FAQs - Butler Shotokan

Click on any one of the topics listed below to get your answer.

1 - Why should I practice karate?
2 - When do you accept new students?
3 - What do I have to do to join?
4 - How much does it cost?
5 - What should I wear? - Do I need to buy a uniform?
6 - Do I need previous martial arts experience?
7 - How often should I practice?
8 - How old should a child be before starting karate?
9 - Can older adults practice karate?
10 - How coordinated and physically fit do I have to be to practice karate?
11 - Will I get hurt practicing karate?
12 - How long must I train before I can defend myself?
13 - Will I have to compete in tournaments?
14 - What do I call the teacher?
15 - What's all this bowing about?
16 - What are the belts (ranks) in karate and how long does it take to reach them?
17 - What's a karate class like?
18 - How does Shotokan karate differ from other martial arts?
19 - What's different about traditional martial arts?
20 - What's the advantage of a ISKF karate school?
21 - What are the dojo rules?

Why should I practice karate?
The benefits of karate practice are myriad. Physically it enhances strength, coordination, stamina, balance and flexibility. It is well documented that regular exercise can improve both the quality and longevity of your life and that it makes people feel happier and more alert. There is also evidence that exercise can help cognitive brain function. Everything that you do in your life becomes a bit easier because of your karate practice. Karate trains the mind as well as the body, resulting in improved self-awareness, discipline, confidence and will power. Not only will you become more confident that you can defend yourself, but your confidence to tackle all of life's trials will grow. One of the translations of the Japanese symbol for martial arts (the "bu" in "budo") is "to stop conflict". This is a philosophical goal for a martial artist, but does not only apply to external conflicts. Karate training results in feeling less conflict within yourself as a result of what's usually referred to as increased "inner harmony" and "inner strength".

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When do you accept new students?
You can start anytime you wish.
The Butler Shotoakn Karate Club has four classes.

Concordia Visitintg Nurses Clinical Room - Monday from 5:15 - 6:15 - Color Belts/Beginners
St. Luke Activity Center - Tuesday from 5:00 - 6:00 pm - Color Belts/Beginners
St. Luke Activity Center - Tuesday from 6:00 - 7:00 pm - Brown and Black Belts
Concordia Visitintg Nurses Clinical Room - Wednesday from 5:15 - 6:15 - Color Belts/Beginners
St. Luke Activity Center - Thursday from 5:00 - 6:00 pm - Color Belts/Beginners
St. Luke Activity Center - Thursday from 6:00 - 7:00 pm - Brown and Black Belts

Classes start on time, please no late attendees that are not excused. If you are late, you must wait at the side until you are acknowledged to enter class.

What do I have to do to join?
From time to time, we offer a FREE Karate Clinic and educational session. This session shows demonstration, answers questions and outlines the program of training.

You can also come and observe our class. One of our instructors will make time to talk to you and answer any questions you may have. If you decide you like it and would like to give it a try, we can then have you attend the next class and you can begin your Karate training.

How much does it cost?
Monthly dues are $35 per month for students or kids under 17 and $40 for non-student adults. There is a family discount; 2 family members $65, 3 family members $90, four or more family members please see on of our instructors. Kyu testing for belt ranks are currently $28

St. Luke school students, St. Luke members, and employees of Concordia Lutheran Ministries or Concordia Visiting Nurses have an additional discount. Monthly dues are $25. A family discount, 2 or more family members, $20 each. Since the Butler Shotokan Club is a ministry of St. Luke Lutheran Church, you will see a witness to Jesus Christ. You will be trained according to the ISKF (International Shotokan Federation). Yearly membership dues will be made payable to the ISKF.

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What should I wear? - Do I need to buy a uniform?
Beginners are not required to wear uniforms (called "karate-gi") during the first month of practice. Any kind of light clothing that you can stretch and move easily in is OK. Beginning students do have the option of purchasing uniforms if they wish. A Karate Gi can run between $18 - $25 for youth and $20 - $35 for adults (see one of our instructors for current pricing). No profit is made on equipent or uniforms.

Do I need previous martial arts experience?
No, most of our new members have no previous experience. If you have experience in karate or some other martial art, of course you're also welcome.

