2.5 Guidance on PSG to MAG Promotion (Under 15 yrs old)

If your child is being promoted from the Preschoolers Karate Groups (PSG) to the Mixed Ages Group (MAG) you should know that there are significant differences in the way the classes are run;

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• Gradings (promotional exams) are group gradings, set at quarterly intervals throughout the year for a fee. See the section on grading requirements above.

• Uniforms aren’t free 

• A yearly membership subscription fee is required.

• The lessons are 1 hour long.

• Students pay per month and not per term.

• There are no refunds for class cancellations 

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The Mixed Ages Group is run like most other karate clubs, and the fees are quite standard (monthly, yearly, & grading fees), whereas the preschoolers group was setup in a way to facilitate a simpler introduction to karate classes and had just one combined fee for the term commitment. On the plus side however the older mixed ages group has the following advantages.

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• More advanced karate training.

• Faster progression in rank.

• Invitations to many more training activities and events such as external competitions and training trips locally and overseas.

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3. GRADINGS

Gradings (also called 'shinsa' in japanese) are tests for promotion in rank and are an important element of growth and progress in martial arts training.

 

For students 8 years and older, the gradings are usually a formal event done as a group. For students under 8 years old, gradings are often done on an ad-hoc basis, often one-on-one.

 

The following regulations refer specifically to formal group gradings for students over 8 years old.

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3.1 Grading Requirements & Results

Being referred for a grading is a privilege and not an automatic right. The following requirements are just the minimum requirements that are assessed by the Chief Instructor in the selection of grading candidates. 

• Members - Grading is for registered club members only. If your annual membership fees are not up-to-date you will not be eligible for grading.

• Fee - As in most clubs, gradings cost a fee. As of August 2018 the fee are as follows; £25 up to brown belt in karate and £50 for brown belts, and range from £150 to £250 for 1st dan to 3rd dan. For jujutsu, fees vary from £15 - £75 for kyu ranks, and are £100 for shodan. The fee covers the administrative cost of the exam but does not guarantee you will pass. The fee is confirmed prior to a grading when the candidates to be tested are announced. The fee may also be adjusted due to the foreign exchange rate (as some ranks are processed and paid for in Japan), or due to changes in administrative costs. Black belt ranks are considerably higher, but students are often given months notice in advance of a black belt grading (exam). In any case, exceptional students who do test for black belt usually have to wait years for the opportunity.

• Attendance - The minimum time requirement for each rank is outlined in the grading curriculum. Additionally students must have a 75% attendance in the 2 months prior to the proposed grading date. Failing to make this frequency of attendance in the weeks before the grading date may result in the candidate being withdrawn from the grading even if they were announced on the initial list of eligible candidates.

• Points - The practice curriculum outlines the minimum number of points required in order to be eligible for grading.

• Competing - Students must participate in a competition organised by the club or entered by the club within the previous 18 months in order to be eligible for grading.

• Summer Camp - [Mixed Ages Group, Seniors Karate Group & Adults Jujutsu Group] Students must have attended the Summer Camp within the previous 3 years in order to be eligible for grading past the rank of 5th kyu.
  Exemptions may only be made if this wasn't possible due to the club not hosting a camp in a given year.

• License Book - Points are to be recorded in the student license book. It is the member's responsibility to ensure points are recorded and validated in the license book, and to keep a backup copy such as pictures or scans for evidence in the event that the book is lost.

• Results - Grading results are announced at the end of the test. Candidates who do not meet the criteria for full-rank promotion may at the discretion of the instructor either;

  • Be promoted half-rank (mon-grades)​.

  • Be issued a new belt on a provisional basis (without a certificate) and asked to repeat the test at a later date, or

  • Be asked to repeat the test at an interim grading on a later date, usually within 4 weeks. Test repeats are free. All previous grading requirements apply for the interim grading. If the student fails to meet expected requirements before the interim test (eg. attendance or theory exam repeat) the opportunity for a free re-test will be lost.

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3.2 Grading Penalties

Progress is not just important, but it is expected. Additionally, gradings take up a lot of time and resources to organise for the benefit of students. As a result, the following penalties are in place to prevent extreme cases in which students start to stagnate in their training.

