Downloading your Digital Training Pass (DTP)

You will need to bring your Digital Training Pass to each class you attend so the instructor can scan the pass and record your attendance. To download your pass, please click the ‘Download Pass Now’ button in your welcome email and follow the instructions below to add the pass to your wallet.  

Your DTP will be activated once you have a valid payment method in place.

Apple Users

Click on the “Add to Apple Wallet” button above the pass to save this pass to your Apple Wallet application.

Android Users

Ensure you have the ‘Yourwallet’ application on your device. If you don’t already, it can be downloaded here.

Once downloaded, click on the “Save to Android Device” button above the pass to save this to your Wallet Passes application.

Other Methods

Alternatively, you can screenshot the pass and save it to your phone or even print out a copy to bring it to class each week.

We highly recommend using the Apple/Android applications where possible.

If you have any queries, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us at memberships@gkrkarate.com

GKR Karate uses TeamApp to communicate with members about all local news, information and timetables.  Download TeamApp using the links below…

Once you have downloaded TeamApp

• Create a new account (it only takes 30 seconds, and its free!).
• Hit the ‘Find My Team’ button and search for ‘GKR Karate Australia Region 1’ , hit the ‘+Join’ button at the top of the screen and then select your local dojo’s.

You’re all set!  You will now be able to return to TeamApp at any time to view your Region’s local timetable, photos, news and information as well as upcoming events.

If you have questions, encounter any issues with Team App, or wish to share feedback, please don’t hesitate to speak to your Sensei.

Students:

If this is your first time doing karate, your instructor will introduce you to some of the basic techniques which will likely include simple strikes, blocks and kicks. Don’t worry, you won’t be expected to perfectly perform or remember everything you practised in your first class, and it’s perfectly normal to feel a little nervous or uncoordinated at the very beginning. Remember, you are training your body to learn new movements and skills and this will be very different to anything you have done before. 

The most important starting tip we can share with you is to persevere. The movements will become more natural in each class you attend, and within a few months, the first class ‘challenges’ will be a distant memory.

When you arrive at class, you’ll see people in the same white uniform as you but with different coloured belts. All beginners start out as a white belt, with yellow and then orange belts being the first 2 levels beyond white. The Instructor (Sensei) and Assistant Instructor (Sempai) will most likely be wearing a black belt or a black and white belt. We encourage you to ask your instructors questions if you are unsure of anything prior to starting, and always remember that your main goal is to have fun learning something new without putting any pressure on yourself.

Parents:

As a parent, it is important to remember that every child learns at their own pace, so it is wise to moderate your expectations for your child’s first few classes. Developing focus, concentration and coordination takes time and patience, particularly for children who are new to structured activities.

There will always be a handful of young students who have natural ability, coordination, and laser focus right from the start, but these represent the exception, not the norm.  The old saying ‘Rome wasn’t built in a day’ applies to karate too. Our instructors are both qualified and accredited to teach your child and they know how to exercise patience when it’s most called for. Before, during and after class, focus on the positives with your child. The fact that they have embraced the opportunity to start a new sport is reason alone to celebrate!

First Class Checklist

STUDENTS:

✅   Water bottle

✅   Uniform/comfortable ‘active wear’

✅   Jewellery removed (or taped if unable to be removed)

✅   Digital Training Pass

✅   Arrive 10-15 minutes before class

✅   Be ready to have fun! 🤩

     PARENTS

✅   You are welcome, and encouraged, to stay and watch class (maybe you’d like to give karate a go too? Ask us about our family discounts.)

✅   Digital Training Pass downloaded to phone (or printed)

✅   Bring your child into class and make sure they are scanned in using the Digital Training Pass

✅   Be back at class at least 5 minutes before class finishes to collect your child from inside the hall.

• Uniform

Karate students wear a white uniform called a ‘gi’(pronounced ‘gee’) which is a traditional training outfit that acknowledges karate’s Japanese origins. These relatively loose-fitting uniforms allow for freedom of movement and also promote a uniform dress code within the dojo. Metaphorically, the white uniform also symbolises a blank canvas whereby a karate student is judged on their character and actions, rather than the clothes they wear.

To put the jacket on, have the opening to the front. Then cross the right side over your body and do up the ties (on the inside of the jacket). Once this is done, bring the left side across your body so that it is over the top of the right side, and tie up using the ties on the outside of the jacket. Pants can be rolled over at the top if they are a little long and should sit just above the ankle.

