What you need to know to start

• Finger and toe-nails must be clean and short.
• Jewellery, watches, metal hair clips, plastic hairbands, should not be worn when training.
• Uniform must be neat and tidy. Your appearance reflects on your club and instructor as well
  Dojo etiquette
• Do not leave your valuables in the Dojo
• Please remain silent during karate classes
• Turn off your mobile phones or keep them on silent mode while in the Dojo
• Please inform us in advance should you not be able to attend a regular session.
• Children are not allowed to run inside the club while they are not participating in the classes
• Inform the instructor of any medical condition or injury before training.
• Keep your uniform in good shape by removing stains. It is also essential to maintain your sleeves and pant length to an appropriate size; either too long or too short could affect your training.
• Coloured T-shirts or sweat clothes are not permitted.
• Only Girls/Women may wear a white t-shirt underneath their uniform.
• Dojo badges must be worn correctly. (Refer to Uniform and badges section)
• Please do not ask instructors about anything other than your core training topic for the day during or after classes as they may not be able to answer you.
• Always email us at support@budokan.co.nz for any queries.

What you should bring with you

• Towel, water bottle, Protective Gears
• If you have asthma carry your inhalers
• If you are on any medication, please bring them with you

The club expects members to maintain a high standard of dress. LBKI approved uniform should be worn while attending the sessions. LBKI approved items are available on www.wsasports.co.nz

• All students are expected to be clean and neatly dressed.
• All students must wear the appropriate clothing at all sessions; this will be a Dogi with club badge and current association awarded belt unless advised by the Club Instructor.
• It is important to make sure the shirt length covers the hips.
• Make sure shirt sleeves and pant legs are adjusted  to the correct length (not just folded, it should be sewn properly)
• Hair must be clean and tidy.
• Rings, earrings, studs, watches or any kind of jewellery is not to be worn by any student while training. 
• Nails must be trimmed as it can be dangerous or a hazard to the opponent sparring and self-defence practice

Boys/ Men uniform

• LBKI approved Karate uniform with the club badge
• No extra pant underneath Karate pants
• White t-shirt inside the shirt (optional)

Girls/ Women uniform

• LBKI approved Karate uniform with the club badge
• White t-shirt inside the shirt(compulsory)
• Black or white tights to be worn under karate pants (optional)
• Plain black pull on headscarves (worn for religious reasons only)
• Hair ties black or white (hair must be tied back)
• No metallic clips/ headbands

LBKI training t-shirts can be worn during December to March for training instead of uniform shirt.

Safety Rules for Sparring and Self-defence classes at all times

Without protective equipment, students will not be allowed to participate in sparring and self-defence drills

• All protective equipment must be LBKI approved
• Participants must have trimmed fingernails and toenails
• Participants must not wear metallic or other objects that may cause injury to their opponent
• You must have safety glasses (if you wear glasses). Regular glasses are forbidden
• The protective equipment for your belt level are mandatory.

Entry Level (White Belts, Yellow with stripe )

• Red or blue pair of gloves
• Mouth Guard
   

Beginner Level (Yellow, Green with stripe and Green)

• Red or blue pair of gloves
• Red or blue shin and foot protector (matching the colour of glove)
• Mouth Guard
• Chest Guard
• Groin guard (for male students)
   

Intermediate Level (Orange with stripe, Orange, Blue with stripe, Blue and purple with stripe Belts)

• Red or blue pair of gloves
• Red or blue shin and foot protector (matching the colour of glove)
• Mouth Guard
• Chest Guard
• Groin guard (for male students)
• Cotton Shin & Instep Protector – White
   

Advance Level (Purple & Brown)

• Red or blue pair of gloves
• Red or blue shin and foot protector (matching the colour of glove)
• Mouth Guard
• Chest Guard
• Groin guard (for male students)
• Cotton Shin & Instep Protector – White
• Head Guard (no need to match the colour of gloves) 

LBKI approved items are available on www.wsasports.co.nz

• Mobile phones must be switched off during training time.
• Parents / Guardians may watch their kids training where the venue has sufficient space and seating. However, they are requested not to speak, signal, try to correct or distract the students during a lesson.
• Please do not ask instructors about anything during or after classes as they may not be able to answer you. Email us at support@budokan.co.nz

The curriculum is divided into ten belt levels before one reaches black belt:

• White Belt
• Yellow Belt
• Green Belt
• Orange Belt
• Blue Belt
• Purple Belt
• Brown Belt 4th Kyu
• Brown Belt 3rd Kyu
• Brown Belt 2nd Kyu
• Brown Belt 1st Kyu
• Black Belt

If a candidate is under 12 years old then there are chances he/she will get belts with a white stripe. The white stripe system, however, extends to youth who do not demonstrate the required ability to perform techniques with the required level of strength and power etc.

