Other Activities – Delete

Competitions

We also attend competitions which usually produce an array of medals and trophies. This enables students to compete and demonstrate their skills and knowledge.

There are several categories in Competitions :

Gladiators

This has an upper age limit of around 14 years. The students wear head guards, gum shields and body armour. The aim is to push your opponent off the mat using a punch bag.

Individual Kata

The competitor must perform a kata of their choice solo. The best performance will win.

Paired and Team Kata

Kata is performed with 2 or 3 competitors in a team. The winners are the team who perform the best kata moving in time with each other.

Kumite (Sparring)

The competitors spar to score points against each other. Certain strikes and kicks have points awarded when performed. The winner will be the competitor reaching the required number of points in the time allowed for the bout.

Weapons Kata

This is a category where weapons kata is performed. This is a specific series of techniques using a martial arts weapon. As with the Individual kata, the winner will be the competitor who performs best.

Our students are free to choose which categories they wish to compete in. For further details about competitions please Click here.

Gradings

We hold Gradings 3 times each year usually in December, March and July. However, the dates may vary slightly each year depending on other considerations. For example, a competition that we are attending. Our main Grading is in July when all of our students get together to train.

Junior belts are the same as the Senior belts except that in between each belt there are 3 tags. After a “good” grading a student will be awarded 1 tag. An “excellent” grading will be awarded 2 tags.

Senior students are graded in complete belts which naturally means that a higher standard is required. It is not unusual for a student to miss a grading especially at higher levels if they have not quite attained the required standard.

It should be borne in mind that all students progress at different rates. Progress at any stage can be affected by many factors eg. Physical growth rates, external factors affecting attitude to training etc. The obtaining of a “Black Belt” is a long and often hard physical and mental process. Meadvale Karate Club is not a club that awards this lightly.

Our Grading system is as follows:

• Red belt -9^th Kyu

• Yellow belt- 8^th Kyu

• Orange belt- 7^th Kyu

• Green belt- 6^th Kyu

• Blue belt- 5^th Kyu

• Purple belt- 4^th Kyu

• Brown belt plus -1 tag 3^rd Kyu

• Brown belt plus 2 tags-2^nd Kyu

• Brown belt plus 3 tags -1^st Kyu

• Black belt- Shodan-Ho

• 1st Dan -Shodan
• 2^nd Dan- Nidan

Grades are awarded for the correct performance of the kata required for that grade. Combinations, stances, strikes, kicks and blocks are also assessed. according to each grade.

In addition to their technical ability, the behaviour and attitude of students to training in between Gradings is also taken into consideration. Good attendance, time keeping, behaviour, self control and enthusiasm are all assessed.