Student Handbook

The Lac du Bonnet Karate Club

The Lac du Bonnet Karate Club offers its programs through Kims Kickin Fit. We offer
regular karate classes three days per week and Tiny Tigers classes for children aged 5 7
once per week.
The Lac du Bonnet Karate Club is a member of the International Karate Daigaku and
Karate Manitoba. We are friends with numerous clubs throughout Manitoba and get invited
to participate with them in a variety of events.

Shotokan Karate
Our style of karate is called
shotokan karate. It was started
by Master Gichin Funakoshi
(1868 1957) who brought
karate from Okinawa to Japan
and is considered to be the
father of modern karate.
Master Woon-a-Tai has been
training in karate since 1964.
He was a member of the
executive of the ISKF and then
left to form the IKD in 2011
with the goal of combining
traditional karate with modern
applied research.

The ultimate aim of

karate-do lies not in
victory or defeat, but in
the perfection of the
character of its
participants.
- Master Gichin
Funakoshi

What is Karate?
Karate is certainly a method
of self-defence, but the focus
of this sport is primarily on
health, self-confidence, and
perfection of character.
Karate has three basic
components: kihon (basics
like blocking, punching, and
kicking), kata (a prearranged series of
movements), and kumite
(sparring). Beginning
students spend most of their
time learning kihon and kata.

The Instructors
Sensei Dave Ogren is a thirddegree black belt in Shotokan
Karate and has been involved in
karate since 1984. He holds his
National Coaching Certification
Program Level One in Karate and
is a national level referee. Dave
was a member of Manitobas
Provincial Karate Team for four
years; was the instructor of the
Churchill Karate Club for three
years; trained at the Japan Karate
Associations Headquarters dojo
in Tokyo, Japan for four months;
and has also studied Judo and
Kendo briefly. Dave was Karate
Manitobas black belt kumite
champion in 2010.

Sempai Kim Ogren is a seconddegree black belt in Shotokan

Karate and has been involved
in karate since 1990. She is a
former provincial black belt
champion in both kata and
kumite and was a recipient of
Manitobas Order of Sports
Excellence as an athlete and as
a trainer. Kim was the assistant
instructor of the Churchill
Karate Club for three years and
is the co-ordinator and assistant
instructor of the Lac du
Bonnet Karate Club. Kim was
the trainer for Karate
Manitobas Provincial Karate
Team from 2009 2013.

Class Information
We run karate classes on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays out of Centennial
School. Our regular karate program is Wednesdays from 5:30 6:30 p.m. and Saturdays
from 10:30 a.m. 12:00 p.m. Mondays from 7:00 8:00 p.m. are training for green
belts and up only. Our Tiny Tigers class for children aged 5 7 is on Wednesdays from
5:00 5:30 p.m.
Costs for training during each session are listed in our brochure. In addition, we ask that
all members of the regular karate program be members of the International Karate
Daigaku. It is necessary to be a member of this organization to test for a belt and to
attend seminars. Fees for this are payable in January.

Karate Belts
We work on a 9 kyu system. Kyu ranks are coloured belts and dan ranks are black belts.
The coloured belts are:
White (9th kyu)
Green (6th kyu)
Brown (3rd kyu)
th
th
Yellow (8 kyu)
Blue (5 kyu)
Brown (2nd kyu)
Orange (7th kyu)
Purple (4th kyu)
Brown (1st kyu)
Children typically test for a yellow stripe before being eligible to test for a full rank.
Teens and adults do not test for stripes and can be given a full rank or a semi-rank

Karate Tests
Students must test to receive their karate belts. We typically run two tests per year.
One of these will occur at a seminar in Winnipeg and one will be at a seminar in Lac
du Bonnet. There is a testing fee of $45 to test for yellow to brown belt. In addition,
we may bring in guest instructors and testers who typically charge $15 - $25 to run a
special seminar prior to conducting the test. (* Fees are subject to change.)
A karate test typically involves coming on the floor in groups of two or three to
demonstrate kata, kihon (basics), and kumite. Students are judged on stances, body
focus and breathing, technique, and spirit. While the test is a very important part of
the decision to award a belt rank, we also take into consideration regular class
performance and attitude.

The only way to fail in karate is to stop training. Master Nakayama

Dojo Kun
These are the guiding principles of shotokan karate and are recited at the end of most
classes.
Seek Perfection of Character. (This means try to be the best person you can be. Try to be
polite, considerate, patient, and kind.)
Be Faithful. (This means to be true to yourself. Do not let others influence you to do
what you do not want to do.)
Endeavor to Excel. (This means to try your best in everything you do: sports, school,
and your everyday life.)
Respect Others. (This means to treat others with courtesy and respect.)
Refrain From Violent Behaviour. (This means dont fight. Karate students are expected to
find alternatives to fighting when dealing with conflict.)

Shotokan karate is the most widely practiced style of karate in the world.

Dojo Etiquette
Karate-do begins with courtesy and ends with courtesy. Master Funakoshi
- Please remove your shoes before entering the dojo (gym) and leave them neatly against the
wall by the doors. We train barefoot.
- Bow before entering or leaving the dojo floor. This is a show of respect for your place of
training and the instructors.
- Stop what you are doing and bow to instructors when you first see them in the dojo.
- It is considered bad manners to lean against a wall or fool around while waiting for class to
start. Make sure you are stretching, warming up, or practicing kata while you wait.
- Line up quickly and quietly when the sensei (instructor) tells you to. We line up according
to rank with white belts being at the far left of the line.
- Always do what black belts tell you to do in class.
- Regardless of rank, always show respect and be polite to all other members of the club.
Disagreements and arguments do not belong in the dojo.
- Jewelry must be removed when training as it can hurt you or others while doing partner
work.
- Fingernails & toenails must be kept short and clean.
- Make sure that gum and candy goes in the garbage before you start training.
- Spirit is important in karate. Try your best and answer Osu! (I understand/Ill try) after
you are given instruction or when asked if you understand.
- Students of karate are not allowed to fight. Unless you had no other choice, anyone caught
fighting will be suspended or asked to leave the dojo permanently.

