FAQ


  1. WHAT DO I NEED TO BRING TO MY FREE TRIAL MARTIAL ARTS KARATE CLASSES IN MISSISSAUGA? -  For the free trial karate class, wear loose comfortable clothing, have your hair tied up so that your hair is out of your face, remove any watches, jewelry (rings, bracelets, necklaces) and any dangling earings for your safety. Be ready to enter the training area bare foot. Each Karate Class is one hour long and consists of a 10 minute workout and stretching, followed by 10 minutes of basic (blocks, punches, kicks and strikes), and a 40 minute instructive lesson. Make sure to bring a water bottle.
  2. WILL KARATE HELP ME GET INTO SHAPE - Karate will absolutely get you fit and into shape. Attending two Martial Arts Karate classes per week and a healthy diet is essential in you succeeding in your goals. Karate training requires a twice a week commitment to succeed. You will achieve strength, muscle tone, improved reflexes, flexibility, balance, cardiovascular health and conditioning, and great posture.
  3. WILL MARTIAL ARTS KARATE TRAINING MAKE MY CHILD A BULLY OR MAKE THEM WORSE IF THEY HAVE BULLYING TENDENCIES? - Bullying often begins with a child that has low self-esteem. By improving the child's confidence, the cycle of bullying is usually broken. Karate teaches respect, compassion and gratitude which will further break the bullying tendencies. We find that our students become more confident to stand up to bullies and have more kindness and humility to others through their martial arts karate lessons.
  4. I DON'T HAVE ANY COORDINATION, CAN I STILL TRAIN IN MARTIAL ARTS KARATE? - Yes, Karate students of all ages will notice after several classes that their coordination and overall health and shape will begin to improve. Most Martial Arts Karate students felt this way when they started their journey in Karate. Just be patient, yet consistant, and you will notice drastic improvements over time.
  5. WHAT IF MY CHILD IS NOT INTERESTED IN KARATE AFTER A FEW WEEKS OR MONTHS? - In todays world, with high stimulating electronic gadgets, children often lose interest quickly and sometimes, rather than face challenges they will want to quit to avoid them. Children are always learning how to express themselves and will relay their feelings by saying they don't like something and want to quit or don't want to do it any more. The best way to help a child learn and grow is to identify the reasons and address them. By identifying the obstacle we can overcome it. Removing the child from the situation only removes the potential to overcome the obstacle. By allowing the child to quit, they learns to ignore challenges rather than face them head on and work through them. This can be detrimental later life in their life.
  6. DO I NEED TO BE FIT AND IN SHAPE TO TRAIN? - No you do not need to be fit and in shape to train in Phoenix Martial Arts Karate in Mississauga. We have people that start at varying fitness levels all the time. After several classes you will notice that you are becoming stronger, more flexible and feeling better and in improved shape. Martial Arts Karate is known to improve mobility, flexibility, balance, increase muscle mass, increase metabolism, increase circulation, lower blood pressure, and improving your heart rate. You will benefit from improved mental memory and increased perserverance and self-discipline, self-control, self-confidence, self-esteem and self defense. We not only trian the physical being, but we train the mind, body and spirit.
  7. DO YOU OFFER AN AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM? - We are a traditional Goju Ryu Karate Martial Arts School and do not offer an after school program. If we did, then that would change us to a childcare facility.
  8. MY CHILD HAS ADHD, ADD OR A HIGH/MEDIUM FUNCTIONING TYPE OF AUTISM. CAN MARTIAL ARTS KARATE HELP THEM OR WILL IT BE A GOOD FIT FOR THEM? - Children with ADHD, ADD or a high/medium functioning type of autism do amazingly well in Karate or Martial Arts and we feel that it is a perfect fit for them. Martial Arts Karate training greatly improves and developes focus, concentration, confidence, self-esteem, self-discipline and self defense.
  9. ARE PARENTS ALLOWED TO WATCH? - Parents are encouraged to stay and watch if they wish. We do find however that it can become a distraction to your child and if you do notice this we recommend that you quietly exit the dojo (training room). We love parents getting involved in their childrens Martial Arts Karate and so will your children. They would love it if you joined our adult classes as you will have something in common which builds a strong family bond. "A Family That Trains Together, Stays Together". During their martial arts karate classes just drop them off and return 1 hour later. They will be happy and smiling when you return.
  10. HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO GET A BLACK BELT? - How long it takes to get a black belt depends on how ofter you train and how often you practice at home. Everyone progresses at a different pace so be consistant and patient with your training. As a general rule it takes between an average of 3 to 5 years to achieve an Adult Karate Black Belt or Junior Black Belt.
