FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
How often should I train?
You can train one night or two. It’s up to you. You will progress faster if you train twice a week.
If I train one night a week will the fees be less?
No. We recover training fees to pay for the use of the venue, for equipment and to help fund training with our Okinawan teachers. The instructors are not paid. We don’t make any money from it. So we offer you the opportunity to train once or twice a week, and the rest is up to you.
What is the enrolment process?
We are pretty informal. This isn’t a business. We do take safety seriously and have an enrolment form that you are required to fill in, so we have some information about you and so we have somewhere to record things like fees paid. We would like your email address so we can let you know about unforeseen and coming events. We also need to know who to contact in the unlikely event of an accident.
Do my fees include a uniform?
No, fees cover the cost of the venue. If you want to buy a karate uniform go to a martial arts supply shop. In Dunedin that’s limited to Fight Times at 49 Stuart Street
When you have a uniform, and have paid your fees, we’ll give you a dojo patch for the uniform. You should sew on the patch at the earliest opportunity. It is required for gradings.
What about grading fees?
We long ago decided that we did not want to trade money for grade. You get graded on attendance, ability and attitude! So we do not charge for coloured belt gradings.
I’ve graded to another belt colour? How do I get a new belt?
You can buy a new belt from Fight Times at 49 Stuart Street
Can I pay by internet banking?
Yes, if you want you can pay your fees by internet banking. Our Bank Account number is 118330 – 0196188 – 11, the Bank is ANZ, and the Account Name is Dunedin NZ Goju Ryu Karate. Let us know that you’ve done the transfer, make sure you still fill in the enrolment form , and use your name in the transaction description field.
Some of the seniors train weapons and weekends. Can I?
Until you’ve been there for a couple of years, no. You need to be at least a senior green belt, and be invited to weapons training.
Weekend training is very much a senior student class working on advanced kata and applications. It is generally restricted to at least senior green belt, and again by invitation. Classes may be pre-empted at no notice.