FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q. I've never done this before... are beginners welcome?
A. Absolutely! Beginners are always welcome... you don't need any previous martial arts experience.

Q. I'm not really in shape... how fit do I need to be to join?
A. Not to worry, we will help to get you in shape. Karate can provide you with the skills necessary such as improved flexibility, coordination, balance, muscle strength and muscle tone. You will notice an improvement with each class. Remember, you train to get fit. You don't need to get fit to train.

Q. Do I need a uniform before I join?
A. Not at all! When you come for your trial program FREE lesson, wear something comfortable such as a T-shirt and shorts or track suit pants. We don't wear shoes so you also don't need expensive gym shoes. Then, if you decide to join, a white uniform (karate-gi) will be provided as part of your enrollment.

Q. Is this something women can do?
A. Women can excel at karate at a level equal to men. In fact, women are often more flexible and may find some aspects of karate easier to learn than their male counterparts.

Q. I have back/shoulder/knee problems... can I still do karate?
A. As we grow older we can all have some problems with past sports or work related injuries. When training in Karate, you can simply work around them - if something in the training is not good for you, we can do something else. The general rule is: It is your body and you know it best, so when training be aware of anything that may aggravate your injury.

Q. Am I too old/young to join karate?
A. Here at Olympic Karate, we specialize in helping young children learn to set goals and to work to achieve them. Respect for adults and respect for their peers are highly stressed. And with more advanced ages, everyone may find one or another technique harder or impossible to perform... don't let this worry or stop you! Karate is a martial art, and as such it is self-defense system, not a display of superhuman ability and athleticism. All the benefits of Karate in terms of improved health and self defense still apply, regardless of which age you start.