Welcome to The Dojo of Karate & Fitness student resource page. This is where we will post all of our new Policies and Procedures, Dojo Etiquettes, and Curriculum for student training at our school. Please refer to this page first, before approaching the Sensei Lozano at The Dojo of Karate, since we are trying to make things systematic in our school.

We will try our best to keep this page updated with the appropriate content to assist all current and new members of The Dojo of Karate.

Policies & Procedures

1. Membership tuition is due upon agreed date stated in the student membership agreement.  Late payments will incur a $25 late fee with no exceptions.
2. There are no early terminations of membership.  Student(s) must fulfill their membership as stated in the student membership agreement form.
3. Memberships that are pass due 5 business days, or not paid in its entirety will be sent to Green Flag Profit Recovery.
4. Belt test fees will be added to member’s account once the student(s) has passed their test.
5. Sensei Lozano will determine whether a student passes or fails a belt exam.
6. No refunds on equipment, products, or accessories sold at The Dojo of Karate.
7. All guests, friends, and/or family members (non-students) must observe classes quietly on the benches, or they will be asked to leave The Dojo.
8. No food or drinks, of any kind, other then water allowed in The Dojo. 
9. Please keep all cell phones on silent and handle personal calls outside of The Dojo.
10. Only students are permitted on the training mats.
11. No shoes allowed on the training floor.
12. If a member of The Dojo of Karate becomes a distraction to the school the Chief Instructor has the right to ask them to leave the premises, and additional action may be taken if necessary.
13. No smoking or drinking of alcoholic beverages in or around The Dojo premises.
14. If you need to purchase training equipment or have questions please come in before or after business hours or setup an appointment with Sensei Lozano.

The Dojo Etiquettes

1. All jewelry must be removed before class.
2. Karate uniforms and workout clothing must be neat, clean and free of body odor at all times.
3. No gum chewing during any class.
4. Always demonstrate two formal “bows” upon entering and/or exiting The Dojo floor.
5. Students should arrive 5-10 minutes prior to their class.  Late students can be asked to watch classes from the benches and/or receive no class credit.
6. Students must check themselves in prior to every class to receive credit for attendance.
7. Students must sit down quietly on the edge of the training floor prior to classes.
8. Students must take off their shoes upon entering The Dojo and place them at the designated shoe rack
9. No shoes allowed on The Dojo floor.
10. Students may not wear their Karate belt outside of The Dojo.
11. Respect other people’s property and belongings.
12. Only students are allowed on the training mats.
13. No food and/or drinks allowed in The Dojo, other then water.
14. Only use training equipment under the Sensei’s supervision.
15. Students are not allowed to teach Karate to other people outside of The Dojo. 
16. Always be courteous to fellow students and others at or away from the school.
17. Students must have permission from the Sensei to compete in any tournament.  An official school uniform must be worn during these events.
18. Students can only wear under shirts that match their white Karate uniform.
19. Students who forget their uniform and/or belt must still attend class, and perform 30 push-ups.
20. Students cannot wear their previous belt rank in class, only the current belt rank.
21. Students that demonstrate disrespect to teachers, parents, or in The Dojo are subject to having their Karate belt taking away for an undisclosed duration of time.

School Closures

Periodically The Dojo of Karate needs to close the school due to training, Holidays, or personal vacations. Students are encouraged to make up classes if a closure is coming up, in order to keep them on track with their training. Nearly every program offers lessons between 3 and 5 days per week, so please confirm with Sensei Lozano what days your child can attend to make up classes.

In addition, we do not operate under Adams 12 School Distract closures.The majority of our students live less then 3 miles away, making it a bit convenient for students to attend classes. However, we may close due to inclimate weather, and that information will be posted on our Blog.

Below are a list of Holidays that The Dojo of Karate will observe.

• Martin Luther King Day
• Presidents Day
• Memorial Day
• Spring Break (3-5 days closed)
• 4th of July (1 Week)
• Labor Day
• Thanksgiving (Wednesday, Thursday & Friday)
• Christmas Eve - TBA
• Christmas Day - TBA
• New Years Eve - TBA
• New Years Day - TBA

Counting In Japanese

All classes consist of Japanese terminology, including counting. Below is a helpful guide on how to count in Japanese. Eventually all students will be required to understand an entire class session in Japanese.

1.  Ichi ———————————- E Chee

2.  Ni ———————————– Knee

3.  San ———————————- Saan

4.  Shi ———————————- She

5.  Go ———————————- Go

6.  Roku ——————————– Row Coo

7.  Shichi ——————————- See Chee

8.  Hachi ——————————-  Ha Chee

9.  Ku ———————————- Koo

10.  Jyu ——————————– Jew

Student Creeds

As a White Belt student you will only need to memorize #1.  Students who are Gold Belts and above will be required to memorize Student Creeds 1 through 3.

1. I will develop myself in a positive manner and avoid anything that would reduce my mental growth or my physical health.
2. I will develop self-discipline in order to bring out the best in myself and others.
3. I will use what I learn in class constructively and defensively; to help myself and my fellow man, and never to be abusive or offensive.

