Listed below are a number of frequently asked questions that may answers any queries or concerns you have relating to karate and the Academy.
If you have a specific question that isn't answered here, please feel free to contact your local club instructor.
Click here to locate your nearest club and further details.
Q. What is the purpose of Karate?
A. To develop character, self defence skills and fitness.
Q. What else will my child gain from Karate?
A. A sense of discipline, increased co-ordination and concentration.
Q. Who is responsible for my child when they are training and are they insured?
A. The instructors will take care of your of your child as long as they stay in the training area. Each student must register with the Hara Shotokan Karate Academy within two weeks of starting training. On registering they gain individual insurance and grading log book which must be looked after carefully by the student.
The membership/insurance costs £20 each year.
Click 
for a printable copy of the licence form.
Q. What does my Membership pay for?
A. A membership fee pays for a personal karate log book and also pays for one years insurance cover (an insurance slip is contained within the karate log book). The insurance covers a member against accidental injury occurring during training. This insurance is renewable annually at a cost of £20.00
Click for a printable copy of the licence form.
Q. Do I need any special equipment or uniform?
A. No special equipment is needed other than a karate suit (Gi) and belt, which can be purchased at the academy. As you progress with karate you may find you require shin pad, groin or chest protector and fist pads.
Beginners may choose to wear some loose clothing until confident enough to purchase a karate suit (Gi).
Click here to view the suits and equipment available from the Academy.
Q. Do I need to be fit?
A. As part of your licensing you will be asked to complete a medical questionnaire to ensure you are medically fit to practice karate.
Q. Do I need any experience?
A. No experience is necessary, as the Hara Shotokan Karate Academy will start with al the basic moves, irrespective of sex or age.
Q. How old do I need to be, to train?
A. Eight years old minimum . This is for insurance reasons and no exceptions are made. Girls are as welcome as boys.
Q. How do I join the Academy?
A. Call in to your local Academy about 10 minutes before the lesson starts and speak to the instructor in attendance. You will be able to train for free twice, to ensure you will enjoy it.
Q. What are the different belts?
A. The different colour belts represent the level of karate you have achieved, these are referred to as kyu grades and dan grades.
10th kyu - White Belt
9th kyu - Orange Belt
8th kyu - Red Belt
7th kyu - Yellow Belt
6th kyu - Green Belt
5th kyu - Purple Belt
4th kyu - Purple/White Belt
3rd kyu - Brown Belt
2nd kyu - Brown/White Belt
1st kyu - Brown/White/White Belt
Dan - Black Belt
Q. What are grading's?
A. Grading's are examinations that are required to be undertaken in order to receive a new colour belt.
Approximately every six months of training a student can, if they wish, attempt their next level of grade. In the grading they will have to demonstrate their technical skills and ability to use those skills against an opponent.
Grading's are useful to guide a student up through various stages towards black belt and beyond and are useful for students who like to set "goals" with which to advance further. There are ten grades to attain before black belt.
No student is pushed into taking grading's and only if a student is ready is a grading assessment considered.
Click here to view the grading syllabus for each level.
Q. How long do I need to train before undertaking a grading?
A. Grading's for kyu grades usually take place every six months, which students are encouraged to train for and undertake.
Grading's are however at the discretion of the instructors, and the following lessons are needed for each grading in order to be considered for grading:
9th Kyu - minimum of 12 lessons.
8th Kyu - minimum of 18 lessons.
7th Kyu - minimum of 24 lessons.
6th Kyu - minimum of 24 lessons.
5th Kyu - minimum of 24 lessons.
4th Kyu - minimum of 36 lessons.
3rd Kyu - minimum of 40 lessons.
2nd
Kyu - minimum of 40 lessons.
1st Kyu - minimum of 40 lessons.
1st Dan - minimum of 100 lessons.
2nd Dan - minimum of 200 lessons.
3rd Dan - minimum of 300 lessons.
The above is not a garantee to pass your grading, your efforts will be a major factor.
Q. How much do the grading's cost?
A. The cost of the grading is £20 for kyu grades and £40 for Dan grades.
Q. Do I need to complete grading's?
A. Grading's are required, if you wish to progress through the belt system.
Q. How often do I need to train?
A. As often as you wish...
For anyone training in Karate it is advisable to try to train at least twice a week on a regular basis.
Most students find that the further they progress in the art of Karate that they want to train three or four times a week. If a student is serious about their karate practice then it is inevitable that the more you train the better you will be.
Click here to view the Academy clubs in your area.
Q. How long does it take to get to black belt?
A. For every student that trains the answer to this question is always different. On average a student can, by passing every grading, and by training regularly, attain black belt in four years, however, it is more likely to attain this high level within five years.
Many people place a lot of emphasis on "getting to black belt", but it is not as important as developing a strong character and a good, strong physical condition.
A black belt is representative of the skills learnt over years of practice and to the strength of character a student has developed in this time.
Q. Is Karate dangerous?
A. Karate is a contact sport, however every precaution is taken to train with a controlled and non violent regime.
Q. Are the lessons taken seriously?
A. The Hara Shotokan Karate Academy is very keen to have respectful and attentive students, to ensure everyone in the academy can benefit from learning karate and benefiting from the rewards it offers.
Consistent misbehaviour of students may lead to them being asked to leave the session, or if consistently causing problems, asked to leave the academy.
This is at the discretion of the instructor, however instructors are realistic about what behaviour can be expected of younger children.
Important signs of respect required in the ‘dojo’ - the training area are;-
(1) No eating, drinking, shoes, watches or jewellery.
(2) Always bowing when entering and leaving the dojo.
(3) Raising the hand if a student wants ask the instructor a question.
Q. What do the logo's mean?
A. 
The academy logo is the japanese kanji for "Hara", which is considered the centre of one's spiritual energy. In karate and many other martial arts, large amounts of time are devoted to breathing techniques and physical exercises designed to strengthen the Hara.
The 'Hara' is where your centre of gravity should be, without a stable centre of gravity you cannot keep good balance and perform techniques with weight behind them. To be able to keep one's centre of gravity at the lower abdomen, one has to learn abdominal breathing.
This breathing has the added bonus of a calming effect on your mind, when you are surprised or upset, your centre of gravity tends to rise, which causes shallow breathing involving your shoulders and chest. You can reverse this and become calm again by forcing your centre of gravity down to your 'HARA' with abdominal breathing. There a few expressions in Japanese which show the importance attached to this controlled breathing: To 'have a good 'HARA' means 'broadminded' and 'to think with HARA' means to think rationally with minimum involvement of emotion.
The other logo used in the academy is the japanese kanji for "Gi", and was chosen by sensei Kase because "GI" is a part of:
- Gichin Funakoshi
- Gigo Funakoshi
- Giri (dedication)
This clearly shows his admiration and gratitude towards master Gichin Funakoshi and his third son Gigo (also known as Yoshitaka) who had a great influence on sensei Kase's karate.
Giri can be translated as 'dedication' and clearly shows sensei Kase promotes Karate as a way of living and as an attitude, not as a sport. It also emphasises his concern to promoto "life-time karate".