How often should I practice?
Beginners should establish a regular and consistent training schedule in order to learn techniques efficiently and not develop too many bad habits. In general, the more you train the faster you'll learn. The Butler Shotokan Karate Club trains four times per week for an hour. Two times a week is a reasonable target for beginners to aspire to. Progress is very slow and bad habits become rampant at practice levels below two times per week. It is important that beginners not expect instant results! Karate takes patience and perseverance - it takes years to become proficient no matter how often you train. You must also balance training with your life. Don't neglect other things due to excessive training.

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How old should a child be before starting karate?
This depends on the child's maturity and attention span, which can vary widely among individuals. For most children, age 9 should be considered as a minimum and around age 10 as an optimum starting age. The value of teaching martial arts to very young children is arguable. Kids who start young usually end up quitting young. They view karate as just another one of a parade of activities that mom and dad have ushered them through (like ballet and midget ice hockey). It could be argued that karate geared for children is more beneficial than many other available activities; however, starting a child young is probably not the best way to introduce him to karate as a lasting endeavor. Moreover, most young children do not have the maturity to use their physical techniques only for self-defense. If your child expresses interest in karate, she should be told that karate practice is very serious and that only "big kids" who can be responsible are allowed to do it.

Can older adults practice karate?
Karate can be practiced at any age as long as a person is relatively healthy. A physical exam and doctor's OK is a good idea for anyone older than age 50 or so. Older people may not be as strong, fast or flexible as someone in their 20's, but they can still practice karate at their own pace and derive great physical and emotional benefit from it.

How coordinated and physically fit do I have to be to practice karate?
The answer is, "not very". Even if you feel like you are not very coodinated, you can still practice karate and by doing so, your coordination and fitness will greatly improve. Most of us come to karate in order to become more coordinated and physically fit.

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Will I get hurt practicing karate?
No contact is allowed during our sparring exercises or during competitions. The result is that karate practice is considerably safer than many other popular sports such as basketball and soccer. Karate training is very rigorous. some bumps, bruises and sore muscles are not uncommon. Serious injuries are extremely uncommon. Karate emphasizes physical and mental control as well as respect for your training partner.

How long must I train before I can defend myself?
The ability to defend oneself from attack is dependent on many factors. Certainly, the longer you train, the more able you will become. The probability of success is relative to the strength and ability of the defender vs. that of the attacker(s). It is important to realize; however, that there are no guarantees! It is possible for a beginner to get lucky or an advanced karate person to be caught during an inattentive moment. This uncertainty is one of the practical reasons why strategies that reduce the chance of conflict are more important to self-defense than physical prowess. Beyond all that, a beginner should think on the order of years (as opposed to weeks or months) before he/she begins to be proficient at karate. Herein lies the danger of the many so called "self defense courses" that typically run from 6 to 8 weeks. Nothing of great lasting value comes easily or quickly. The most important thing a short course can teach you about self-defense is how vulnerable you really are if attacked and that you should be extremely cautious about dangerous environments. The value of any physical techniques taught in such a course is questionable.

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Will I have to compete in tournaments?
Only if you want to. We participate in a number of regular competitions as a supplemental form of training and a means to test skills. Competition is stressed as an important, but optional, training opportunity. Tournament prowess is not a goal in traditional karate. More important is development of body, mind and a non-violent philosophy.

What do I call the teacher?
Instructors are addressed as "Sensei". Sensei is a Japanese title of respect (sort of like "Sir" or "Mister"). It means "teacher" and is literally translated as "before birth" which infers that the instructor is someone older than yourself. In this case we are speaking of "karate age". In other words, an instructor is someone who has more karate experience than yourself. Sensei and "Master" are titles which people use to refer to or address someone else. It is considered very improper to refer to oneself as Sensei or Master. "Sempai" ("senior") is another term of respect that is often used when addressing someone who is not an instructor, but is senior to you in karate experience.

