Author: Ash Prime

Kata testing has finished. Overall a great effort from everyone. Next week will be Kumite (sparring) and junior grading. 

It’s clear that everyone has put effort into preparing for grading. There are always things to improve and I’ll chat with each participant about this at some point.

We all come to Karate with different strengths and challenges. Acknowledging this is an essential part of teaching, training and grading. One thing that I see as being among the most important attributes is commitment. The ongoing effort over many years. Turning up every week and doing the work. Pushing through the challenges. Karate takes time and we all grow in our own way. Eventually it all comes together. Grading is not a comparison between students. It’s about individual growth and I’ve seen a great deal of that over the past seven years since Enso Karate opened. 

Grading Festival Schedule

Starts next week 24/11/25

Week 8

• Regular Junior Class.
• Senior Grading Part 1: Kata Trials. Demonstration of kata and applications. 

Week 9

• Junior Grading including belt presentations.
• Senior Grading Part 2: Kumite Trials. Sparring under various conditions.
• Grading presentations. 

Week 10

• Tameshiwari (board breaking)
• And more… 

End of Term 4

Grading Application Deadline

Grading applications are due by the end of next week (week 7) including $10 payment. The deadline is Saturday 22 November 3pm. Applications for grading will not be accepted after this time. To ensure those who wish to attempt grading are eligible, please be sure to get applications in on time. 

Grading trials will commence in classes of week 8. These are regular classes for those who are not grading. 

Time and Practice

If a student attends one class per week for a year, that’s 40 classes, 40 hours of training. That’s pretty good. If a student also does just 5 minutes of practice at home every other day, that’s an extra 27 hours! Just 5 minutes a day. That’s Sanchin and some pushups, a few kicks…. Not too hard. Make it 10 minutes a day and you’ve got an extra 54 hours of training on top of your base of 40 hours. Much greater improvement will occur. Routine is key. Set a particular time to do a short practice and it will become habit, just like brushing your teeth. Any additional practice is good, even if it’s just one minute. Keeping a training journal can also help to track progress. Some people may do Karate just for fun or exercise. That’s fine. You will also get more out of classes if you do some extra practice. Those who truly want to become competent Karateka must dedicate themselves to regular, intentional practice. 

Here’s a video of the kata the juniors have been learning.

Left, right, front, back.

Front stance, high block, step over punch.

Please be advised that there is no Saturday class this week 8/11/25

Greetings all. Welcome to Week 5.

Please be advised that there will be no Saturday class this week 8/11/25.

Grading Festival!

Grading will take place over weeks 8 and 9 with belt presentations in week 10 along with Tameshiwari (board breaking). 

Week 8, starting 24/11/25

Grading Part 1

Kata Trials 

Students will be tested on their kata and self-defence applications.

Week 9, starting 1/12/25

Grading Part 2

Kumite Trials

Many rounds of sparring under different conditions.

Week 10, starting 8/12/25

Grading Presentations

Tameshiwari (board breaking)

End of Term 4

Grading application forms will be available from Monday 3 November. Applications for this grading must be returned by week 7. 

Please check the requirements for your next belt to make sure you can confidently demonstrate them before returning your application.

Students will be graded based on their performance of kata, demonstration of self-defence applications and sparring skill. 

Students may be awarded full belt promotions or silver stripes. 

Please let me know if you have any questions. 

End of year grading is approaching. Application forms will be available shortly. Before submitting an application, I want students to think about the purpose of grading and belts. They are recognition of your hard work and improvement. They are a sign of your knowledge and skill level in Karate. 

Grading isn’t just putting your hand up, saying you want to grade and getting the belt automatically. It is making the choice to do the work needed to meet the requirements. Demonstrating your commitment. Just pause and think about that for a moment…. What do you need to do? Know your requirements. Ask questions if you need to. Be confident in your ability to demonstrate the requirements without watching someone else! Test yourself. Take a video of your all of your kata and see if they’re correct. If you are not at that point just yet, wait. Keep practicing and you may be ready next time. There is no rush and no competition. Karate is a personal journey and each individual takes as long as they take. 

End of year Grading

In the final weeks of Term 4, students will have the opportunity to test for their next belt. Whether they have recently graded or haven’t for some time, this is a good time to start preparing. Effort will be rewarded. 

Kata requirements increase for each colour belt. 

Yellow – Kihon Kata

Orange – Kihon and Sanchin

Red – Kihon, Sanchin and Tensho

Purple – Kihon, Sanchin, Tensho and Saifa

Brown – Kihon, Sanchin, Tensho, Saifa and Rohai

Black – Kihon, Sanchin, Tensho, Saifa, Rohai and Kusanku

This week I will take names of those who are keen to grade this term and go through their requirements.

Check out my video in the facebook group about why kata is important.

https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1G6M87gr15/?mibextid=wwXIfr

If anyone needs uniforms or other gear (gloves, mouthguards etc) come and see me after class.

Finally, please ensure term fees are up to date or let me know if you need time to pay. Thank you all.

Welcome to term 4 everyone.
It’s heating up but let’s train hard with respect for one another, great effort in every session, courage to do the things we find hard and kindness towards all.

Enso Karate opened on this day, seven years ago. Thank you to all who have been a part of this journey. Many have come and gone, as is the way in martial arts, but we still have a few members who started on day one and many more not long after. To truly experience the value of Karate takes many years and I commend those who have stuck with it. Keep going. The best is yet to come.

Term 4 starts Monday October 6.
See you soon.