Caring For Your Karate Gi

Karate Uniforms
When you first start karate, wear
loose-fitting clothing (sweats and a
t-shirt would be good). If you
decide to test for a belt rank or
decide to stick with karate, you will
need to purchase a white karate gi.
Belts and karate gis can be
purchased through us. There are
also several on-line sites that sell
karate uniforms.

Second-degree black belts have been timed

to punch at 0.15 seconds. This is faster than
the blink of an eye (0.40 seconds)!

Karate gis must be kept clean.

Always wash your gi in cold water
using regular detergent. Never use
bleach on your gi; use washing
soda instead.
If your gi fits you perfectly and you
dont want to shrink it, hang it to
dry rather than putting it in the
dryer. If your gi seems a little big,
then put it in the dryer on a regular
cycle. Be aware that most karate
gis are cotton and they can shrink
considerably!
The legs on a karate gi should sit
above the ankle and the sleeves
should end at about the middle of
the forearm.

Shotos Twenty Precepts

These are Master Gichin Funakoshis ideas about how karate can contribute to life in general.
1. Karate-do begins with courtesy and ends with courtesy.
2. There is no first attack in karate.
3. Karate is a great assistance to justice.
4. Know yourself first, and then others.
5. Spirit first; technique second.
6. Always be ready to release your mind.
7. Accidents always come out of negligence.
8. Do not think that karate training is only in the dojo.
9. It will take your entire life to learn karate; there is no limit.
10. Put your everyday living into karate and you will find the ideal state of existence.
11. Karate is like hot water: if you do not give it heat constantly, it will again become cold
water.
12. Do not think that you have to win; rather, think that you do not have to lose.
13. Victory depends on your ability to distinguish vulnerable points from invulnerable
ones.
14. The battle is according to how you maneuver, guarded and unguarded. Maneuver
according to your opponent.
15. Think of the hands and feet as swords.
16. When you leave home, think that you have numerous opponents waiting for you. It is
your behaviour that invites trouble from them.
17. Beginners must master low stance and posture; natural body position for advanced.
18. Practicing kata is one thing, and engaging in a real fight is another.
19. Do not forget: strength and weakness of power; stretching and contraction of body;
and slowness and speed of techniques. Apply these correctly.
20. Always think and devise ways to live these precepts every day.
Osu is actually a contraction of the Japanese phrase Onore wa shinobu which means I will persevere. We
use osu in karate when bowing to the sensei, to answer yes when asked a question, and in response to
instruction to indicate that you understand.

Self-Defence
Karate-ka are expected to exercise self-restraint and
self-control. They are expected to show good
judgment in avoiding placing themselves in
situations where force is required.
A karate-ka must:
* not provoke a fight;
* refuse provocation by others to fight;
* leave the scene of a verbal confrontation without
resorting to violence;
* use the minimum amount of force necessary for
self-defence;
* discontinue all force at the earliest opportunity.

Japanese Terminology
Blocks Uke
Rising block
- age-uke
Inside block
- uchi-uke
Outside block
- soto-uke
Downward block
- gedan barai
Knife-hand block
- shuto-uke
Punches Tsuki
Straight punch
- choku-zuki
Lunge punch
- oi-zuki
Reverse punch
- gyaku-zuki
Triple punch
- sanbon-zuki
Kicks
Front snap kick
Side snap kick
Side thrust kick
Roundhouse kick
Back thrust kick

- Keri
- mae geri
- yoko keage
- yoko kekomi
- mawashi geri
- ushiro geri

Stances Dachi
Natural position
- shizen tai
Front stance
- zenkutsu dachi
Back stance
- kokutsu dachi
Side stance
- kiba dachi
Kneel
Bow
Start
Stop
Ready

Commands
- seiza
- rei
- hajime
- yame
- yoi

Miscellaneous
Backfist strike
- uraken
Elbow strike
- empi uchi
Spear-hand strike
- nukite
Face level
- jodan
Chest level
- chudan
Stomach level
- gedan
State of calmness
- zanshin
Teacher
- sensei
Senior student
- sempai
Junior student
- kohai
School
- dojo
Yes
- hai
I understand/I will try - osu

Events
Students of the Lac du Bonnet
Karate Club have the opportunity to
participate in several events
throughout the course of the year. We
invite IKD instructors to conduct
seminars in Lac du Bonnet. In
addition, students have the opportunity
to travel to Winnipeg to attend
seminars by high ranking instructors
such as 9th dan Shihan Frank Woon-aTai. Our higher-ranked students have
also attended self-defence seminars by
8th dan Sensei Smaby and knifefighting workshops put on by Guro
Eddie Miller. Some of our students opt
to participate in Grand Beach training
in the summer. Furthermore, we
participate in a variety of extracurricular activities, including the
Polar Bear Dare and the Dirty Donkey
Mud Run, which students can join us
in! Finally, we have a thriving
tournament team that competes in IKD
and Karate Manitoba tournaments as
well as at open martial arts
tournaments. Our students consistently
win medals at these tournaments.

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