What's all this bowing about?
Bowing is a gesture of kindness and respect for another person. Common among Eastern cultures, we have no real equivalent here in the West other than a hand shake. Bowing is a both a greeting and an acknowledgement of another person's worth. Karate students embrace a philosophy that all people are worthy of respect. Learning to respect others is paramount to correct understanding of martial arts. Great physical and mental power must be offset by making a habit of putting other people before oneself, otherwise karate students might easily become bullies. So as we gain strength with potential to harm others, we also endeavor to become kinder people. Bowing and other forms of martial arts etiquette are training tools to help the karate student make kindness a habit.

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What are the belts (ranks) in karate and how long does it take to reach them?
Beginning students first go through the "kyu" ranks. Students typically rise in rank by one kyu every 3 to 6 months. Kyu ranks and the color belts that go with them are:
9th kyu White belt -
8th kyu Yellow belt -
7th kyu Orange belt -
6th kyu Green Belt
5th kyu 1st Purple Belt
4th kyu 2nd Purple Belt
3rd kyu 1st Brown
2nd kyu 2nd Brown
1st kyu 3rd Brown
One year after students attain 1st kyu (Third Brown Belt), they may test for "Shodan" (black belt) ranks. Students who train regularly, typically require 3 to 5 years to reach the first level (Shodan) of black belt. Each succeeding black belt level requires increasingly more time to attain. For example, it generally takes at least 2 years to go from Shodan (1st degree) to Nidan (2nd degree), at least 3 years between Nidan and Sandan (3rd degree), and at least 5 years between Sandan and Yondan (4th degree).

What's a karate class like?
Karate training is a combination of aerobic, endurance, flexibility and strengthening exercises, all the while honing the practical skills of the art. The training is very serious - expect to sweat a lot. Classes are typically 1 hour in duration. Classes start out with stretching of muscles, then a warm up with basic skills and movements, followed by practise of Kata, then with Kumite (sparring). Instructors will prepare lesson plans based upon areas that sudents need to improve. At times, the class will be split into groups of students to work on their own kata.

How does Shotokan karate differ from other martial arts?
All martial arts have their specialties and unique character. Shotokan is traditional Japanese karate that specializes in punching, striking, kicking and blocking techniques. However, there is much overlap in technique among martial arts styles. For example, we also do sweeping, throwing and joint-locking techniques. In Shotokan, you won't see much of the flashy spinning and jumping about that is popular in martial arts movies - just techniques that are powerful and effective.

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What's different about traditional martial arts?
Traditional martial arts emphasize a holistic view to training both the body and the mind. Philosophy and ideals are just as important to traditional martial arts as physical prowess (see the Dojo Kun in the galler section of this web site). Traditional martial arts are based on time-honored techniques and systems. Classes are more disciplined and place more emphasis on etiquette than the typical street-corner karate school.

What's the advantage of a ISKF karate school?
The International Shotokan Karate Federation is comprised of over twenty eight Pan-American countries and has over 50,000 members. Exacting standards of technique and rank are the same in our club as they are in Japan. ISKF schools will not compromise their ranking standards just to keep students happy. Instructors are nationally and internationally certified and regularly participate in instructor training courses and seminars to better their teaching skills throughout their lives. Regular training camps provide ISKF students exposure to a great number of world-class karate instructors. Your ISKF rank is recognized throughout the world. Independent schools and smaller organizations do not have this depth of opportunity to offer.

What are the dojo rules?
There is a lot of etiquette (for example, bowing) associated with traditional karate, but few rules. Karate etiquette is based on respect and kindness toward other people, while dojo rules are more for safety and not disrupting the class. Some of the steadfast rules are:

1. No shoes may be worn on the practice floor (we practice in bare feet).
2. Fingernails & toenails must be trimmed to a reasonable length (they can become dangerous weapons to your partners).
3. No jewelry (including rings, watches and necklaces) may be worn during practice. This is also primarily for safety reasons
4. Exceptions may be made for simple items that could not hurt a person or be accidentally pulled off.
5. No talking during class. Raise your hand if you have a question/comment. Some quiet instruction/advice between students is OK if brief.
6. Students may not enter or leave class without an instructor's permission.
7. If you are late, you must wait at the side until you are acknowledged to enter class.
8. If you wish to leave for any reason, you must raise your hand first.