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1.WHERE IS NORTON DOJO? NORTON DOJO ORIGINAL KARATE CLUB IS ON THE SOUTHERN (CHESTERFIELD) SIDE OF SHEFFIELD ON DERBYSHIRE LANE, NORTON, S8 8SG CLOSE TO GRAVES PARK.(MAP) TRAINING TIMES ARE TUESDAYS 7.30-9.30 AT MOUNTVIEW CHURCH HALL, ON THE CORNER OF MOUNTVIEW AVENUE AND DERBYSHIRE LANE . ON FRIDAYS AT THE SCOUT H.Q. WARMINSTER ROAD, NORTON,(NEAR THE TRAFFIC LIGHTS AT HEMSWORTH ROAD) 7.30-9.30. (TOP) 2.HOW MUCH ARE THE TRAINING FEES? TRAINING FEES ARE £4 PER SINGLE LESSON, OR, (a) £26 PER CALENDAR MONTH. YEARLY, THIS WORKS OUT AT £3 A SESSION 2 SESSIONS /WEEK FOR A MONTH, PLUS, IF STUDENTS HAVE PAID 3 MONTHS CONTINOUS, THEY RECIEVE FINANCIAL HELP TOWARDS ANY COURSE TRAINING. (b) £13 PER CALENDAR MONTH. YEARLY, THIS IS £3 1 SESSION / WEEK FOR A MONTH. YOUR FIRST LESSON WILL COST £3.TRAINING IS TWICE WEEKLY ; TUESDAY 7.30-9.30 AND FRIDAY 7.30-9.30.(TOP) 3.HOW OFTEN ARE BELT GRADINGS? ABOUT THREE TO FOUR MONTHS. THIS IS BASED ON REGULAR ATTENDANCE OF TWO WEEKLY SESSIONS. AS YOU GET INTO THE HIGHER GRADES I.E.BROWN BELTS, THIS WILL INCREASE. NORTON DOJO, LIKE ALL O.T.G.K.A. DOJO'S, IS INTERESTED IN QUALITY NOT QUANTITY. (TOP)
NO.(TOP) 5. IS NORTON DOJO AFFILIATED TO ANY OTHER ORGANISATIONS? 5.YES, NORTON DOJO BELONGS TO THE OKINAWAN TRADITIONAL GOJU-RYU KARATE.DO ASSOCIATION (O.T.G.K.A.) WHICH IN TURN IS A MEMBER OF THE INTERNATIONAL OKINAWA GOJU-RYU KARATE.DO FEDERATION (I.O.G.K.F.) THE WORLD CHIEF INSTRUCTOR IS SENSEI MORIO HIGAONNA, A NATIVE OKINAWAN, PROBABLY THE MOST RESPECTED PERSONAGE IN KARATE, DUE TO HIS LIFES ENDEAVOUR IN THE TEACHING,RESEARCH AND WRITING OF THE HISTORY OF KARATE, AND HIS UNPARALLED SKILL IN THE ART OF KARATE.DO THE WAY OF THE EMPTY HAND. ALL THE ABOVE ORGANISATIONS ARE NOT-FOR-PROFIT. (TOP) AS STATED ABOVE THE O.T.G.K.A. IS A NON-PROFIT ORGANISATION AFFILIATED TO THE I.O.G.K.F. AND WAS SET UP SOLELY TO PROMOTE THE SPREAD AND PRACTICE OF GOJU-RYU KARATE. THE CHIEF INSTRUCTOR IS SENSEI GEORGE ANDREWS 7th DAN I.O.G.K.F. AS WELL AS INSTRUCTING AND TAKING COURSES AT HIS DOJO IN LONDON, SENSEI GEORGE IS MUCH IN DEMAND IN EUROPE AND THE MIDDLE EAST FOR HIS SUPERLATIVE INSTRUCTION . HE HAS BEEN PRACTICING KARATE SINCE 1967 AND WAS INTRODUCED TO OKINAWAN GOJU-RYU IN 1974, FROM THEN ON,HE HAS DEVOTED ALL HIS ENERGIES TO TRAINING AND TEACHING IN THAT STYLE.