Please note that coloured t-shirts should not be worn underneath your uniform.  We do have a white training t-shirt available to wear underneath your gi in cooler weather (or to wear in place of your gi jacket in the warmer weather). Females may also wear a white singlet or crop top underneath their gi jacket. Leggings may be worn under the gi pants but they must not be visible at the ankles (¾ leggings are suitable).

• Jewellery

Injury can occur if jewellery catches on someone or something during class, so for safety reasons all jewellery is to be removed prior to the start of training (we recommend doing this at home so that you don’t misplace anything). This includes watches, bracelets, bangles, piercings, necklaces, rings etc. If jewellery cannot be removed for some reason, then it must be concealed/taped over.

Below you will find 2 videos showing you the recommended methods of tying a belt.  In the first video, one of our blue belt students from Sydney,  Rebecca, explains how she ties her own belt.

The second video is designed for parents helping tie their childs belt, demonstrated by Glaiza and Ariana.

Remember, your instructor at class is always happy to assist you also!

You will receive a badge with your karate uniform (gi), which is to be sewn onto the middle of the left-hand side chest of your gi jacket. Because the badge has distinct vertical lines, it needs to be sewn on a slight angle so that when the gi jacket is on and tied up, the badge sits straight (it can be helpful to pin the badge on the jacket while the student is wearing it). It is important to make sure that the badge is sewn onto your gi as soon as possible as it is part of your uniform.  

Image needed from Design showing the correct placement of badge on a gi jacket

Please bring your child inside the venue and sign them in using their Digital Training Pass. You are more than welcome to stay and watch the class if you wish but if not, then we ask that you arrive 5 minutes before the scheduled finish time so that you are inside and ready to collect your child.  Arriving just before the class finishes also enables you to hear any important information about upcoming events and allows the instructor to start the next class on time. 

An important part of karate training is the practical application of techniques learnt in class in simulated self-defence scenarios.  Although we are a non-contact club, and all simulations are conducted in a safe and supervised environment, students are required to wear protective equipment as an added level of safety.  Safety equipment can be ordered in class through your instructor. Note: Protective equipment will not be required until after the student reaches their first grade (yellow belt).

In our karate classes, we incorporate a blend of English and traditional Japanese terminology.  Here are some of the frequently used Japanese words you can expect to hear in your first class.

Kancho (pronounced karn-cho) – Indicating the head of the karate style

Sensei (pronounced sen-say) – Referring to the instructor or teacher

Sempai (pronounced sem-pie) – Indicating the assistant instructor

Dojo (pronounced doh-jo) – The training hall

Hai (pronounced hi) –Meaning ‘Yes’

Rei (pronounced ray) – Indicating a bow to show respect

Hajime (pronounced ha-ji-may) – Instruction to ‘Begin’ or ‘Start’

Yame (pronounced yah-may) – Signifying ‘Finish’

Like all karate clubs, GKR has a grading system that allows all students to proceed through levels, or grades, signifying their growth and development.  While students don’t need to go through the grading system to train with us, it is a great way to recognise progress and the achievement of learning new skills.

The grading process and progression through the various belt levels teaches students that what may seem like an overwhelming task or goal in the beginning, when broken down into smaller tasks, is quite achievable. Each new grade level reached is one step closer to earning your Black Belt

To read more about grading and progression with GKR Karate, click here.

Students

Within the first few weeks of training, you will start to feel more comfortable in class as you get to know your instructors, your classmates, the training environment, and the techniques being practised.  You will understand some of the basic Japanese terminology used in class and grow familiar enough with the basic movements to train with more intensity if you wish. You may also notice an improvement in your base level of fitness and flexibility. Don’t be concerned if your muscles feel a little sore after your first few classes, as karate training is a full-body exercise that takes time to adjust to. Remember, you are building muscle memory and physical strength every time you go to class.

Parents:

After a few weeks, your child’s confidence, coordination, and focus will show improvement as their level of skill increases through repetition of techniques.  Instructors focus on the broader gross motor skills initially, as these build a framework to later master the finer movements. We encourage you to focus on any improvements in your child’s attention, coordination or agility, no matter how small you perceive them to be.  Every improvement is a step in the right direction and it’s the small steps that will take them one day to black belt!