Black Belt Principals

These Black Belt Principals are the foundation of our school.  Students will be required to memorize all of these principals throughout their training at The Dojo of Karate, and will be given ‘mini’ homework assignments to learn about the different Black Belt Principals.

• Courtesy
• Honesty
• Integrity
• Perseverance
• Self Control
• Humility
• Indomitable Spirit
• Loyalty
• Honor
• Sportsmanship
• Punctuality
• Dependability
• Obey Your Parents
• Courage
• Self Discipline

Required Training Equipment

White Belt - Hand and Feet Pads - included in Student Enrollment Fee.

Gold Belt - Not applicable.

Orange Belt - Head gear ($34.99), chest protector ($39.99), shin pads ($24.99), and, mouth piece w/case ($9.99). Optional equipment - groin protector for males can be purchased at any sporting goods store. NOTE: In order to ensure students get the appropriate equipment, The Dojo requires students to purchase all mandatory equipment at the school.

Currently there is no additional equipment needed at the higher levels, unless a student is apart of Black Belt Club.

Sparring Rules

Sparring is ONLY permitted under the supervision of a Black Belt instructor.

Protective equipment is required, which includes (but not limited) hand pads, feet pads, shin pads, chest pretector, head gear, groin cup (for males) and mouthpiece.  Equipment must be soft foam dipped type and in good condition.  No heavy taping of equipment is allowed.  Fingers must not extend beyond the end of the glove when the hand is held open.  Toes must not extedn beyond the end of the boot when fully extended.  All equipment is subject to school approval, and can be purchased at The Dojo Pro Shop.

Absolutely no contact is permitted to illegal target areas: back of neck throat, sides of neck, spine, knees, legs, or groin.

Light touch contact may be made to all legal target areas: chest, stomach, ribs, kidneys, and the entire helmet area.  Light touch contact means there is no penetration or visible movement of the opponent as a result of the technique.

Absolutely no blind spinning techniques are permitted while sparring, you must look at your target.  In addition, no running jump kicks, sweeping of the legs, or hitting a downed opponent.

Violations of these rules will result in loss of sparring privileges.

Belt Examinations

Belt exams are held on the last Friday of each month unless stated otherwise.

All students who are eligible to test will receive an "Intent To Promote Form" that will need to be signed by the child's parent(s) and academic teacher(s) (adults not applicable) and turned in prior to the belt exam.  

There is also a $10 Belt Test Exam fee applied to all students who pass their belt exam, effective January 1st, 2011. This fee will cover the cost of the belt and certificate.

Students will be notified when they are scheduled to test for their next belt rank.

Stripe Test Week

Stripe test week is held the last week of every month, unless stated otherwise. 

The purpose of stripe test week is for Sensei Lozano to evaluate students that are ready to test for their next belt rank, and see how far along a student is with their current curriculum.

This is also a great time for students to review their basics and fundamentals.

Students must attend 2 classes during Stripe Test Week in order to be eligable to earn a stripe. Simply showing up does not guarantee a stripe.

Belt Promotions & Requirements 

In order to test for the next belt rank, students must have a minimum amount of stripes and training hours as mentioned below:

Level One:

• White Belt - 3 stripes, minimum of 24 classes
• Gold Belt - 3 stripes, minimum of 24 classes
• Orange Belt - 3 stripes, minimum of 24 classes
• Blue Belt - 3 stripes, minimum of 24 classes
• Purple Belt - 3 stripes, minimum 24 classes

On average it should take a student approximately 1.5 years or less to accomplish this goal.

Level Two:

• 2nd Green Belt - 4 to 6 stripes, minimum of 32 to 48 classes
• 1st Green Belt - 4 to 6 stripes, minimum of 32 to 48 classes

2nd Green Belt and 1st Green Belt can take approximately 1 year or less to accomplish. Student(s) must display the necessary knowledge, growth, and skills developed through consistent training.

Level Three:

• 3rd Brown Belt - 5 to 6 stripes, 40 to 48 classes
• 2nd Brown Belt - 5 to 6 stripes, 40 to 48 classes
• 1st Brown Belt - 5 to 6 stripes, 40 to 48 classes

Ranks 3rd Brown Belt to 1st Brown Belt are the most challenging ranks due to the duration spent at these levels and the amount of time necessary to dedicate to one's training in Karate.

The time spent in Level Three is simply an approximate amount of training hours, therefore a student could spend approximately 1.5 years or MORE at this level.

NOTE: Some students can be held back due to skills, age, memorization of curriculum, and/or a combination of all.

• 1st Dan Black Belt - minimum 3.5 to 5 years of continous training, with over 350 hours of classroom training, and a minimum age of 11 years old.

Students that do not have the required amount of stripes prior to testing will not be eligible to test, and will have to wait until the following month.

Black Belt Club

If you are looking to taking your training to the next level at The Dojo of Karate, and you have a desire in achieving a Black Belt from an elite school in the near future, then Black Belt Club is for you. 

How To Join:

Anyone can become a member of Black Belt Club, however, the demands and expectations are much higher in your martial arts training.