(TOP) 7.HOW MUCH IS IT TO JOIN THE O.T.G.K.A. AND GET MY LICENCE? TO JOIN THE O.T.G.K.A. AND OBTAIN YOUR LICENCE COSTS £30 FOR THE FIRST YEAR, AFTER THAT IT IS £25 A YEAR. IF YOU ARE IN ARREARS WITH YOUR LICENCE FEE BY MORE THAN 1 MONTH YOU'LL NEED TO PAY £5 ABOVE THE RATE (£25) TO REJOIN.(TOP) YOUR LICENCE IS PROOF YOU ARE A MEMBER OF NORTON DOJO AND ITS PARENT OGANISATIONS,YOU ARE INSURED BY THEM AND YOU MAY BE TAUGHT AT ANY I.O.G.K.F. DOJO IN THE WORLD. IT IS ALSO A WAY OF KEEPING PERSONAL RECORDS REGARDING YOUR COURSE ATTENDANCES AND GRADINGS, FOR WHICH YOU MUST HAVE A FULLY PAID UP LICENCE.(TOP) 9.WILL I HAVE TO JOIN THE O.T.G.K.A. STRAIGHTAWAY? NO, WE USUALLY GIVE YOU ABOUT A MONTH BEFORE ASKING YOU JOIN THE O.T.G.K.A.(TOP) YES, WHEN TRAINING AT NORTON DOJO YOU ARE INSURED BY MARTINS MARTIAL ARTS INSURANCE,MANCHESTER. (TOP) 11.DO I HAVE TO BUY A KARATE SUIT(GI) IMMEDIATELY? NO.ONCE AGAIN WE GIVE YOU A FEW WEEKS TO DECIDE. INITALLY YOU CAN TRAIN IN SOMETHING LIKE TRACK SUIT BOTTOMS AND A "T" SHIRT, PLEASE NOTE, KARATE IS PRACTICED BAREFOOTED. HOW MUCH IS A GI? YOU CAN GET ONE FOR £16-£18 BUT THEY ARE NOT TOP QUALITY AND ARE USUALLY QUITE THIN MATERIAL. A GOOD QUALITY GI CAN BE BOUGHT (THROUGH THE CLUB) FOR AROUND £35-£40 PLUS POSTAGE, OR YOU CAN GET REAL TOP OF THE RANGE FROM ABOUT £75 UP.(TOP) 12.DO I HAVE TO BUY IT THROUGH THE CLUB? NO, CERTAINLY NOT. YOU MAY BUY YOUR GI OR ANY EQUIPMENT FROM WHERE YOU WISH. HOWEVER, YOU MAY FIND CLUB PRICES MORE FAVOURABLE. BUT IF YOU CAN GET IT CHEAPER ,NO PROBLEM.(TOP) TWICE A WEEK MINIMUM IF YOU ARE TO MAKE ANY SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS. BUT, IF YOUR LIFESTYLE SAYS YOU CAN ONLY MANAGE ONCE A WEEK THEN DON'T LET THAT STOP YOU. HOWEVER, COMMON SENSE SAYS YOUR PROGRESS MAY BE PAINFULLY SLOW AND YOU COULD GET BORED WITH WHATEVER YOU ARE DOING. TO PROGRESS IN ANY ATTEMPT AT FITNESS, AT THE GYM, AT A SPORT OR MARTIAL ART (ESPECIALLY GOJU-RYU) AN AMOUNT OF CONSISTENCY AND COMMITMENT IS A MUST. BUT SOMETHING IS BETTER THAN NOTHING.(TOP) 14.I'M WORRIED I WON'T BE ABLE TO KEEP UP, WILL GOJU-RYU BE HARD WORK? DON'T TRY TO KEEP UP WITH MORE EXPERIENCED STUDENTS. A CAREFULLY FORMULATED "WARM-UP" IS PRACTICED AT EVERY SESSION TO ENSURE JOINTS AND MUSCLES ARE PREPARED FOR TRAINING. INITIALLY, YOU PROCEED AT YOUR OWN PACE, AS YOU PROGRESS AND GET FITTER AND MORE SUPPLE,THE PACE WILL INCREASE, BUT WITH REGULAR AND COMMITTED TRAINING THIS WILL POSE NO PROBLEM, YOU WILL BE DELIGHTED IN YOUR ACHIEVEMENT. JUST REMEMBER IT DOESN'T HAPPEN OVERNIGHT, AND YES, IT DOES TAKE HARD WORK, ANYTHING WORTH HAVING USUALLY DOES! (TOP) 15.WHAT TRAINING EQUIPMENT IS THERE AT NORTON DOJO? ALTHOUGH NOT A "FULL TIME" DOJO, NORTON DOJO HAS KICK-PADS,FOCUS MITTS,BOXING GLOVES AND MATS ARE AVAILABLE. 