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*A prior agreement is a discussion between student/parent/guardian and the Chief Instructor in which a reason for missing grading is accepted by the Chief Instructor and the Club Committee. Verifiable medical reasons are examples of some reasons usually accepted.

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1) A student will not be put-forward for grading if the teacher does not think he/she is capable of passing. However, every student is entitled to request one postponement/cancellation of their grading every 18 months.

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2) If a student does not turn up to a grading without a prior agreement with the Chief Instructor, he/she will automatically be barred from grading for 6 to 9 months (depending on rank). This can be appealed but must be done so in writing and will be reviewed by the club committee.

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3) If a student misses two consecutive gradings without a prior agreement with the Chief Instructor, he/she will automatically be barred from grading for a minimum of 6 to 9 months (depending on rank). This can be appealed but must be done so in writing and will be reviewed by the club committee.

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4) If a junior student (under 18yrs old) is not graded for at least 15 months, regardless of whether or not he/she has been put forward for grading, their continued membership will be reviewed by the club committee.

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3.3 Grading Payments

• Payment is for the administrative cost of the exam and does not guarantee promotion in rank. Promotion in rank is based on merit.

• Fee is non-refundable.

• The deadline for payment/registration is given when given when the grading date and candidates are announced. Missing this deadline may result in the candidate not being able to grade. 

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3.4 Grading Dates, Venues and Times

Gradings usually occur at the end of every quarter. Gradings at the end of the 3rd quarter (September) are usually reserved for eligible candidates who have been training in the month of August either through the Summer Camp or any other intensive courses held by the club. Because of the logistics and venue availability, we cannot guarantee that gradings will always be on the same day of the week or the time. In the past few years they have been more frequently held or Saturdays and occasionally on Tuesdays. We respect and appreciate that sometimes other priorities may exist in your life. However, we request that you consider potential quarterly gradings when making personal plans in order to avoid clashes with other plans where possible.

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3.5 Grading Preparations

Students are urged to prepare diligently for their test to have the best chance of passing. They can review the grading/testing curriculum in the Learning Resources in the Members Area of the website www.jikandojo.com/members-area

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4. HOLIDAYS & CLASS CANCELLATIONS

Fees will be the same regardless of the breaks taken for term holidays and half-term holidays. For any irregular class cancellations, a make-up lesson is usually available to the student on an alternative day but unfortunately we cannot guarantee this.

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On a yearly basis a decision will be made about whether or not there is a summer break in August. If there are no classes in August, your payment for that month will be refunded in full. The majority of refunds are possible in September, but we ask for your patience as some aren't done until November. Please do not cancel your subscription just for that month as it leaves the club with cash flow issues in paying overheads. 

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Your patience helps us to keep the classes open in the long term.

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5. PHOTOGRAPHY & FILMING

For promotional purposes, the club requests consent to photograph and film minors when they are being registered. However, the following restrictions are placed on members at specific events and venues.

1. Pictures of classes are not permitted without the express permission of the club.

2. Filming of classes by anyone other than a club representatives is strictly forbidden.

3. Pictures of competitions and outdoor events are permitted.

4. Filming of competitions and outdoor events requires the express permission of the club. The decision is often taken after assessing any perceived risk/threat from the public domain.

You can read more about the club's procedures for the use of images and footage of young people and children in our document, "Ten Golden Rules".

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6. HEALTHY & SAFETY

Members must observe the class safety rules at all times. They are as follows;

1. Inform the instructor of any health conditions or injuries which may be affected by training or may affect your training.

2. No eating or chewing is allowed during the class.

3. Jewellery must be removed.

4. It is always good to have some water available, but keep it to the side away from the training area.

5. When you turn up for training, leave all your daily distractions behind. Clear your mind and strive your uttermost to absorb the lesson. It should be your only focus at that time.

6. Warm ups are a way of gradually easing your body into an exercise routine to avoid damage. For beginners, a first attempt at any particular exercise should never be done without personally being shown the proper technique. Furthermore, a new exercise should never be executed beyond your comfort zone. Always keep this in mind.

7. Pay attention to posture, especially where loading(weight carrying) exercises are involved. Poor posture deprives you of benefiting from the exercise, and can result in injury.

