Quick Summary: Where, When, How Much
• Beginners start with the calendar month. Visitors & observers welcome.
• 1800 Dwight Way, Berkeley, CA (in Berkeley City Ballet)
• Schedule:
September through December:
Monday & Wednesday 7:00 – 8:30 PM; Thursday 7:30 - 9:00 PM
January through August:
Monday, Wednesday, Friday 7:00 – 8:30 PM
• Fees:
Adults: $130/month ($30 visitor's fee)
Minors 12–17: $100/month ($20 visitor's fee)
You must be 12 or older to join.
See below for details:
How to Start
Facilities
Uniforms
How We Train
Rank Examinations
Glossary
Dojo Kun
Etiquette
Fees
Map
Class Schedule
Why No Little Kids' Classes?
A Note on Liability
• Beginners start with the calendar month. Visitors & observers welcome.
• 1800 Dwight Way, Berkeley, CA (in Berkeley City Ballet)
• Schedule:
September through December:
Monday & Wednesday 7:00 – 8:30 PM; Thursday 7:30 - 9:00 PM
January through August:
Monday, Wednesday, Friday 7:00 – 8:30 PM
• Fees:
Adults: $130/month ($30 visitor's fee)
Minors 12–17: $100/month ($20 visitor's fee)
You must be 12 or older to join.
See below for details:
How to Start
Facilities
Uniforms
How We Train
Rank Examinations
Glossary
Dojo Kun
Etiquette
Fees
Map
Class Schedule
Why No Little Kids' Classes?
A Note on Liability
Berkeley City Ballet, 1800 Dwight Way. Entrance is through the gate on the left, across the small parking lot.
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The entrance gate. The building on the right is our dojo.
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How to Start
Call, text, or e-mail the chief instructor, Stiles Sensei, at 917-584-3829 or [email protected]. Or you can show up before class, dressed to train. Beginners start with the calendar month, after which you join regular training. When we have beginners, we all train together in the first part of class, with experienced students continuing after an hour. You can try it out by paying the $30 visitor's fee. If you decide to join, we apply it to your first month's dues of $130. Dues are payable on the first of the month.
Facilities
Since we sublet our space, the instructor generally arrives 15 minutes before class. We have changing facilities but no showers. We set up and clean the floor before each class, which begins and ends with a formal bow. Be on time, and be respectful of any ballet students you encounter. We practice in bare feet. Please fully cover any cuts, infections, or warts with tape.
Uniforms
Beginners may start in regular exercise clothing. After the first month, a traditional all-white Japanese karate-do gi (uniform) is required. These can be purchased from the instructor, or acquired independently. Beginner's uniforms are not expensive. For all ranks above beginner, a traditional all-white Japanese karate-do gi is required in all classes.
If you have a rank in Shotokan karate from an organization not affiliated with the JKA, you may wear your belt until you test for a JKA rank.
How we train
Karate-do begins and ends with respect. You'll learn Japanese martial-arts etiquette—which includes arriving on time. Traditional karate practice has three elements. First, kihon, or basic techniques, performed by oneself, often in combinations. Second, kata, formal exercises performed solo. Third, kumite, sparring with a partner. Everything is built on the basics.
Training is technically rigorous and intensive. Shotokan karate is based on deep stances, use of the hips and core, and a straight posture. It involves punching, striking, kicking, blocking, and other techniques, all practiced with precision and power. Training in a traditional martial art is like learning a new language for fluency. Kihon is the vocabulary; kata is the classic literature; kumite is conversation—learned first in set-piece exchanges, gradually proceeding to a free and spontaneous sparring, through drills that foster fighting skills.
Rank Examinations
Black belt ranks are called dan. The higher the number, the higher the rank. Ranks below black belt are called kyu. Like negative numbers, the lower the number, the higher the rank. For adults, we usually start testing for 8 kyu. In addition, you may receive a B ranking. This means you pass, but you need extra improvement to pass for the next rank.
White belt: Beginner, 10, 9 kyu
Yellow: 8 kyu
Orange: 7 kyu
Green: 6 kyu (This marks intermediate level.)
Purple: 5 & 4 kyu
Brown: 3, 2, and 1 kyu (This marks advanced pre-black belt level.)
Kyu examinations (for ranks below black belt) will be held quarterly. The kyu testing fee is $15. This includes an annual membership in JKA Shotokan Karate-Do, our U.S. affiliate organization within the JKA.
Kyu tests can be taken every three months, with regular training. Black belt ranks, generally speaking, require at minimum training for the number of years as the number of one's dan before the next test can be taken. One must train for at least a year as shodan (1 dan) before testing for nidan (2 dan), two years more for sandan (3 dan), and so on.