16.DOES NORTON DOJO DO COMPETITIONS? NO. GOJU-RYU IS A TOTALLY SELF-DEFENCE ORIENTATED FORM OF KARATE.MANY OF THE TECHNIQUES TAUGHT ARE VERY CLOSE QUARTER AND DON'T LEND THEMSELVES TO "SPORT" KARATE, UNLIKE "SPORT" KARATE THERE ARE NO RULES IN GOJU-RYU .(TOP) GOJU-RYU KARATE IS KNOWN AS A "TRADITIONAL" KARATE STYLE. THIS MEANS ITS LINEAGE CAN BE TRACED BACK TO ITS FOUNDER AND BEYOND TO ITS ROOTS. IT'S ONE OF THE 3 ORIGINAL KARATE STYLES FROM THE ISLAND OF OKINAWA.ORIGINAL KARATE WAS DEVISED FOR A TRAINED KARATEKA TO DEFEND THEMSELVES AGAINST UNTRAINED ADVERSARIES. IT WAS NEVER MEANT FOR SPORT OR COMPETITION. THE EMPHASIS IN GOJU-RYU IS PHYSICAL AND MENTAL FITNESS, STAMINA, SELF-DEFENCE AND FIGHTING TECHNIQUES. ITS AIM IS TO HELP PEOPLE GAIN SELF-CONFIDENCE, SHOW RESPECT AND GOOD MANNERS TOWARDS OTHERS, ENHANCE THIER HEALTH AND FITNESS, TO GIVE THEM SELF-RESPECT BY BEING ABLE TO ACHIEVE THROUGH GOJU-RYU TRAINING THINGS THEY NEVER THOUGHT POSSIBLE, THEREBY ENHANCING THEIRS AND OTHERS LIVES. (TOP) 18.WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF TRAINING IN GOJU-RYU KARATE? WITH REGULAR TRAINING THE STUDENT WILL GAIN IN ALL ROUND FITNESS,STAMINA,HEALTH, MUSCLE TONE AND FLEXIBILITY. THE TRAINING METHODS ARE THE TRIED AND TESTED WAYS USED IN GOJU-RYU FROM ITS INCEPTION AND CAN BE DEMANDING BOTH PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY. THE BONUS IS , FOR YOUR EFFORTS, AS WELL AS FEELING FITTER AND BETTER FOR LIVING, YOU WILL HAVE THE CAPABILITY OF DEFENDING YOU AND YOURS. (TOP) 19.WILL I GET HURT WHILE TRAINING? KARATE IS A MARTIAL ART AND INVOLVES TRAINING IN METHODS YOU MAY NEED IF YOU'RE ATTACKED. YOU WILL NEED TO DEFEND YOURSELF, EVEN IF IT MEANS USING A RELEASING TECHNIQUE AND RUNNING AWAY, INEVETABLY YOU WILL RECIEVE MINOR BRUISING NOW AND AGAIN WHILE TRAINING, BUT, MORE PEOPLE ARE INJURED(PRO RATA)PLAYING FOOTBALL THAN MARTIAL ARTS. ALL OUR TECHNIQUES ARE DONE WITH SAFETY FOREMOST. (TOP) 20.IS GOJU-RYU SUITABLE FOR WOMEN? YES.GOJU-RYU IS EXCELLENT AS A FORM OF SELF-DEFENCE FOR WOMEN AND , WITH REGULAR TRAINING,A SUPERB WAY OF KEEPING VERY FIT AND TONED. WHAT IS LACKING