FAQs
1. How much does it cost?
We don't publish prices, but contact us to go over our costs. However, one price covers every available class, which is three classes per week. There are no "processing" fees and no long term contracts.
2. Can I just stop by?
We would prefer that you call, text, or e-mail to set up an appointment. If you would like to observe a class before joining, please contact us and we will set up a time and day for you to do that.
3. Do you have separate classes for children, teens, and adults?
No. The Ketsugo Goju-Ryu Karate system is the same material regardless of the age of the student. We have a small teacher to student ratio and employ personal development for training. We will take on children from the 3rd grade and up, but we are not a day care. The classes are designed to cater to specific skill levels, not ages. We feel this is best for keeping up with the demands of learning new material and staying strong with previously learned material.
4. What does "traditional" mean when talking about Martial Arts?
Traditional means different things to different people.
At our school:
* Etiquette. We observe an etiquette which teaches discipline and self-control, something we value highly. We take the training seriously.
* We work out in a Karate-Gi, bare feet, wood floor; no ball caps, shorts, or music.
* We don't have separate programs that take you to black belt.
* We don't require students to market the dojo or attend tournaments.
* Some Japanese martial arts terms are used and bowing is commonplace.
* Rank is earned and respected, but humility and manners always take precedence.
* We believe karate is something that stays with you in everything you do; it's not just a workout!
5. I have a 10-year old niece who is a 3rd degree black belt. Is that common?
Not in our school, but again, we won't speak for other schools or speak to the abilities a 10-year old may realistically possess. Our school is not a belt factory and it takes years of dedication, hard work and maturity to earn a black belt. A student under the age of 18 may attain a junior black belt in Ketsugo Goju Ryu, but a true black belt is not earned until the age of 18 in our school. Exceptions can be made for 17, but it's rare.
6. Is your style realistic and/or do you teach ground fighting?
Realistic when it comes to self-defense means a person can apply what is learned in a real fight. A student can certainly use self-defense if they are comfortable with what they have learned and can calm themselves down enough to apply it. This is the most import goal at our school. When a student understands and can trust their body to react to any situation, he starts to grasp the nature of self-defense. With that in mind, we teach specific self-defense in addition to dissecting the moves in kata, called bunkai, and of course we free-style spar.
As for ground fighting, Goju-Ryu Karate-Do by design specializes in close range fighting, and grappling moves are certainly part of that. We have a multitude of two-person exercises that teach distance, balance, countering, all while staying close to the opponent. Many of these exercises contain locks, holds, sweeps, and take downs.