Author: Ash Prime

It is my honour to announce Briar’s achievement of Shodan, Black Belt.
The first Black Belt of Enso Karate.
Congratulations!

Final week of training for the year with grading at both dojos.
Presentations will take place at the end of class.
Exciting times! See you soon… 🥋

Respect. Effort. Courage. Kindness.
These are the words we begin and end our training with.
Today I would like to focus on Kindness.
Enso Karate will be conducting a donation drive for the homeless and less fortunate. Over the next two weeks I invite all members to donate non-perishable food and hygiene products to be distributed to those in need. I will have a box at class for donations which will be delivered to Helping Our Homies -Ipswich who are putting together hampers. Even just one can of food will help someone.
Please offer what you can.
Refer to the image below for a list of requested items.
Thank you.

Grading applications have been handed out. These need to be returned next week. I have received some already. Students will then receive individual feedback.

Grading Dates.

The following dates have been selected for testing of prospective brown to black belt students.

Monday November 25
Harrisville
Black belt test PART 1
Kihon and Kata
Includes students going for brown black stripe and above

Monday December 2
Harrisville
Black belt test PART 2
Kumite
Includes students going for brown black stripe and above

Wednesday December 4
Ipswich
Brown belt test
Kihon, Kata, Kumite

I will speak with all eligible students about requirements in the coming weeks.
All students will participate in the gradings to assist and give their support and energy.
Presentation of all other coloured belts will also occur on completion of the grading tests.

Grading applications will be available in class next week.

Fill in the details shown in red on the example and return to me asap.
If you are new, leave kyu level and belt colour blank.
If the student would like a belt, tick the box for certificate + belt and indicate their belt size (shown on white tag of belt). If you are unsure of size please ask. Please include $10 for the belt with the return of application.
If no belt is required select certificate only (free).
Leave the bottom half of the application blank.
I will include personalised feedback and requirements for grading.

Please note that grading is optional. If a student wishes to just train and not grade that is fine and equally valued.

IMPORTANT: Those who do wish to grade, please be aware that submitting your application does not guarantee grading this term. The application form indicates your intent to pursue grading. It may take longer, depending on what is required at your level and the effort you put in to improving. Once the requirements are met, you will grade.

Grading below brown belt is based on progress throughout the year with no formal testing. Students are evaluated throughout the term.

Those moving up to brown belt and above will undergo formal testing towards the end of term. Eligible students will be spoken to about this.

Please let me know if there are any questions.

The Dojo Kun or Training Hall Rules
with examples of how it could be applied.

Respect – Be polite and considerate to everyone.

Effort – Train hard. Always try to improve in all areas.

Courage – Try difficult or uncomfortable things. Spar an advanced student. Stand up for yourself and others.

Kindness – Help each other to learn. Check on someone who’s injured. Welcome new people.

These are just a few ways to implement the Dojo Kun. Students should aim to keep this in mind both in the dojo and in everyday life. A student’s application of this code will be considered in their evaluation for grading.

A great start to Term 4. Lots of energy. Let’s keep it going. New faces joining in at both dojos is great to see. Welcome to you all. Thanks to to those students who helped out with the new people.

Hi everyone. Coming in to Term 4, most current students will have the opportunity to grade by the end of the year, if they choose to do so (with just a few exceptions who have recently graded). With many students approaching the top end of the coloured belts, expectations are higher to reach the next grade. In some cases, silver belt stripes may be awarded in-between full grades to indicate progress. Everyone progresses at different rates. Students are evaluated over the entire term, with only brown belts and up having a specific test day.

Students who wish to grade should demonstrate enthusiastic training every week and a genuine desire to improve. Simply wanting the belt is not enough. You have to want to improve. Everyone receives regular feedback and should be aiming to improve in those areas. While much of this evaluation is individual and subjective, there are measurable, grade specific goals that should be met, such as kata knowledge and push-up progression, among other things. All of which will be discussed with students.

Notable grading events coming up this term include a brown belt test at the Ipswich dojo, a brown/black stripe test at the Harrisville dojo and to end the year, our first black belt test at the Harrisville dojo.

If there’s any questions about grading or anything else, please reach out.

Term 4 starts next week.

Monday September 30
Harrisville 4:30-5:30pm
Harrisville School of Arts

Wednesday October 2
Ipswich 10-12am
North Ipswich Scout Hall

Term fees
Individual $100 per 10 week term
2 family members $160 per 10 week term
3 or more family members $200 per 10 week term