IN BULK OR STRENGTH CAN BE MADE UP IN SPEED AND ACCURACY.MOST ORIENTALS ARE SMALLER THAN WESTERNERS SO A WOMANS LACK OF SIZE SHOULD BE NO DISADVANTAGE. (TOP) 21.I'M CONCERNED MY BUILD WILL BE A HANDICAP, AM I RIGHT? NO,YOU'RE WRONG! IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT YOUR BUILD IS OR HOW OLD YOU ARE, OR HOW UNCO-ORDINATED YOU ARE, OR HOW BAD YOU WERE AT SPORTS AT SCHOOL, OR WHAT YOUR FITNESS IS LIKE. YOU CAN DO GOJU-RYU. YOU DO IT TO YOUR ABILITY AND, AMAZINGLY, YOU'LL FIND (WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM YOUR FRIENDLY SENSEI) AND REGULAR TRAINING, THAT YOU CAN DO THINGS YOU THOUGHT YOU COULDN'T, WHICH GIVES YOU MORE CONFIDENCE TO PROGRESS AND SO ON AND ON ....... (TOP) 22.WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SPORT AND TRADITIONAL KARATE? VERY BASICALLY, SPORT,OR COMPETITION, KARATE IS EXACTLY THAT. THE CONTENDERS FIGHT ACCORDING TO THE STRICT RULES OF COMPETITION WITH REFEREES AND ADJUDICATORS, THEIR AIM IS TO SCORE POINTS AND WIN TROPHIES.THEIR GOAL IS TO WIN AS MANY TROPHIES AS THEY CAN. TRADITIONAL KARATE e.g.GOJU -RYU, GOES FAR DEEPER INTO KARATE SELF-DEFENCE , MANY DIFFERENT TECHNIQUES ARE LEARNED( SPACE DOESN'T PERMIT A FULL LIST). WHILE FIGHTING AND SELF -DEFENCE ARE IMPORTANT, THE TRUE GOAL OF TRADITIONAL KARATE IS THE IMPROVEMENT OF ONESELF. IT'S DIFFICULT TO EXPLAIN BUT AFTER A FEW MONTHS IT STARTS TO MAKE SENSE. (TOP) 23.I CAN LEARN TO FIGHT DOING KICK-BOXING,CAN'T I? YOU CERTAINLY CAN, AND MUCH QUICKER. BOXING,KICK-BOXING,THAI-BOXING HAVE ALL THE INGREDIENTS, THEY ARE ALL TOUGH ,SKILLED AND BRUTAL SPORTS . IF YOU'RE YOUNG,STRONG AND IN A HURRY THEY CAN'T BE BEAT. THEY DEAL WITH A ONE TO ONE FRONTAL ATTACK IN AN EXCELLENT WAY. UNFORTUNATELY ATTACKERS COME FROM ANY DIRECTION, ALL SHAPES AND SIZES AND HAVE NO RULES WHATSOEVER.GOOD AS THEY ARE KICK-BOXING ETC. DOESN'T PRACTISE WHAT TO DO WHEN ATTACKED/GRABBED FROM BEHIND OR TAKE DOWNS, JOINT DISLOCATION, BONE BREAKING, LAPEL GRABS(A KNEE IN THE GROIN DOESN'T ALWAYS GO TO PLAN) RESTRAINING TECHNIQUES, NERVE POINTS,GROUNDWORK, BODY EVASION ETC.ETC. TO LEARN ALL THIS TAKES TIME, MUCH PRACTICE AND COMMITMENT FROM THE STUDENT. NO MARTIAL ART CAN GUARANTEE THAT YOU WILL OVERCOME ANY AND ALL ATTACKERS, BUT IT GIVES YOU THE OPPORTUNITY TO DEFEND YOURSELF AND DO THE BEST TECHNIQUE OF ALL...RUN AWAY IF POSSIBLE.(TOP)
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