British Go-Dai Association -

Frequently Asked Questions

Senseis Patrick and Jason Demonstrating Tamashiwara at Clay Cross Demo 2015

I have been thinking about doing something which will help me lose weight and get fit, but I don't know if karate is really for me.

Try it! All of our clubs have a friendly atmosphere in which to train. Training just once a week, you will begin to notice an improvement in stamina and fitness within weeks.

I have tried joining a gym to get fit, but after a few months, I stopped going.

Gym work is OK up to a point; it is understandable that people go with the best of intentions for a few months, then, after weeks of running and looking at the same walls or lifting the weights watching the ceiling, they eventually find a good reason not to go (not to mention the high costs and joining fees). With karate, you are not only getting a very good workout, you will also learn a traditional martial art. The grading system in karate enables you to aim to achieve your goals, so you are not only getting fit and enjoying a healthier life, you are also learning secrets passed down generations.

You mentioned grading, if I come, I would want to be a black-belt in two years, like my friend who, although it cost him quite a lot of money to grade, got his first dan black-belt .........

You see the cross in the top right hand corner of the screen? You may as well press it now. The British Go-Dai Association exists soley to promote the martial arts. We do not have any aims to make a profit from our students - Indeed, if you compare our training fees with other clubs, you will see for yourself. Whilst we do have regular gradings (three or four per year), students train and grade at their own pace.

I have heard that grading fees are very high (my friend paid about £50 each time) and that students have to travel a long way to grade over a weekend.

Yes, we have heard the same stories. But as we said above, we do not exist to make a profit. Grading costs £12 for senior and £6 for junior grades. And yes, students do have to travel - all gradings are held in Chesterfield - hardly an overnight hotel stay!

I have done karate for about three months now at another club - my teacher says that karate training is like buying a washing machine - you get what you pay for.

Mmmmm.... Is this the same club which is charging £50 per grading? Of course, quality of training is absolutely imperative. Once you understand that we are here to promote the martial arts and not to make a profit out of you, the rest should fall into place. We have heard of a black-belt increasing his training fees overnight because he had just been awarded another dan grade - his justification to his students was that in moving from third dan to fourth dan, he was better experienced and therefore able to offer better training and more knowledge. Sorry, but that just doesn't wash with us.

So, do I get a free suit with my membership fee?

No, you get a suit when you're ready to buy one. Your club Sensei can obtain instructors' discounts for you on suits, making the price very reasonable. In fact, about £20 buys an adult sized suit and that includes the two badges required by the Association! So, a "free suit with membership" really isn't very good value.

So what can I expect on my first night?

A warm welcome, some time to get to know other students at the start of the night, then some stretching exercises to warm the muscles and help to develop flexibility. You will then start to learn the basics of kicking and punching, together with balance and some Japanese language. You may go home thinking that you'll never remember any of it, but if you stick to it, after about three weeks, things start to fit into place!

Can I bring my family to train at the same time, or is it adults only?

Yes, we welcome families training together. Children are welcome from 5 years upwards. Although you are in the same room, adult and junior grades are usually separated, so you won't see that much of your son/daughter anyway.

So, how long will it take me to get my black-belt?

Are you still here? You will get out of karate whatever you are prepared to put in. Our team of qualified instructors will guide you all the way, but there is a lot to learn. Some people learn faster than others, so it is impossible to say how long it will take. On average, students who train hard can reach their first black-belt in about five years. However, the British Go-Dai Association does not give black-belts away - There are no 21 year old fourth dans in our Association!

So what do I do now?

Come along (see clubs) and enjoy it. Come with the intention that you will stick it out for at least four weeks. Come with the expectation that you will learn something. You will not be disappointed.

What should I wear on my first night?

Wear something you feel comfortable with, like a tracksuit or a pair of shorts, for the first few weeks. When you decide that you want to continue your studies with us, we can supply you with a karate suit to fit.

I have been training at another karate club for about a year now, can I still join the British Go-Dai Association?

Yes, of course. All students, new and old are welcome. Naturally, you will need to start your training from our white belt, because our syllabus may differ from that of your old club. However, you may be able to progress through our first few grades quite quickly, depending on how much you know.

I have learnt some karate already and would also like to try using some of the traditional martial arts weapons. Is this possible and what do you recommend?

Yes, you ought to have a reasonable awareness (training for about a year) of karate and its stances before embarking on kobudo (weapons training). We encourage people to train with a bo (a 6 foot bamboo staff) as their first introduction to kubudo training.

I believe that karate is very good for teaching kids respect and discipline this is what I would want to reinforce for my kids. How do I do it?

Firstly, don't argue with your kids Sensei in front of them! If your Sensei says that they are not ready to grade, trust that they aren't. You would be surprised at how many parents (usually the ones who are gushing about "respect") are keen to argue in front of their kids - we've got no chance really, have we?
Secondly, it would be nice every once in a while for the odd student who has decided to stop training with us to actually have the respect to come and tell us - or at least an email to let us know....
Thirdly, make sure you pay your training fees on time - it is important for reinforcing respect. You would be surprised at how many students come to training and boldly announce that they are "going to pay next week". Perhaps we should reply "In that case we will teach you next week." Then we return back to "Firstly..." above!

An FAQ we haven't covered? Or thought of something else you want to know?

Click the contact us button to the left and e-mail your query.