The first step to getting the ball rolling in becoming a member of Black Belt Club is to write a letter to Sensei Lozano on "why you would like to become a member of Black Belt Club."

Once Sensei Lozano has read the student's letter, then a conference will be setup with Sensei Lozano and the students' family to discuss the requirements in becoming a member of Black Belt Club.

The final step is to go home and review the expectations and requirements of Black Belt Club with the family and then make a decision from there.

Benefits of BBC:

Here are some of the benefits of being apart of Black Belt Club - Custom embroidered uniform, special classes for Black Belt Club members, weapons curriculum, additional training in Karate to perfect techniques, discounts on seminars and special events, and much more.

Master Club

Master Club are for students that have displayed great enthusiasm and dedication in their martial arts training while carrying themselves in a positive manner.  This includes displaying a great attitude and attending class regularly.  Since The Dojo of Karate is a Black Belt school, we encourage all students to look beyond Black Belt, and view martial arts as A Way Of Life.  Eligible students will be invited into Master Club around Brown belt, since they are extremely close to obtaining their ultimate goal of becoming a Black Belt.

Birthday Parties

Are you having a birthday coming up soon?  Great!  We want to help host your party.  The Dojo will allow you to invite up to 20 friends to attend your child’s birthday.  Birthday parties can be held on Saturday or Sunday afternoons and last for 2 hours.

This is what The Dojo will do:.

1. Rent the school for 2 hours.
2. Provide the pizza and drinks.
3. Play some fun games and learn a little karate.
4. Cut your cake with a Samurai Sword.
5. And, most importantly… clean up the mes

The cost is $199 (that' s a $50 discount from the public) for the birthday party and all you have to do is provide the cake and mail out the invitations.

Referral Program

So you’ve referred someone to The Dojo of Karate…

First, thanks for the referral, as we always appreciate it!

Students in our Junior Program that refer a friend will get a prize from our Prize Bucket. So, if they bring in a friend to try out Karate classes at The Dojo of Karate, your student will earn a prize.

Now, if your child's friend enrolls in one of our Karate programs, then they will win a $25 Gift Card to any store they want to go (minus Visa and Amex Gift Cards).

Every time a student refers a new person to The Dojo of Karate, they can continue to earn prizes and win Gift Cards.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often should we attend classes?

Typically we like to see students come to class about 2-3 days per week.  This gives a solid level of motivation for the student and parent.  Anything less, and students tend to loose interest or their skills decline.  Anything more, and students may get burned out quickly.

How Often Are You Open?

The Dojo of Karate operates on a 48 Week Schedule. There are 52 Weeks in a year. Therefore, we have 4 weeks of "wiggle room" to close the school for whatever reason, such as Holidays, training sessions, vacations, etc.

If your child attended 2 classes per week for 48 weeks, they would have nearly 100 classes per year, which is about the average. If they come 3 days per week they would be above the average, allowing them to miss a class here and there.

What do we do when we go on vacation?

Please let Sensei or Mrs. Voorhees know that you will be out of town so we can make a note about it. And, try to attend a few extra classes before and/or after your vacation so your training stays on track.

My child participates in other sports throughout the year.  What do we do when the season starts?

These are all great activities that are fun to participate in, however your martial arts training is not an activity, rather a way to instill life skills.  Martial arts will teach you important life skills like goal setting, discipline, concentration, self-confidence, and self-defense.  Martial arts is also a fantastic physical method of cross training.  In addition, with The Dojo’s convenient schedule and the ability for one to choose the days they want to attend class, there is no reason why Karate cannot be a part of your life, while you play in other activities.

What if my child complains about coming to class or starts losing motivation?

This is a common theme with children and any activity that requires dedication, however we all know the importance of learning how to follow through and commit to things we start.  To deal with this behavior, understand that your child may be delighted with the lessons and still demonstrates no motivation to attend class.  It is critical to talk to your child at a later time and discuss what their issues are and possibly involve Sensei to help resolve any problems the child may be experiencing.  Keep in mind, we teach children lessons through our actions, so if we teach children to quit, we have hindered  their growth.

Wado Kai Katas

• Pinan Nidan
• Pinan Shodan
• Pinan Sandan
• Pinan Yondan
• Pinan Godan
• Kushanku - Brown Belt Kata
• Naihanchi - Brown Belt Kata
• Chinto - Black Belt Kata
• Seishan - Black Belt Kata

Wado Katas & Tech. - Videos

• Pinan Nindan
• Pinan Shodan
• Pinan Sandan
• Pinan Yondan
• Pinan Godan
• Kushanku
• Naihanchi
• Chinto
• Seishan

Belt Test Curriculum

• Gold Belt Curriculum
• Orange Belt Curriculum
• Blue Belt Curriculum
• Purple Belt Curriculum
• 2nd Green Belt Curriculum
• 1st Green Belt Curriculum
• 3rd Brown Belt Curriculum
• 2nd Brown Belt Curriculum
• 1st Brown Belt Curriculum
• Shodan Curriculum