Absolutely. We very much encourage those thinking about joining the club to watch a lesson first. Limited seating is available in the Dojo. We do ask that you sit quietly during the lesson and not do anything to disturb or distract those who are training (for example, no eating or drinking and all mobile phones must be switched off). If you have any questions, please wait until the lesson is over and only then approach one of the instructors.
Approach the club secretary or an instructor before the lesson. You will be asked to complete a Joining form of basic information. At this time you will be asked to declare any conditions or disabilities that might affect your training. Juniors (under 16) will require the signature of a parent or guardian to join.
The first lesson gives the instructors the opportunity to assess your suitability (this is especially important in the case of younger children).
Weekly training session details can be found in the Training Timetable
Note that the club reserves the right to vary charges without notice.
Yes - All club members must have a valid licence issued by the Ishinryu association. The licence cost is £23 for 12 months (£20 for Juniors). This is a requirement of the association. It also provides a level of indemnity against certain injury risks.
While a new student may not have a valid licence from day one, they will be expected to acquire a licence within one month of starting training. The new student will receive a grading record book with their first licence. This book/licence should be brought to all training sessions and shown to the club secretary if requested. On no account will a student be allowed to grade without a current licence.
Note that there is also an entry cost to the Wood Lane sports centre. This is in addition to our training fees and applies to all who enter the sports centre.
Back to TopThere are few limitations. Male or female, adult or child, any body build. While you should be of reasonable fitness to start training, the training itself will steadily improve fitness and, if applicable, help shift excess weight. Minor disabilities should not affect ability to train, but any existing condition should be fully discussed with the instructors when joining the club.
Karate is a strenuous activity, and we expect all students to work to the best of their ability. Having said this, instructors will take due regard of age, physical ability and any injuries or disabilities a student may have. If you have not exercised for some time, you are well advised to take Doctors advice before starting training (as you would for any sport). Making progress in karate is very much about steadily increasing in fitness. We do not expect a new starter to have the same fitness level as a senior Black Belt grade - however, we do expect all students to work to the best of their ability at all times.
At the Woodlane Dojo the minimum age is six. This is based on ability to concentrate and maintain a reasonable attention span as well as the ability to follow instruction. We always recommend a Trial Lesson where the instructor will assess a new student. We may sometimes advise delaying training until a child is older. A child who finds it difficult to concentrate or follow instruction will present a danger to themselves and other students in the Dojo.
The Dragons club at Collier Row is a children's only club. Here Little Dragons (aged 4 and 5) and Junior Dragons (aged 6 to 10) are able to train and learn basic karate techniques in a less pressured environment. The emphasis at the Dragons club is on shorter lessons with more breaks and fun activities. Our aim here is to develop younger students in a low pressure environment who we then hope will progress onto the Woodlane Dojo as they get older and want to train in a more mature and demanding environment. Having said this, Junior students (6 and above) are always welcome to train at Woodlane - traditionally the Thursday lesson has always been most suitable for younger students.
In theory there is no upper limit. It is not unusual to see students in their 50s and 60s in a class. Some of the original Japanese masters continued to train well into old age. Age and physical ability are always taken into account by the instructors during training.
Equipment consists of a Karate Gi and protective gear. This is not required for the first lesson, however, all students should purchase a Gi within the first month of training (students will not be allowed to grade unless correctly dressed in a Gi).
All training is performed wearing the traditional karate Gi and belt. New starters are advised to dress in tracksuit trousers and tee shirt for the first few lessons. All Gis must display the two Ishinryu association badges on the chest.
Apart from underwear, no other clothing is permitted while training (for the sake of modesty female students may wear a tee-shirt or vest under their Gi top if they prefer). Karate is performed in bare feet. Jewellery is forbidden in the Dojo and all watches, earrings, rings and other items must be removed before entering the Dojo.
These are available through the club secretary we would advise buying through the club so as to take advantage of our bulk buying power. In addition our experience will ensure that the Gi is of good quality and is (and remains) a good fit. Prices start from £10 for a junior Gi to about £30 for a large adult size.
Karate Gis are also readily available from sports shops and by mail order. More expensive Gis are available for up to £100 or so. However, less expensive Gis are more than adequate for a beginning student.
Jewellery is forbidden for safety reasons - to protect both the wearer and other students from injury. As a secondary consideration, Jewellery could be lost or damaged in the Dojo.
Some students may be unable or unwilling to remove a wedding ring. In this case it should be covered while in the Dojo (e.g. with a protective covering or sticking plaster).
