The following information relates to the University of Massachusetts Shotokan club in 2007.

Suggested attire for Beginners:
Traditional White Karate Gi, or loose confortable clothing such as sweat pants and a thick t-shirt.

Karate is strenuous exercise, be prepared to sweat!

Training Costs:
$5 Membership Card*
$1 per night or $25 unlimitted training plan*. There are approximately 40 nights of training per semester. Exact change is required.

* A valid membership card is required to train with the Umass Shotokan Karate Club. Membership cards may be purchased at training and are valid for only the current semester.

**While a valid memberhsip card is required to train with the club and must be purchased we will not turn anyone away from training if they cannot afford daily or unlimitted training costs. However, only students who pay either nightly or unlimitted dues are eligible for attendance tracking. Membership cards are used to track student attendance. Students must attend at least 20 trainings and have an instructor's permission to attend a belt examination.

Training Guidelines:
All training sessions and club activities are conducted in accord with our Club Constitution, registered as a Registered Student Organization (RSO) with the University as well as a collegiate chapter of the International Shotokan Karate Federation (ISKF).

More highly regarded than technical skill in Shotokan Karate is the development of character, sincerity, effort, etiquette and self-control. Our training includes three primary areas:

* Kihon (Basics) - our fundamental techniques.
* Kata (forms) - A series of predetermined techniques performed one after the other.
* Kumite (sparring) - non-contact and rank appropriate.

FAQ
Q) I have a rank with a JKA style Shotokon Dojo can I wear my color belt?
A) Absolutely. If you have not trained within the last 3 months please speak with the instructor prior to training.

Q) I have a rank in a different martial art. Can I wear my color belt?
A) No. While our dojo respects your achievement in a different system, color belts within the our dojo represent a specific level of achievement and style of Kihon, Kata and Kumite. Further, coming to another style wearing a white belt demonstrates a student's openess to learning new material. Please begin your training in Shotokan Karate with a white belt, or plain clothes, and be sure to speak with an instructor regarding your past experience.

Q) I've never done any martial arts before am I going to be able to do this?
A) Everyone starts as a white belt! Karate isn't easy, and it will take time to develop the skill and development of character required to move up in rank, but everyone has to start at the beginning and everyone has the capacity to improve. If you're not sure if training is right for you, send an email to one of the contacts listed under "training contacts", or even better, come and observe a class (bring some workout clothes just in case).

Q) Is someone going to punch me out on the first day?
A) The short answer is no. Especially for beginners JKA style karate is structured in such a way that students are exposed to techniques and situations appropriate to their rank. Training is structured to limit accidents and not put students in situations they are not ready for. As students go up in rank they are exposed to increasingly demanding situations by which time they are prepared and excited to face them.

Q) How many times a week do I need to train?
A) For beginning students, training 2-3 times per week is optimal.

Q) School/work/life has been really difficult recently and I've missed several classes. Am I going to be lost during training?
A) Instruction for beginners is taught by building core concepts and techniques on top of each other. If you miss a set of core concepts and then return to training you will see that those who have not missed any training have progressed in your absence. However, if you return to the dojo and show good spirit, with the help of the dojo you can quickly catch back up.

Please read the etiquette section on this site for more information.