Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to book my first lesson?
Yes please if possible, but if you decide to come along last minute without prior booking then please do so. We will be very happy to see you. Is anyone welcome to join? Of course, although we suggest that juniors be at least 8 years old. Whatever your previous experience, if any, everyone will be made most welcome. When should I arrive? Please try to arrive 5 -10 minutes before your class starts Is previous Martial Arts experience necessary? Not at all. Temple FSK caters for all levels of experience. Can my past MA experience and grade be taken into account and carried over? Best to contact us and discuss your previous experience, but if you are able to provide details then we can assess where this fits into the Temple FSK Syllabus / belt structure. What should I wear? Our standard training 'kit' will be a black Gi suit or black Gi trousers and club T Shirt. For your initial classes until kit is acquired, please wear black trousers (jogging, tracksuit, leggings etc.) and a white T-shirt. Traditionally, karate and other Martial Arts are practised in bare feet, but with our focus in 'real world' application, it is unrealistic that you will be in a self defence situation where you are bare-footed, so you are welcome to train in trainers. Equally, you are welcome to train bare-footed. Will I get hurt? Many think that Karate is about getting hit and hitting others, but Karate includes (at its core) restraint and control. Temple FSK has a Karate core running through it, but also a strong emphasis on self defence technique. Of course strikes and being struck are part of Karate and self defence, but light and controlled contact will be encouraged throughout. As students progress with technique and experience, contact levels can be increased (with correct protection) - but you will not be forced into and contact level you do not feel comfortable with (see below regarding sparring). 'Hitting' aside, the only other form of 'hurt' you may experience is one found through training hard, physically putting your body through its paces, or not warming up properly. It will be fun, don't worry. Will there be sparring involved? Certainly. We will be practising various types of sparing, from very light contact points sparring, through to full contact for the more advanced students (FULL sparring equipment WILL be required for this). Will I need any further equipment? Other than your training clothes, you will need a gum shield (for all types of sparring) and some light hand pads for the light/semi contact sparring and some pad work. Foam 'shin and instep' guards are also recommended and will be a requirement for certain forms of sparring. Please contact us to discuss the best pads to buy and to ask about full contact sparring equipment. The club has a all other equipment available including focus pads, power strike pads, punch bags, ground work mats and first aid equipment. What are the costs? Introductory lessons are free and thereafter each class you attend will cost £4 for adults and £3 for juniors, payable on the night. All (if any) profits will be put back into the club to better facilities and equipment. The only other costs will be your black training suit know as a 'Gi' (available for around £15 online) and protective pads, all of which are readily available online for between £5-£10 - ask us for details. If you have ANY other questions at all please do get in touch and we will reply very soon. By email: [email protected] Telephone: 07584 993612 Please leave a message if there is no answer. You can also find us on Twitter @TempleFSK and on Facebook Other notes about training: • Please remove all jewellery before practising • No chewing gum in the Dojo whether training or not. • If you bring a friend along please introduce them to the head instructor • Respect your fellow classmates when practising • If you have any problems at all speak to the highest Instructor available |