At what age do you accept new students?

We have a wide range of students both male and female, young and old and of varying levels of fitness and ability. We normally accept students from the age of 7.

Is karate for me?

We can't answer this, this is up to you to decide. What we can say is that you won't know unless you try it. We are a really friendly and fun club and it's best to pop down for a chat with any of the instructors or students. We really are different from most other martial art and karate clubs but you have to see this for yourself. We offer a free first lesson and give you three lessons before we ask you to join so you have nothing to lose to give us a try. If you are a bit nervous about coming down, why not bring a friend too.

How do we join Phoenix Wado Ryu Karate Club?

We are a very friendly and relaxed club so if you are interested in training with us or would like to have a chat about the club just pop along to Thorns School on any training night, either Tuesdays or Thursdays 7pm (under 18's) or 8:15pm (over 18's) and speak to any one of the instructors.

Am I too unfit for karate?

We have a wide range of students both male and female, young and old and of varying levels of fitness and ability. We start students off gently and build the intensity gradually through the grades. You will progress at your own pace and although we will encourage you to step outside your comfort zone and train hard, we are not pushy and realise that some people will progress faster than others. You will be surprised at how fit you will become.

I trained in another karate style/ martial art, will I be able to train with you?

We have many students who have visited our club from other styles and have been impressed with our training and friendly atmosphere and subsequently joined Phoenix Wado Ryu. We are proud of our high standards and will always assess your ability compared to our grades and start you at what we consider is an appropriate level. We are less concerned with your grade than we are with your attitude to train hard and your willingness to learn.

Do I have to train on both nights each week?

We train at Thorns School on Tuesday and Thursday evenings 7:00pm until 8:15pm (under 18's) and 8:15pm until 9:30pm (over 18's). You are welcome to come on any night, or both if you wish. Some students have busy lives and pop in when they can, we are quite happy with this. Obviously the more you train, both inside and outside the club, the faster you are likely to progress but this is a matter of personal choice.

What can I expect in a normal karate lesson?

We vary what we do each lesson to keep them interesting but we would normally start with a warm-up to get your body ready for action and this includes dynamic exercises (the juniors also have fun active games). We then teach a variety of striking, throwing and locking techniques which we apply against padded bags and focus mitts or with partners. We also teach traditional karate techniques called kata and kihons which are sequences of techniques. Lastly we look at self protection scenarios and what you can do to keep yourself safe. Expect lots of fun and hard work.

How long does it take to train to become a black belt?

This depends on how hard you train, both inside and outside the club, and your ability. The quickest time to become a black belt is around 5 years. This sounds a lot but there is lots to learn if that is your goal. Don't be tricked by others who say that they trained to black belt in less time. It is a fact that it takes 10,000 hours to master a skill, there is no short cut to this. However, becoming a black belt is only one goal in training with us. Many people train with us for other reasons, for fitness, for fun, to learn self protection, for the social aspects etc, these are attained immediately and don't rely on you training for 5 years.

 Do you have separate classes for beginners/women/adults?