There are four components to LBKI training:

Fundamentals, Kata, Kumite and modern Self Defence.

Fundamentals: It is the practice of fundamental techniques like blocking, punching, striking, kicking. These basic techniques require regular practice, applied with as much concentration and effort as possible.

Kata: Kata is a predetermined series of blocking, punching and countering techniques against a single or multiple attackers (armed or unarmed). Other than the fighting techniques it is also a kind of aerobics and a philosophy.

Kumite: We train point system sparring and follow WKF (World Karate Federation) rules for both Kata and Kumite.

Modern Self Defence: Karate in itself is a complete self-defence system. Our curriculum maintains a balance of traditional karate and also deals with training to prepare students in the situations like collar grabs, street fights, and other types of anti-bullying and violence.

LBKI Grading Outlines

If you participate two days/week continuously, you will be able to get your black belt in approximately five years.

We have four grading tests per year, but this does not mean that you are qualified to do all the gradings. Grading tests are invitational.

Criteria For The Grading

Grading is invitational, and you should sign and bring all the forms back before the deadline.

Karateka (student of karate) will be called randomly and should know all the requirements and perform accordingly based on the next level that they wish to reach, and they need to:

• Wear the CORRECT uniform with the LBKI logo.
• Karateka needs to know their kata(form), basics(kihon), kumite(point system sparring), and bunkai (explanations of katas).
• It is not mandatory to know all Japanese terminology.
• Karateka must bring all their safety equipment to Kumite (sparring) testing.
• In order to pass the grading, you need to demonstrate the Katas with the correct Eye direction, balance, power, speed, and the rhythm. As well as the spirit of the kata, fighting spirit (zanshin).
• Remember your next belt is not a gift or prize you should earn your belt based on your control, manner, character, knowledge, terminology, and understanding of the technique and your highest performance and remember karate begins with respect and ends with respect.
• Grading fee once paid is not refundable.
• Please think positive, and you will succeed. If you fail, don’t worry you register again and you will do it within two months.

Note: for all the black belt grading there will be two years probation to receive their certification. If any of the black belts leave LBKI without permission of the Chief Instructor, or disrespectfully, and/or join another association without a proper way of respect and explanation, their certification will be expired immediately.

All the best and good luck!

Lost Property Policy

At Lion Budokan Karate International, we realise the need to keeping this lost property and giveaway policy in place. The objective is to minimise property loss and encourage care among fellow members. Through this, we are aiming to return misplaced items to its rightful owner as soon as possible. However, any unclaimed items or items being given away by members will be available to those who want to use them.

Here are the guidelines:

1) Please be aware that all our classes are held in either community halls or school halls.
2) Parents and students are encouraged to name and label all personal items, like Gloves, Helmets and Jackets etc.
3) We are not responsible for any missing items unless the item is found by or brought to one of our instructor’s notice while they are at the facility.
4) If you realise that you have missed an item at the school, then you are welcome to visit the school during school hours and ask them about it at the school reception.
5) If you have an item that is in good, acceptable condition and would like to give away, then please hand it over to one of our instructors in neat and tidy condition and proper packaging. Items such as Mouthguards, Groinguards, Cotton shin and foot protectors, weary gloves will not be accepted to pass on to other members.
6) Accepting any giveaway items is solely at Lion Budokan Karate International discretion
7) If you want to give away a used uniform, you are welcome to do so by asking your friends at the club. Unfortunately, we won’t accept suits to be put in the giveaway box.
8) It is not Lion Budokan Karate International Instructors’ responsibility to look for missing items and store for its owner to collect. However, if they find it in the halls or if other students bring this to instructors’ notice, then the following process will apply.

a) The lost property cum giveaway items will be located in our Blockhouse Bay branch (231 Whitney Street on every last Wednesday of the month) and will be available to claim/collect between 6.30 pm and 6.45 pm during a regular class day.
b) Misplaced or lost items are to be brought to the instructor in charge as soon as possible.
c) Parents or students seeking lost items should check the lost property to claim items.
d) Other unclaimed items / unaccepted items will be disposed of at the end of each school term.

Tournament Participation Requirement:

• Chestguard, groin guard and mouthguard
• Belt – red and blue
• Gloves – red and blue
• Shin and instep – red and blue
• Kata Gi – For Brown belts and higher
• A Kumite Gi – this is a lighter Gi for speed
• LBKI NZ team t-shirt and jacket

Note – Tournament Gi must not have a club badge on it.