Students

In the first few months of training, you can expect to learn basic blocks, strikes, stances and kicks and have learnt the pattern for 1st kata (a series of moves using a basic block, strike and movement). You will also have an understanding of how to apply karate techniques in basic self-defence situations. The Japanese terminology used in class will be more familiar and you might even be able to count to 10 in Japanese.  You will be stronger; fitter; more confident; and you will have made some new friends by now too…you might have even graded to your first full belt….Yellow belt!

With each class, you will notice improvements in your coordination and muscle memory.  Take the time to remember your first class and appreciate how far you have come.

Parents:

After a few months of consistent karate training, students will be able to apply techniques they have used in class to hypothetical self-defence situations.  Learning the foundations of karate movement is vitally important for the beginner, and this is enhanced by them starting to learn combinations of techniques in set patterns known as ‘kata’ (pronounced ‘Karta’).  

The first kata students will learn is called Taigyoku-Shodan and it contains a basic strike, block, and stance combined with movement. Aside from learning and practising these patterns during class, they can also be practised at home using our online kata instructional videos. These will be part of the grading syllabus from Yellow Belt onwards and the videos can be purchased here.

The GKR Online Karate and Fitness Academy offers students a syllabus-oriented and on-demand training video library featuring a diverse range of karate technique tutorials, fitness drills, class formats, workshops, and train-along videos. These cater to all skill levels from white belt all the way to black belt. With over 240 videos currently available, this resource offers members the ability to expand their knowledge and accelerate their progress by giving them the additional tools to supplement their dojo training.  Click here to visit the GKR Online Karate and Fitness Academy.

The GKR Karate Dojo Kun was put together by Kancho Robert Sullivan, Kyoshi Gavin Samin, and a number of our most senior instructors.

Dojo Kun is a Japanese martial arts term which literally translates to “training hall rules”. Its aim is to articulate the values and ethics that are expected of anybody who is part of the GKR Karate community. This applies to students and instructors, and refers to conduct both inside and outside the dojo.

We hope you find it inspiring, and beneficial to your general outlook both in and out of the dojo.

Learn more about each of the key elements of the Dojo Kun here.

• Bowing

It is considered good manners in Japanese culture to bow when showing respect for something or someone. Our training syllabus follows a traditional karate structure and part of this includes the acknowledgement of customary Japanese protocols, which includes bowing as you enter and exit the training hall (dojo).  This is meant to be a symbolic gesture of humility that shows respect for the Instructor and the learning environment in general. There is also a more formal bowing process at the start and finish of each class and the instructor will explain how this works as part of your introductory talk. If you are unable to partake in this customary gesture, then please let your instructor know.

• Food

We kindly request that all students refrain from eating in the dojo (training hall), this includes chewing gum and lollies.

• Shoes on mats

Before entering the training area, students are required to remove their shoes, this shows a sign of respect;  readiness to train; and is an important part of dojo etiquette.  This also helps keep the training area free from dirt and stones etc that can be walked in with shoes. Spectators are not required to remove their shoes but are asked not to walk on the training mats with shoes on.

• Mobile phones/electronic devices

Students are required to turn their mobile phones off or switch to silent mode during class time so as not to interrupt the class.  We request that spectators refrain from using mobile phones and devices with sound if watching the class. If you need to take or make a call, please exit the dojo (training hall) before doing so. Thank you.

• Arriving early for class/pick up

Please endeavour to arrive at least 10 minutes before class start time so that you can sign in; warm up; and be ready for when the instructor calls ‘line-up’. 

For your first class, it would be great to get there 15 minutes early so that your instructor can have a quick chat with you and answer any questions you may have. Arriving early also allows you to familiarise yourself, and/or your child, with the venue and meet some of the people you will be training with.  

We ask that you arrive at least 5 minutes before the class is scheduled to finish so that you are inside and ready to collect your child.  Arriving before class finishes enables you to hear any important information about upcoming events and allows the instructor to start the next class on time.

• Behaviour in the dojo – respect and courtesy

As part of our Dojo Kun (training room rules), the aim is to always act in a disciplined manner and exercise courtesy and respect towards others.  As part of this expectation, there is to be no running around or reckless behaviour in the dojo before, during or after class. Spectators are also asked to abide by these codes of conduct when inside the dojo.