Kyu levels varies from school to school; the Kyu level is what denotes the student’s level of proficiency. Our color-Kyu levels are as follows:
White Belt – no Kyu level assigned, given to beginning students.
Yellow Belt – 10th Kyu- Ju Kyu
Orange Belt – 9th Kyu- Kyu Kyu
Blue Belt – 8th Kyu- Hachi Kyu
Green Belt – 7th Kyu- Nana Kyu
Green Belt – 6th Kyu- Rok Kyu
Purple Belt – 5th Kyu- Go Kyu
Purple Belt – 4th Kyu- Yon Kyu
Brown Belt – 3rd Kyu- San Kyu
Brown Belt – 2nd Kyu- Ni Kyu
Brown Belt – 1st Kyu- Ik Kyu
Black Belt:
Black Belt levels are called Dan (pronounced like Don) of which there are ten levels.
First degree black belt – Shodan
Junior First degree black belt – Shodan-Sho (students under 18 years old)
Second degree black belt - Nidan
Third degree black belt - Sandan
Fourth degree black belt - Yondan
Fifth degree black belt - Godan
Sixth degree black belt – Rokudan
Seventh degree black belt - Nanadan or Shichidan
Eighth degree black belt – Hachidan
Ninth degree black belt – Kyudan
Tenth degree black belt – Judan
Kyu-Color Belt:
The color belt system is represented by Kyu (below black belt) levels. The Kyu levels run 10th (being the lowest level) through 1st (being the highest level before black belt) which is just opposite of the black belt Dan grades in which 1st is the lowest and 10th the highest. The color of the belts assigned to the Kyu levels varies from school to school; the Kyu level is what denotes the student’s level of proficiency. Our color-Kyu levels are as follows:
White Belt – no Kyu level assigned, given to beginning students.
Yellow Belt – 10th Kyu- Ju Kyu
Orange Belt – 9th Kyu- Kyu Kyu
Blue Belt – 8th Kyu- Hachi Kyu
Green Belt – 7th Kyu- Nana Kyu
Green Belt – 6th Kyu- Rok Kyu
Purple Belt – 5th Kyu- Go Kyu
Purple Belt – 4th Kyu- Yon Kyu
Brown Belt – 3rd Kyu- San Kyu
Brown Belt – 2nd Kyu- Ni Kyu
Brown Belt – 1st Kyu- Ik Kyu