Dan (black-belt rank) examinations are held twice yearly with the JKA SKDI in New York and the summer gasshuku, usually in a Northeastern state. We may also make arrangements to test with the other JKA affiliate organizations in the United States. Notice will be posted if special examinations are scheduled for San Francisco or the Bay Area.
Glossary
This Canadian JKA club has an excellent karate glossary, and a good site overall for more information.
Dojo Kun
The master who brought karate from Okinawa to the home islands of Japan and made it a part of Japanese budo, Funakoshi Gichin, enshrined five principles of karate-do. We repeat these at the end of each class, so we remember that the ultimate goal of training is not to be a fighter, but to develop one's character. This is the meaning of "do," or way. The first dojo kun is the mission statement; the next two are the internal qualities we seek to develop; the last two are the external qualities.
Seek perfection of character.
Be faithful.
Endeavor.
Respect others.
Refrain from violent behavior.
Etiquette
Respect is the foundation of traditional karate-do. We bow when entering and leaving the dojo, to show respect for where we practice. We bow to each other, and to the sensei, or teacher, who bows back. You address the instructor by his or her name, followed by "sensei," as in "Stiles Sensei." We kneel together for a formal bow at the beginning and end of class, including a short meditation.
Fees
Member adult: $130 per month
Members 12–17 years old: $100 per month
Visitors: $30 per class
Visitors 12–17 years old: $25 per class
You must be at least 12 to join.
All fees must be paid with cash, check, or Venmo. No credit cards. Checks must be made out to T.J. Stiles.
Call, text, or e-mail the chief instructor, Stiles Sensei, at 917-584-3829 or [email protected]. Or you can show up before class, dressed to train. Beginners start with the calendar month, after which you join regular training. When we have beginners, we all train together in the first part of class, with experienced students continuing after an hour. You can try it out by paying the $30 visitor's fee. If you decide to join, we apply it to your first month's dues of $130. Dues are payable on the first of the month.
Facilities
Since we sublet our space, the instructor generally arrives 15 minutes before class. We have changing facilities but no showers. We set up and clean the floor before each class, which begins and ends with a formal bow. Be on time, and be respectful of any ballet students you encounter. We practice in bare feet. Please fully cover any cuts, infections, or warts with tape.
Uniforms
Beginners may start in regular exercise clothing. After the first month, a traditional all-white Japanese karate-do gi (uniform) is required. These can be purchased from the instructor, or acquired independently. Beginner's uniforms are not expensive. For all ranks above beginner, a traditional all-white Japanese karate-do gi is required in all classes.
If you have a rank in Shotokan karate from an organization not affiliated with the JKA, you may wear your belt until you test for a JKA rank.
How we train
Karate-do begins and ends with respect. You'll learn Japanese martial-arts etiquette—which includes arriving on time. Traditional karate practice has three elements. First, kihon, or basic techniques, performed by oneself, often in combinations. Second, kata, formal exercises performed solo. Third, kumite, sparring with a partner. Everything is built on the basics.
Training is technically rigorous and intensive. Shotokan karate is based on deep stances, use of the hips and core, and a straight posture. It involves punching, striking, kicking, blocking, and other techniques, all practiced with precision and power. Training in a traditional martial art is like learning a new language for fluency. Kihon is the vocabulary; kata is the classic literature; kumite is conversation—learned first in set-piece exchanges, gradually proceeding to a free and spontaneous sparring, through drills that foster fighting skills.
Rank Examinations
Black belt ranks are called dan. The higher the number, the higher the rank. Ranks below black belt are called kyu. Like negative numbers, the lower the number, the higher the rank. For adults, we usually start testing for 8 kyu. In addition, you may receive a B ranking. This means you pass, but you need extra improvement to pass for the next rank.
White belt: Beginner, 10, 9 kyu
Yellow: 8 kyu
Orange: 7 kyu
Green: 6 kyu (This marks intermediate level.)
Purple: 5 & 4 kyu
Brown: 3, 2, and 1 kyu (This marks advanced pre-black belt level.)
Kyu examinations (for ranks below black belt) will be held quarterly. The kyu testing fee is $15. This includes an annual membership in JKA Shotokan Karate-Do, our U.S. affiliate organization within the JKA.
Kyu tests can be taken every three months, with regular training. Black belt ranks, generally speaking, require at minimum training for the number of years as the number of one's dan before the next test can be taken. One must train for at least a year as shodan (1 dan) before testing for nidan (2 dan), two years more for sandan (3 dan), and so on.
