Membership

Try a class (kids, teenagers, adults) for FREE - to get the feeling of it! In case you enjoy it, you may want to become a member. What you should know is that before you start, we'll talk 5-10 minutes in order to find out your expectations, see whether you have any medical condition that we should be aware of, and other similar aspects - so that your experience with us is the best possible!

You may have never been in touch with the Martial Arts or you have some or lots of experience - we would like to learn from you and hopefully you'll learn something from us as well. Everyone is welcome!

Every member is free to participate on events organized by any other organization. Every member can ask anybody to participate at events organized by himself.

Mission

Karate ("Kara te": empty hand technique) is for everyone, regardless of age - starting as early as 4 years old. When followed truthfully, from heart, it can become a lifestyle, positively affecting everything around us. It definitely helps improving mental and physical strength. For kids in particular it is essential, it can build a strong foundation they will rely on their entire life. No one should expect magic things happening after a week or two of training, but the results usually are visible after two or three months. A karate practitioner (karateka) will notice over time an increase in his/her confidence, coordination, ability to focus, general awareness, moderation, respect for others and more appreciation for the world values. Together with adjusting eating habits and the lifestyle, the overall body balance increases.

Although Kyokushin karate is a full contact style, self-defense and fighting are learned gradually, starting essentially with non-contact techniques and introducing more and more contact as the student's body becomes prepared for it and according to the level achieved. It is not uncommon to see black belt students sparring with white belt ones or (advanced) adults sparring with kids. The key is to adjust speed and strength to the training partner. There is no such thing as "opponent" during training, everyone is a "partner", all students should gain: beginners simply learn, while the advanced polish their techniques. Due to the strength of punches in the Kyokushin style, punching to the face is not allowed not even in competitions, although kicking to the head is permitted. Depending on the training or competition level, protection elements are used, like helmets, gloves, shin and chest protectors.

Kyokushin karate ("Kyoku": ultimate, "shin": truth, reality) has been founded by Sosai Masutatsu Oyama. The Kyokushin Dojo Kun (dojo oath, "dojo" being the training place) represents the core values of a Kyokushin karateka and they need to be properly understood and integrated:

• Hitotsu, wareware wa, shinshin o renmashi, kakko fubatsu no shingi o kiwameru koto.
  We will train our hearts and bodies for a firm unshaken spirit.
• Hitotsu, wareware wa, bu no shinzui o kiwame, ki ni hasshi, kan ni bin naru koto.
  We will pursue the true meaning of the martial way so that, in time, our senses may be alert.
• Hitotsu, wareware wa, shitsujitsu goken o motte, kokki no seishin o kanyo suru koto.
  With true vigour, we will seek to cultivate a spirit of self-denial.
• Hitotsu, wareware wa, reisetsu o omonji, chojo o keishi, sobo no furumai o tsutsushimu koto.
  We will observe the rules of courtesy, respect our superiors, and refrain from violence.
• Hitotsu, wareware wa, shinbutsu o totobi, kenjo no bitoku o wasurezaru koto.
  We will follow our religious principles and never forget the true virtue of humility.
• Hitotsu, wareware wa, chisei to tairyoku to o kojo sase, koto ni nozonde ayamatazaru koto.
  We will look upwards to wisdom and strength, not seeking other desires.
• Hitotsu, wareware wa, shogai no shugyo o karate no michi ni tsuji, Kyokushin no michi o mattou suru koto.
  All our lives, through the discipline of karate, we will seek to fulfill the true meaning of the Kyokushin way.

"One thousand days of training, a beginner. Ten thousand days of training, a master."

- Masutatsu Oyama

"Karate is a defensive art from beginning to end."

- Gichin Funakoshi

"To win one hundred victories in one hundred battles is not the highest skill. To subdue the enemy without fighting is the highest skill."

- Sun Tsu, The Art of War

From Mr. Myiagi's dojo (remember The Karate Kid movies?):

• RULE NUMBER ONE: "Karate - For Defense Only"
• RULE NUMBER TWO: "See RULE NUMBER ONE"

Belt Grading

Initially, there were no belt colors as we see today. It was only the master and the student. A master was not easy to find and being accepted to learn his/her secrets was sometimes challenging. It was a real honour to be accepted as student and training usually lasted several years. Japanese Judo was the first martial art to introduce the colored belt ranking system as a visible indication of the students’ progress. The colored belt ranking system soon was adapted for Karate, and was first used by Gichin Funakoshi and his Shotokan Karate schools.

Below is the belt ranking system used in the Kyokushin karate style. Each ranking is associated with a KYU - until reaching the black belt. Thereafter, the ranking is indicated by "DAN".

• (no kyu): white belt
• 10 KYU: orange belt
•  9 KYU: orange belt (stripe)
•  8 KYU: blue belt
•  7 KYU: blue belt (stripe)
•  6 KYU: yellow belt
•  5 KYU: yellow belt (stripe)
•  4 KYU: green belt
•  3 KYU: green belt (stripe)
•  2 KYU: brown belt
•  1 KYU: brown belt (stripe)
•  1st DAN: black belt - first level
•  2nd DAN: black belt - second level
•  ...
•  10th DAN: highest black belt level (sosai Masutatsu Oyama)