For those students with no previous martial arts experience, there is a single opportunity to join each year - the beginning of the Fall semester. Each Fall we offer a beginner's class which teaches the basics of the Chidokwan system from the ground-up. Typically, students who participate in this course earn their Yellow Belt at the end of the semester.

If you have previous martial arts experience in a similar system, you may be able to join anytime during the year. Please contact Prof. Forrester so that your skill level can be appropriately evaluated.

There is no membership fee to join the Chidokwan Karate Club.

The main requirement for membership in the Karate Club is that you attend training sessions on a regular basis. The instruction is very structured, and if you are frequently absent from class you may be a disruption because you will not know the technqiues and forms we are currently working on.

All members are required to complete the College's Waiver and Release Form each year.

While our club has as much equipment as most commercial schools, we do have some equipment requirements as outlined below.

  Equipment Requirements
  Beginner: White traditional uniform
Pair of arnis sticks
  Intermediate: Sparring gloves
Sparring boots
Mouthguard
Cup-and-supporter (males only)
Shin guards (highly recommended)
  Advanced: Sparring helmet

Our club has a wholesale account with Asian World of Martial Arts, and we can purchase most of these items at approximately 40% off of the retail price.

Dojo Protocol is the formal code of conduct for the karate practitioner. While the Chidokwan Karate Club is not as formal as most traditional karate dojos, we do have protocols that help to promote a safe, respectful, and manageable training environment.

Uniforms:
The correct uniform for students ranked below Black Belt is an all white karate gi (uniform) and an appropriate rank obi (belt). Exceptions may be made at the discretion of the instructors.
A properly tied belt must be worn at all times during class. Students who forget their belt may participate in class with no belt, but they lose all privileges of their rank for that class period.
Female members should wear a blank white tee shirt under their uniform.
Belts and karate-gi jackets are not to be worn in public except for at officially sanctioned events.
Always wear a clean uniform.

Hygiene and Safety:
Pay careful attention to personal hygiene. Keep fingernails and toenails trimmed. Feet may need to be washed before class and should always be washed after class. Long hair must be tied back.
No jewelry of any kind shall be worn. It is apt to cause injury.
There shall be no eating, drinking, or gum chewing in class. Do not use any drugs or alcohol before class. This is dangerous to oneself and to other students.
There will be no horseplay or profanity allowed in the dojo any time.
When participating in sparring, all students must wear a mouth guard and foam dipped protective hand and foot gear. Every male student must wear an athletic supporter with a plastic protector. Students without the proper gear will not be permitted to spar.
Bring to the attention of the instructor any illness or injury that occurs during the class, or that occurred outside of class and may affect your performance in class.
Students will notify an instructor of any medications they may be taking, that may impair their physical or mental capabilities.
Students will not practice any contact techniques or sparring in the dojo before or after class unless an instructor is present and has given permission.
It is essential to warm up and stretch before practicing any karate techniques to avoid injuries.

Conduct and Etiquette:
All karate participants will bow upon entering and leaving the dojo floor. Partner training in any exercise begins and ends with a bow to each other.
All members of the dojo will remove their shoes before entering the dojo floor or practice area. Shoes may be worn only for medical reasons and with the permission of the instructor.
When arriving late for class, enter the dojo quietly and wait outside the practice area to be bowed in by an instructor. You must thoroughly warm up before joining class activities. Make every attempt to minimize disruptions to the class.
Any student wishing to depart from the class routine, or leave the dojo floor for any reason during class time, must ask permission from the instructor.
All karate participants will use the locker rooms for changing from street clothes to dojo attire and back.
No one under the rank of Black Belt will instruct a student, or accept a position teaching or demonstrating karate or self-defense outside the dojo, without the permission of an instructor.
Make sure to take care of all financial obligations to the Club and/or your instructor(s) in a timely manner. Failure to clear financial debts reflects poorly on your character.
No leaning on dojo walls. Do not use your hands when rising from the floor.
While most traditional martial arts schools require that all instructors or Black Belts be addressed as Sensei (teacher), we are not this formal. Please feel free to address the instructors by their first name.
Visitors are welcome to watch practice sessions, but they must remain quiet and respectful.
Respect is paramount in everyone’s behavior, for all students and instructors.