The questions we get asked
Everything people ask before their first session — what it costs, what to wear, whether they are too old, too unfit or too late to start. Short answers, no sales pitch.
I have never done a martial art. Can I still start?+
Yes, and most people who walk through the door are in exactly that position. Beginners are taught alongside the class but at their own pace, and nobody expects you to know anything on your first night. You will not be sparring, and you will not be singled out.
Am I too old to start?+
We have students who started in their forties, fifties and beyond, and black belts who have been training since the association opened in 1979. Karate is one of the few activities you can genuinely take up in middle age and still be doing twenty years later. Tell the instructor about any injuries and they will work around them.
Do I need to be fit first?+
No. Training is how you get fit — you do not need to get fit to train. Classes build up gradually and you go at the pace you can manage. If you need to stop and take a breather in your first few weeks, that is completely normal and nobody will comment.
What should I wear to my first class?+
A T-shirt, jogging bottoms or shorts, and bare feet. Bring a bottle of water. Do not buy a gi until you know you want to carry on — the instructor will sort one out with you when the time comes.
What does it cost?+
The first session is free. After that you pay for the sessions you attend, on the night. There is no joining fee, no monthly direct debit and no minimum term. Once you decide to continue you will need an annual licence, which is charged separately.
Do I have to sign a contract?+
No. WYSOK has never worked that way and we are not about to start. You train because you want to, and you stop whenever you want to. Nobody will chase you.
What actually happens in a class?+
The class lines up by grade and bows in. Then a warm-up, then basics — punches, blocks, kicks and stances, drilled and repeated. After that it depends on the night and the grade: kata, pad work, partner drills or weapons. The class lines up and bows out at the end.
Which art should I choose?+
Most people start with Wado Ryu Karate because that is what most of our clubs teach and it is the association's foundation. Ju Jitsu suits people more interested in grappling and self defence, Kickboxing in fitness and contact, and Okinawan weaponry is usually taken up alongside karate rather than instead of it. If you are unsure, go to whichever club is nearest and ask.
How do gradings and belts work?+
Kyu gradings run roughly every three to four months across the association. You grade when your instructor judges you are ready rather than on a fixed schedule, which is why the belt means something. Dan gradings are less frequent and considerably harder.
Is it dangerous?+
It is a contact sport, so bumps and bruises happen, much as they do in football. Contact is controlled, beginners are not thrown into sparring, and every instructor is first aid trained and fully insured. Injuries serious enough to stop someone training are rare.
Are the instructors qualified?+
Every WYSOK instructor holds an enhanced DBS certificate, current first aid training and full insurance through our NAKMAS affiliation. Most have been training for decades and were taught within the association themselves.
What is NAKMAS?+
The National Association of Karate and Martial Art Schools, or NAKMAS — a nationally recognised governing body. Our affiliation is what provides association-wide insurance and the standards our instructors are held to.
Can I watch a class before I join?+
Yes. Turn up a few minutes before the session starts and tell the instructor you have come to watch — space varies from hall to hall, so they will tell you where is best to stand.
Can I train at more than one club?+
Yes. Students move between clubs regularly, and courses, gradings and tournaments bring the whole association together several times a year. Check with the instructors at both clubs first so they know to expect you.
Do you teach women's self defence?+
Self defence is part of what is taught in our Ju Jitsu and karate classes rather than a separate course, and our classes are mixed. Several of our clubs are run by female instructors, and the association was founded by one.
How do I find my nearest club?+
Put your postcode into the club finder and it will list every club in order of how far it is from you, with the nights it runs and who teaches it. There are clubs across Wakefield, Leeds, Dewsbury and Barnsley.
Ask a real person
Every club is run by the instructor who teaches there, and every club page has a form that goes directly to them. If you would rather ask the association first, that is fine too — nobody is going to put you on a mailing list.