How Do I Earn Colored Belts?

Colored belts provide a series of short term goals, which give students of all ages the satisfaction of accomplishment. These belts are earned through periodic promotional exams.

Colored belt promotions are open only to students who participate regularly in the special classes dedicated to learning the colored belt material. These promotions are conducted regularly at three month intervals with each student participating every other cycle. There are seven levels of color belts to pass through below black belt. It takes the average student from 3½ to 5 years of training to achieve this level (depending on several factors such as age, ability to learn, dedication level, frequency of practice, and quality of practice). In order to advance through each color belt level, the student must meet the minimum time requirements and successfully demonstrate thorough knowledge of the required techniques in front of a panel of Black Belts and Master Instructors. The standard $50 testing fee includes a new belt, certificates, boards, filing fees, and testing service.

How Many Classes May I Attend?

Students may attend and enjoy unlimited training in all classes appropriate for their age group and selected program. Students who wish to test in the belt programs will be expected to attend a minimum of twice per week in order to learn the prescribed requirements at the normal rate. For best long-term results, children are discouraged from attending more than twice a week on a regular basis as overtraining typically leads to earlier burnout. NOTE: uniforms, safety gear, and other equipment is required for participation in certain classes.

When Are The Classes Held?

As with our other sports or fitness programs, classes may be added or altered to accommodate such changes as seasonal fluctuations in attendance and student interest. Check our current schedule for class offerings. All classes will meet as scheduled except on national holidays and their adjacent weekends (Memorial Day, July 4th, Labor Day, and Thanksgiving) and also Halloween evening. The school will be closed during the Christmas holidays (approximately 2 weeks) and for Easter break (approximately 1 week) during the same periods that most grade schools schedule their breaks. These and other schedule changes will be posted on the club bulletin board and in our KICKIN' newsletter. "SNOW DAYS" will be observed whenever Grand Blanc Community Schools are closed due to an ice/snow storm or if the roads become dangerous mid-day. If in doubt, call ONE HOUR before your class and listen to the answering machine message to verify whether or not classes will be held.

What Should I Wear For Class?

IN ALL CLASSES: For your safety, avoid wearing wrist watches and any jewelry that may scratch, cut, poke, or catch on clothing, flesh, or any of the training equipment.

TRADITIONAL BELT CLASSES: In order to participate in the Belt Classes, a student must first purchase a traditional uniform with our official club emblems and a belt. During training an official club T-shirt with emblems may be worn instead of the full-length jacket. Most students train barefoot, however, special martial arts shoes may be worn as an option.

Students must have their own mouthpiece (and male participants must have a cup and supporter). Hand, foot, shin, and head gear must be worn when practicing free sparring drills.

KICKBOXING: Wrist wraps and boxing gloves (or the Century Leather WristWrap Gloves) are highly recommended for participation in these classes. These items protect your knuckles and wrists from impact injury during the bag work portion of class. For those on a budget, cheaper neoprene glove is available, which offers minimum support.

Wear loose, baggy clothes that let you move freely without exposing yourself. With the luxury of our highly cushioned floor, you may train in traditional bare feet or wear specialized shoes for martial arts, aerobics, or cross-training. Please bring a clean pair to train in. PLEASE DON'T WEAR YOUR DIRTY STREET SHOES ON THE TRAINING FLOOR! Your courtesy will help keep the mats from getting scuffed from pebbles & dirt that your shoes may tack in from the parking lot.

SPARRING CLASSES: In order to participate in sparring, students must have their own mouthpiece (and male participants must have a cup and supporter). Students must wear padded safety gear, including Hand, Foot, Shin, and Head Gear.

What Is A Typical Class like?

A typical class is conducted as follows: 5-10 minutes warmups; 15-20 minutes of choreographed routines or combinations, footwork, and shadow boxing; 15-20 minutes of bag work and target practice; and 5-15 minutes of strengthening, toning, cool-down and stretching. Sometimes we do all bag work; other times all floor work. We keep classes interesting by varying the class structure from day to day with other routines such as, line drills, marching drills, interval training, circles around the room, non-contact partner drills, hand targets, and circuit training. Truly, the variety will keep you interested longer than you've stuck with any other workout regimen! Commitment is the key to long-term success with any fitness or weight loss program!

What If I Can't Keep Up?

If you're an exercise neophyte, don't worry - even most avid aerobics enthusiasts will have a hard time keeping up at first! Besides the fact that you'll probably be using new muscle groups in new ways, the virtually limitless combinations of martial art techniques will provide a challenge even to those who've mastered basic Aerobic class routines. Our workouts are purposely designed to be physically demanding even for superior athletes. So, WORKOUT AT YOUR OWN PACE! Don't be afraid to lower the intensity, march in place, or .take a breather. as necessary. If you want to see long-term results, the most important thing you can do is make a commitment to keep coming to class and keep trying. Before you know it you'll be able to make it through an entire class. And, soon you'll be feeling great, looking great, and enjoying the many other benefits of your new fitness routine!

May I Do Both Kickboxing & Karate?

Teens and adults are encouraged to participate in both programs. Kickboxing will compliment your traditional training by increasing your strength, power, reflexes, and stamina through a high-paced sweat-pouring, bag-slamming routine that focuses on repetition of basic techniques through a seemingly endless array of possible combinations. (See the next section for more details)

Kickboxing is not usually appropriate for children under the age of 13 as it tends to elevate their heart rates and body temperatures above recommended levels for too long a duration. Also, in order to maintain a more serious workout environment, this class is reserved only for older students. Exceptions will be allowed only for pre-teens of advanced belt level who are accompanied by an adult.

Students who wish to participate in both programs are expected to make it a priority to attend two belt karate classes per week and 'sprinkle in the kickboxing as extra-curricular enrichment' around the regular karate schedule. Since there is so much information to be learned in order to earn each belt, regular attendance in these core classes is necessary to remain on schedule with the other students. Otherwise, expect to see time delays in your belt progression.

How Ranking Works...

TAE BONG SOO DO (KARATE) BELT RANKING CLASS:

Our Belt Ranking Classes are designed to continuously challenge each student with new techniques that are gradually introduced as the student advances through a series of colored belt levels. These classes enhance the participant's PHYSICAL and MENTAL DISCIPLINE and SELF-DEVELOPMENT through long-term commitment to training. In addition, our Youth Belt Classes emphasize character development over physical accomplishments. No other sport will instill such attributes in your child as HONOR, RESPECT, and MORAL CHARACTER while building SELF-ESTEEM, SELF-CONTROL, and SELF-DISCIPLINE. Of course, your child will also enjoy all the physical benefits including increased FITNESS, STRENGTH, AGILITY, FLEXIBILITY, COORDINATION, BALANCE, and MENTAL FOCUS. Finally, the structure and formality of this program will enhance your child's social education through tasks of following directions while working with a partner or in small groups.
In the Belt Ranking Classes students develop technical precision of nearly 150 fundamental techniques, practice artistic .dance-like. choreographed patterns of defensive maneuvers, and learn about the oriental cultures, histories, and philosophies around which many martial arts were developed. Light contact sparring, defense drills, and solo or partner exercises are also part of this program.