Dan (black-belt rank) examinations are held twice yearly with the JKA SKDI in New York and the summer gasshuku, usually in a Northeastern state. We may also make arrangements to test with the other JKA affiliate organizations in the United States. Notice will be posted if special examinations are scheduled for San Francisco or the Bay Area.
Glossary
This Canadian JKA club has an excellent karate glossary, and a good site overall for more information.
Dojo Kun
The master who brought karate from Okinawa to the home islands of Japan and made it a part of Japanese budo, Funakoshi Gichin, enshrined five principles of karate-do. We repeat these at the end of each class, so we remember that the ultimate goal of training is not to be a fighter, but to develop one's character. This is the meaning of "do," or way. The first dojo kun is the mission statement; the next two are the internal qualities we seek to develop; the last two are the external qualities.
Seek perfection of character.
Be faithful.
Endeavor.
Respect others.
Refrain from violent behavior.
Etiquette
Respect is the foundation of traditional karate-do. We bow when entering and leaving the dojo, to show respect for where we practice. We bow to each other, and to the sensei, or teacher, who bows back. You address the instructor by his or her name, followed by "sensei," as in "Stiles Sensei." We kneel together for a formal bow at the beginning and end of class, including a short meditation.
Fees
Member adult: $130 per month
Members 12–17 years old: $100 per month
Visitors: $30 per class
Visitors 12–17 years old: $25 per class
You must be at least 12 to join.
All fees must be paid with cash, check, or Venmo. No credit cards. Checks must be made out to T.J. Stiles.
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Map
Berkeley City Ballet
1800 Dwight Way Berkeley, CA 94703 Entrance in the Back, off the small parking lot We're a seventeen-minute walk from the Downtown Berkeley BART station, with abundant free street parking. (The small parking lot is not available for use.) There's a gate off the parking lot that leads to the entrance in the rear. The door is locked; just knock if no one sees you.
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Class Schedule
January through August:
Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, 7:00 to 8:30 PM September through December: Friday classes are replaced by Thursday classes, 7:30 to 9:00 PM. The instructor arrives about fifteen minutes before class times. Knock to enter. Be patient. Classes are open to all ranks. Beginners should contact the instructor before showing up. Please arrive with time to change and start class on time. We will clean the floor before class. Be respectful of the dancers, who complete their classes before our sessions. Every class is conducted in traditional fashion, beginning and ending with a formal bow. At the end of each class we repeat the five Dojo Kun, or moral precepts for training. Students must be 12 years of age or older, unless at least one parent takes the class with the child, and then only with permission of the instructor. DISEASE PRECAUTIONS: Masks are not required, but you are welcome to use them. One can be provided to you for $3. The dojo has two HEPA filters which will be running during class, and a door will be opened when it is warm enough. We practice in bare feet. Any cuts or warts must be sealed by tape or other coverings. |
Our dojo. Sprung floors, smooth Marley flooring, mirrors along the left-hand wall. We bow when entering or leaving this space.
Why no little kids' classes?
We have adopted twelve as the minimum age for enrollment because traditional karate-do requires a basic level of maturity, self-control, and discipline that younger children often lack. Karate develops speed and power. It should not be watered down for young kids who either can't develop those qualities, or can't control them. It also requires consistent physical self-awareness. Many parents enroll their kids when they're at an age when they don't consistently know left from right. This turns classes into either random karate-based activity, or into a constant scramble to remind children which hand is the left one. Of course there are exceptions, but as a rule, that's unfair to more mature students. Since we're not a business but a club, we sublet space at a host facility with a limited number of hours available. We believe those hours should go to students who can train at an intense, precise, and safe level. As classical Shotokan should be practiced.
We have adopted twelve as the minimum age for enrollment because traditional karate-do requires a basic level of maturity, self-control, and discipline that younger children often lack. Karate develops speed and power. It should not be watered down for young kids who either can't develop those qualities, or can't control them. It also requires consistent physical self-awareness. Many parents enroll their kids when they're at an age when they don't consistently know left from right. This turns classes into either random karate-based activity, or into a constant scramble to remind children which hand is the left one. Of course there are exceptions, but as a rule, that's unfair to more mature students. Since we're not a business but a club, we sublet space at a host facility with a limited number of hours available. We believe those hours should go to students who can train at an intense, precise, and safe level. As classical Shotokan should be practiced.
A Note on Liability
Properly practiced, traditional karate is quite safe. However, every student will have to sign a liability release. Respectful and safe behavior is required at all times. The instructor reserves the right to expel any student for dangerous or disrespectful behavior at any time.
Properly practiced, traditional karate is quite safe. However, every student will have to sign a liability release. Respectful and safe behavior is required at all times. The instructor reserves the right to expel any student for dangerous or disrespectful behavior at any time.