Protective equipment is required for sparring within the club and is compulsory for competitions. As a minimum, equipment includes hand pads and a gum shield. Optionally shin pads may be worn and Women may wear a chest protector.
Advice on, and the supply of, safety equipment is available through the club secretary.While you can buy your own equipment through a sports shop or mail order, be aware that only EKF approved items can be used within the club.
To make good steady progress club training twice a week should be sufficient. While individuals vary, it is unlikely that anyone training less than once a week on a regular basis will make significant progress. Good attendance is one factor that will directly influence grading success.
All students are expected to spend time training away from the Dojo - this may include work on specific techniques, work on Kata, or general fitness training. Good progress will only be made if the student dedicates time and effort both inside and outside the Dojo.
All illnesses or disabilities must be declared on joining the club so that Instructors are aware. If any condition arises after joining the club, these must be communicated to the club instructors at the earliest opportunity.
Correct behaviour and good manners in the Dojo are essential at all times. Please study the section on etiquette before attending a lesson and be sure to observe these guidelines at every training session.
The grading system is designed to reflect the steady progress of a student. Belts are awarded when the student is ready to progress to the next stage (as decided by a panel of instructors). Someone of good ability, who works hard and attends class on a regular basis may achieve the Ishinryu Shodan grade (black belt) in about 5 years. Most students take longer, and the vast majority will never reach that stage.
Remember that the belt is just an outward indication of individual progress. Ishinryu is proud to maintain a high standard in karate if your only aim is to gain a black belt in a martial art, there are many less demanding routes that can be followed.
Kumite or sparring, is an essential part of karate especially as you progress through the grades. A good Karateka needs to be a good all rounder and able to spar as well as perform basics and Kata. Individual students may have a preference for different aspects of the training however all students are expected to participate in all parts of the training.
Karate is a contact sport and accidents happen from time to time, however serious injuries are very rare. While it is difficult to compare the risks of various sports, it is worth noting that both Golf and Fishing result in more reported injuries in the UK than all the Martial Arts combined.
As students progress they will spar within the club, and perhaps fight in organised competitions. Students will learn to take blows that untrained individuals might consider to be excessive - this is part of the training.
Good control and etiquette must always be observed in the Dojo. Reckless or uncontrolled behaviour that puts other students at risk will not be tolerated.
No one will be compelled to enter organised competitions. However the club will offer encouragement to all students to do so. Woodlane Ishinryu has a long and successful record in competition karate. Students should consider it an honour to represent their club in competition.
Each training session is 90 minutes long, however the content of each lesson will differ. Each lesson will be planned by the club instructors - the content of each class will depend on a number of factors including:
The make-up of the class (i.e. number of students, mix of grades, general fitness level)
Forthcoming events such as club or general gradings, or perhaps an impending competition
Observed problems with certain techniques which require correction
There will be some minutes between entering the Dojo and the start of training.Use this time for your personal stretching and warm up routine. You may want to use this time to practice techniques learnt in previous lessons. Do not use this time for idle chit-chat the session starts when you enter the Dojo.
The class will always assemble together for a warm-up before the lesson starts - the warm-up is intended to prepare the body for training by increasing body temperature and stretching muscles so as to avoid strains or injuries during training. The warm-up will be taken by an instructor or senior student. A typical warm-up will last from 5 to 10 minutes.
Students will then take the bow before actual training commences.This may be executed from a kneeling position (Seiza) or as a standing bow. A selected student will announce Sensei nee Rei at which all students will bow and respond 'Osu'. The student will then announce Senpai nee Rei and again, all students will bow and respond with 'Osu'.
At this point the class may be split into two or more groups based on grade - for example, lower grades (red to yellow) in one group, intermediate grades (Orange to Blue) and higher grades (Brown through Black). The split may differ, or there may be no split at all, with all grades training together.
Content of the training may be any one, or a mix of, the following:
Kihon - or basic techniques
Combinations - basic techniques in combination with each other(these may be performed individually, or in pairs or small groups)
Kumite - or free sparring
Kata - where a sequence of preset moves are taught and practiced
Self Defence Techniques - the teaching of practical defensive techniques that will work in a 'street' situation, away from the Dojo
Towards the end of the lesson, the class will be brought together for the final bow. A selected student will announce Sensei nee domo arigato gozaimashita - Rei at which all students will bow and respond 'Osu'.The student will then announce Senpai nee domo arigato gozaimashita - Rei and again, all students will bow and respond with 'Osu'.
The class should then wait to be dismissed by the instructor, at which time they should leave the Dojo quickly and quietly.