It's official....

The kids syllabus has arrived and is assessable as of December 2005...

Along with the syllabus has come kids only classes...

These kids only classes are fucused for children 12 years and under but parents or anyone else is still free to train in these classes...

So if you turn up to a class that says 'kids only' expect only to be taught a small amount of the syllabus and expect a lot of focus on 'karate based activities'

These karate based activities should include... partner work, physical fitness, kata, kumite, team work activities and "games"

If line drills involved strikes and stances (instructors are asked to focus on at least 2 sections of karate here) then the activities need to involve blocks and kicks... (etc etc)

NOW...... with that mixed classes (such as my saturday class) will remain as such and the syllabus and format of the class will remian the same with the focus being on the older students. Kids can still train but they will be expected to train as an adult (same as reverse if adults train in kids classes)...

SO...... if you don't want to spend a karate class running around, playing games, or learning first kata i'd suggest avoiding the "kids classes" and attending the "advanced classes" that have begun opening up here in perth (with Warnbro on monday nights 7 - 830 with Sean and Corrine being the first of these to open)...

So - whats this mean...
There separate grading criteria for under 12's?
There would have to be if they dont do the full class.
Does this mean they are a 'junior 8th kyu'?

There are seperate gradings (in most regions) one that goes for an hour that covers 12 years and under for those grading to yellow belt through to blue belt......

and another that covers over 12's grading from yellow belt up and also kids red belt and above (as by this level the grading criteria is the same for adults and children)...

In region 28 we are still trialling other methods of grading with the trial being on a single 2 hour grading due to the low numbers of students grading lately... As to how this will be done we are not 100% sure of but will probably be a similar thing of having about 4 'gradings' occuring at the same time in different areas of the room run by different instructors with the RM overseeing the whole thing...

I'll let everyone know how that goes when the first grading comes up (that would be second sunday of december)...


Not junior 8th kyu no......

by the time a student reaches red belt the grading criteria is the same as it is for an adult so eventually they 'catch up'

any more queries jump on in and ask.... (i'll at least try to answer the questions)

I think this is a huge step in the right direction for GKR.

rocket

I'll second that, maybe more kids will stick around for more than two weeks.

At my son's class on Saturday, Sensei advised that adults will no longer be able to train in the 'kid's class'.

Could this be a 'region' thing ?

Are the RMs opening more dojo to allow for these kids classes - or simply halving the number of existing classes? I think the cut-off point for opening a new dojo is if one has more then 16 regular students - then he/she can open a new dojo.
But i'm thinking that not all dojo would have a kids class.... only the ones that could substanciate it - if thats the right word. But then it's up to the door-knockers to go out and fill these new classes.

Adults no being allowed to train in the kids class is hogwash......

You'd be a right idiot to turn an adult away from training if they wished to train there.....

what about adults who wish to train with their kids? or adults that cant make later classes and find a kids class is better than no class....

it is a "kids only" class but that doesnt mean adults CANT train there... they just have to do what the kids have to do...