Welcome To The Eastern Shotokan Karate Association
Dear member Welcome to the Eastern Shotokan Karate Association (ESKA). This welcome pack contains ns useful information about our association and what to expect while training with us. We hope you enjoy training with ESKA and please feel free to contact us with any questions at the ESKA Office (details below). Alternatively you can speak to your club instructor or administrator who will l be happy to help. The ESKA team 01603 418751 office@eska.co.uk www.eska.co.uk facebook.com/eska.karate 3
Training cards Your Training Card You will have already received a training card. This is your personal record of your attendance. Please bring this card to EVERY session and hand it in to the class administrator who will stamp the card with the date of each class you attend. The number of stamps goes towards your grading requirements. (Please see Grading Requirements). It is very important that you keep your card safe and up-to-date, as without it your instructor will not be able to sign your card in order for you to grade. Replacement Cards If you lose your card, a new one can be ordered from the administrator at a cost of 5 per card. Forgotten Your Card? Please make sure you inform the class administrator that you have forgotten your card BEFORE the start of the class. The administrator will register you and issue you with a forgotten card slip which needs to be collected at the end of the class. Please keep the slip safe and hand in to the administrator, along with your card, at your next class where they will update your card. Please note that the administrator is unable to stamp your card without this slip. 01603 418751 office@eska.co.uk www.eska.co.uk facebook.com/eska.karate 4
Training frequency Once a Week Training This entitles you to train on a once a week basis at any venue suitable for your age and level. You are able to swap your day and venue at any time with no need to inform us. Take your card along to your chosen venue and class where it will be processed by our administrator. Missed Classes If you miss a class/classes whilst training on a once a week basis, you can make up the missed session/sessions at any venue at any time. Therefore you never lose the classes you are paying for and you have the flexibility of fitting them in when convenient. Missed classes are valid for a rolling 12 month period. Unlimited Training This entitles you to train at any venue, as often as you would like. We run classes 6 days a week, 51 weeks a year (excluding bank holidays and unforeseen closure). This option is open to all students at any time, but becomes more important as you reach higher grades. As you progress through the grades the minimum class requirements increase, meaning you will need to train more often to be eligible to grade at every opportunity. This is an option available to everyone and not a necessity. Upgrade/Downgrade You can upgrade or downgrade your training frequency at any point during your training. One month only upgrades are also available. Please contact us at the office on the details below and we will be happy to help you with any changes. Personal Tuition Personal tuition sessions are available for both adults and children and are held at The Dojo Norwich. These sessions are tailored to each student s individual needs, whether it is in preparation for an upcoming grading or to refresh after a break. 01603 418751 office@eska.co.uk www.eska.co.uk facebook.com/eska.karate 5
Grading information Gradings are held every 3 months (March, June, September & December) for White Belts to Brown & White Belts. Black Belt gradings are held bi annually (April & November) at the National TSKUK Courses & Gradings. Dates for these are on the ESKA Year Planner and full information for each grading including dates, times and venues can be found on the ESKA website. Approximately four weeks before each grading, we start our card signing process. The instructors will be looking closely at each student, gauging their progress in each of the 3 elements; Kihon (basics), Kata (form) and Kumite (sparring) with the final week being all three elements. Please note that it is compulsory to get your card signed for every element in order to grade. If your card has been signed this means you are now ready to grade. Make sure you are certain of the date and time for your grading. If you are unsure please ask an administrator, visit our website or contact us at any time. In order to grade, you must wear a karate suit with the ESKA logo. These can be ordered online at the ESKA Shop or from your local venue administrator. The instructor will sign the front of your training record card at the end of your class if they feel you are at a suitable standard for each element and have met the required number of sessions. They will also explain why they haven t signed your card if this is the case. 01603 418751 office@eska.co.uko.uk www.eska.co.uk facebook.com/eska.karatee 6
What happens at a Grading? Registration When attending a grading, please arrive in good time to register and change if necessary. You will need to bring the following things with you: Your training record card (signed off by an ESKA instructor) Two passport size photographs, one for your license book the other for your ESKA grading record. (Only needed at your first grading) Payment, either in cash or cheque (made payable to ESKA) The costs are for the pre grading lesson, exam, registration of your grade, new belt and grading certificate. The Grading After registration before each grading there is a compulsory pre grading lesson for all candidates. This lesson is an opportunity to warm up thoroughly and run through your grading syllabus.. After the training, there will be a short break before the examination starts. We recommend that during this time you stay active both physically and mentally. All candidates will then be lined up in front of a panel of ESKA instructors and the grading will begin. You will be asked to complete