8. After Class inform the instructor of any injuries or unusual pains you may have.

9. Stretches help promote muscle repair and development after exercise. It helps for faster recovery. If you feel the need, in your own time do extra stretches before the next lesson.​

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Please refer to the latest Class Induction and Safety Rules document. 

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7. EXTERNAL TRAINING

Members are not allowed to take part in other martial arts or combat groups or activities. Some reasons include (1) insurance liabilities, (2) the regulations of our parent organisations in Japan and (3) the fact that practising conflicting styles tend to hold students back from progressing. Please speak with the Chief Instructor if this is a matter of concern to you.​

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8. DISCIPLINE

Jikan Dojo also reserves the right to terminate the membership of any member(s) whose behaviour is unethical or in violation of the law in such a way that it may bring the club into disrepute. 

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Jikan Dojo reserves the right to terminate the membership of any members who may violate the club's code of conduct as described in Dojo Kun and in these Terms and Conditions. Please also observe the safety rules in the same document. ​Other general guidelines and information about the structure of the club and its objectives can be found here in the Club Constitution.

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8.1 Interactions Between Members

Jikan Dojo works hard to create inclusivity (where practical) and to ensure equality throughout its membership.

 

Any matter between two or more members that has the potential to result in one or more of the parties feeling unwelcome, aggrieved, uncomfortable or harassed is strongly discouraged. The following scenarios are especially discouraged and if proven to be true is likely to result in the immediate termination of membership of the offender;

1) Advances in or outside the dojo that may be perceived as inappropriately suggestive, sexual, flirtatious or harassing by the recipient or through some wider consensus. Keep in mind that even if the recipient of such advances may not seem to object, it does not mean that they are welcoming.

2) The borrowing/lending of any sums of money between members, beyond minor expenses in a social event, is strongly discouraged.

3) Insults or criticisms based on protected characteristics such as race, gender, ethnicity, creed/religion, sexual orientation.

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4) Insults and disrespect directed to any member, that go beyond the boundaries of a 'healthy debate' and 'banter' in other areas of interest such as politics. This is not in keeping with the respect expected in traditional martial arts.

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In the above 3 scenarios, the best advice from the club, is that if you are in doubt then don't take the risk. Keep in mind that it is not about how the suspected offender views their own actions, but about how the target or victim feels.

Also, these guidelines are not limited to in-person interactions but also include online messaging/social chats.

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Members are urged to file any complaints with the Chief Instructor or Welfare Officer if one is appointed.

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The Chief Instructor will be the arbitrator and final decision maker on any disputes/complaints. He may call upon the Club Committee for their advice or general consensus at his discretion.

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9. WEAPONS TRAINING

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9.1 Legal Guidelines

Members over the age of 18 years old must read and understood UK legal guidelines about the use of weapons for martial arts training. If a member is under the age of 18 his or her parent must do so on their behalf.

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• https://www.gov.uk/guidance/import-controls-on-offensive-weapons#importing-knives-swords-and-other-offensive-weapons-into-the-uk

• https://www.gov.uk/buying-carrying-knives

• https://www.katanamart.co.uk/content/27-uk-samurai-sword-law

• https://www.police.uk/crime-prevention-advice/possession-of-weapons/

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As a brief overview, members Should follow the following guidelines;

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• Members must abide by legal guidelines at all times.

• Members must only travel with weapons to and from Jikan Dojo training sessions and events.

• Members must only train with weapons in the dojo, club-sanctioned venues, at home or suitable private venues where a risk assessment has been carried out to minimise any risks presented to themselves, the wider public or any bystanders.

• Members must use appropriate (secure, durable and concealing) cases or packaging for weapons while in transit.

• Members must not use weapons for any other purposes outside of training.

• If questioned by the authorities regarding training weapons, members should present the membership ID card along with an official form of ID such as a drivers license or a passport.

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9.2 Member ID Card

Should you be stopped by law enforcement with regards to the carrying of a weapon, we recommend that all practitioners of weaponry at Jikan Dojo over the age of 18 years old possess a Member ID Card.

 

Simply possessing a member identification card does not exempt the member from the law. The ID card simply adds to the argument that the member is a legitimate martial arts student. You must apply for a club ID card at your earliest convenience if you desire to carry a weapon of your own. 

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Link: https://www.jikandojo.com/id-card

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