eachelement (Kihon, Kata and Kumite) of your syllabus. Each element is graded on a Credit, Merit & Distinction basis. If you achieve between 70% - 80% you will receive a Credit. If you achieve between 80% - 90% you will receive a Merit and if you achieve over 90% you will receive a Distinction. Your overall grade will then be worked out on the average pass mark given for the elements (e.g 2 Credits & a Merit = Credit pass or 1 Credit, 1 Merit & 1 Distinction = Merit Pass). If you are grading for either your 9th Kyu (Red Belt) or 8th Kyu (Orange Belt) and obtain a distinction pass in all three elements, you may also be given the opportunity, if you know it, to perform the next kata If this meets the grading panel s satisfaction then you will double grade to either your orange belt for 10th Kyu or yellow belt for 9th Kyu. Once the grading is over, you should sit down and maintain a respectful silence until all candidates have been graded. Once all candidates have been graded, you will be lined up again ready for the results. If you are successful in your grading, you will be presented with your new belt, your blue licence book (which will need to be brought with you to all future gradings and courses) and your new training record card. You will also receive a certificate, which will be presented to you in class. Sometimes, you may not be successful. If this is the case, you will be given a replacement training record card and your license book will be returned to you. If you have been unsuccessful in just one element, then you will only have to retake this element at your next grading. If you are unsuccessful in two or more elements, then you will be required to retake the whole grading again (minimum grading requirements will apply). We are happy for friends and family to come along to support you although we would ask that they are quiet during the gradings. 01603 418751 office@eska.co.uk www.eska.co.uk facebook.com/eska.karate 7
Grading Requirements Required Sessions Here is a table giving details of each minimum training period, number of lessons and minimum amount of national association (TSKUK) course stamps which need to be met in order to grade at each level. These must be adhered to. ESKA cannot make exceptions to the stated times and session requirements. GRADE GOING FOR MINIMUM TRAINING PERIOD MINIMUM LESSONS REQUIRED Red Belt 9th Kyu 3 months 10 Orange Belt 8th Kyu 3 months 12 Yellow Belt 7th Kyu 3 months 16 Green Belt 6th Kyu 3 months 16 Purple Belt 5th Kyu 3 months 24 TSKUK COURSE REQUIREMENT Purple & White Belt 4th Kyu 3 months 24 1 Brown Belt 3rd Kyu 3 months 24 2* MINIMUM AGE Haven t got enough lessons to grade? This may apply to you if you have joined midway into our grading term, you have missed some classes or the minimum session requirement has increased in order for you to grade. There are a few options available to you so you are still eligible to grade: If you are training on a once a week basis and have missed any classes, then you are welcome to catch up on these which may well give you enough to grade. If you are training on an unlimited basis then stepping up your training frequency will help you reach your required lessons (remember we run classes 6 days a week). Upgrading to unlimited training will give you the option to train as many times as you wish to be able to reach your minimum session requirement. You can do this by upgrading for just one month or permanently by changing your current direct debit. Please contact us at the office or see your administrator on how to do this. Brown & White Belt 2nd Kyu 6 months 48 3* Brown & Double White Belt 1st Kyu 6 months 48 4* *Advisory/Optional Black Belt 1st Dan 10 months 80 10 (3 Obtained in last 10 Months) Min Age 9 Personal tuition sessions are also available with the ESKA senior instructors. These provide 3 stamps in your training card per session. For details on how to book these sessions go to www.eska.co.uk/personal-tuition/ or contact the office on the details below. 01603 418751 office@eska.co.uk www.eska.co.uk facebook.com/eska.karate 8
Events Apart from the usual classes, ESKA also have various other events running throughout the year. Squad Training Squad training is available for both junior and adult students of any grade and ability. Squad training focuses on the introduction to competitive karate, preparation training and the explanation of terminology, rules and regulations in competitions. Competitions ESKA holds its own in-house competitions 3 times a year as well as entering squads in various other national competitions throughout the year. We also have opportunities at an advanced level for our students to compete internationally. Courses ESKA gives all students regular opportunities to train under some of the best instructors in the Karate World both in-house and at the TSKUK/ WTKO courses. By attending these courses you will receive a TSKUK stamp for your license book, compulsory for some gradings. Black Belt Academy The ESKA Black Belt Academy is an exclusive class open only to ESKA black belts. The special classes include non-syllabus Karate and martial arts training covering the following areas: Weapons Training (Knife Defence, Bo Staff, Nunchaku), Advanced Kata & Bunkai (Application), Ne Waza (Grappling) & Nage Waza (Throws). All upcoming ESKA events and details can be found at our website www.eska.co.uk/calendar, alternatively paper copies of all events can be obtained from an administrator. Emails will be sent prior to each event, so if you are not receiving emails from us please contact the ESKA office. 01603 418751 office@eska.co.uk www.eska.co.uk facebook.com/eska.karate 9
Vulcan Road North St Faith s Road Fifers Lane FISERS INDUSTRIAL ESTATE Reepham Road A140 Cromer Road Burton Road VULCAN ROAD INDUSTRIAL ESTATE Spar Road ST FAITH INDUSTRIAL ESTATE A1042 Mile Cross Lane 01603 418751 office@eska.co.uk Aylsham Rd www.eska.co.uk facebook.com/eska.karate Eastern Shotokan Karate Association The Dojo Norwich 3 Burton Road Norwich NR6 6AX