  11. HOW DO I GET STARTED? - Simply register for the Free Trial Karate Class at Phoenix Martial Arts Karate in Mississauga. Your first class is free so come by and try a class. There is no obligations whatsoever. Visit our store and order a free trial karate class.
  12. I TRAINED AT ANOTHER KARATE SCHOOL, CAN I TRANSFER HERE AND DO I HAVE TO START FROM WHITE BELT AGAIN? - Students transfering from another Martial Arts Karate School are always welcome. Sensei Tony firmly believes that you keep your belt rank from whatever school you earned it from. Students coming from other Martial Arts Karate schools may hold their rank or if the student wishes, they may start back at white belt. Any transfering students interested in training at Phoenix Martial Arts Karate Inc should sign up for the free trial class to get started with us.
  13. WHEN CAN STUDENTS START SPARRING? - Students may begin sparring once they achieve yellow belt, usually 3 to 9 months into their training. We want to make sure you learn how to kick, punch and block properly so as to minimize the chance of injuries. Beginners learn partner drills and the proper basics first to ease their way into the sparring scene. All of our current students are trained and taught to work with beginners at their comfort level and are encouraged to give pointers to new students. After all, they were all beginners at one time. All sparring is extremely supervised and is an essential part of their training. It helps to teach control, proper judgement, heightened awareness, timing, distance and reaction time.
  14. WHAT IF MY CHILD DOES NOT WANT TO SPAR? - Sparring is not mandatory at yellow belt, but will be necessary later on in their training, usually by green belt. Sparring is the closest thing to a real fight situation. It will prepare them for those situations as they learn and practice the necessary skills. It is the best way to learn timing and distance.
  15. WHEN CAN A STUDENT START USING WEAPONS? - Weapons training starts at green belt and up. You will need to speak to Sensei Tony about the first weapon that you will need which is a bo staff. All weapons MUST be purchased from the dojo due to insurance regulations.
  16. WHAT IS THE COST AND COMMITMENT? - Some martial arts karate schools offer inexpensive rates, while others are overly inflated. We try to keep our rates in the middle as we need to stay competitive but have to make sure we can pay our bills and commitments. Remember, " you usually get what you pay for". You can help to keep our costs relatively just and fair by supporting us through recommending us to family and friends, purchasing clothing and items for sale from time to time at the dojo. For a professional karate education, you will pay more than your average gym membership. Think about what you are getting, the skills, that when needed, could save your life or the life of a family member or friend. No extra membership fees for learning weapons, sparring or self defence. Some schools charge seperate fees for those. The only extra costs would be the purchase of the weapons or sparring equipment that MUST be purchased from us, due to insurance regulations. When you are ready and chosen to go for a karate grading which is a test to next karate belt level. There is a $50 + HST fee to go for the next karate belt. Beyond the trial class, karate training should be a commitment and not an activity of drop in and drop out. Skills are always cumulative and require dedicated traning to be used effectively. Students will not see results from a casual training atmosphere.
  17. I DON'T WANT TO FORCE MY CHILD/CHILDREN TO DO SOMETHING THAT THEY DON'T WANT TO. - As parents and caregivers we all know the benefits that Martial Arts or Karate can provide to a child and it is important that they take a part in it to benefit. Children often may not like eating certain foods, school or doing chores or homework. But we do not allow them to choose because we know all of these things are good for them. Before withdrawing a children from any activity you should think about whether or not your the child will be using those few hours a week in an activity which offers the same benefits. We know it’s good for them and we know and see the benefits. You don’t want to force or push them but then who will. By not encouraging them to succeed and defeat any challenge we take away one of the important tools of life. As children mature, they will certainly encounter teachers and employers who are going to make demands and expectations on them. Children need to learn, early on, how to take directions and we can help that process by directing them towards those things that will develop the important character skills needed for success.
  18. SOMETIMES SCHOOLS BOAST ABOUT THEIR MASTER INSTRUCTOR, BUT I SEE TEENAGERS TEACHING THE CLASSES. WHO TEACHERS YOUR CLASSES?
    Sensei Tony is the director and chief instructor and is present at and teaches each and every class. You will, however, see that at green belt and up, Sensei will likely appoint someone from the class to do the warm up and stretching (first 15 min of class) to further build their character, confidence and self-esteem.
  19. WHY IS TRAINING TWICE A WEEK IMPORTANT? - Twice a week is what has shown to give the slow and steady progression in learning. Training less than that makes the student forget what they learned the week prior. We use a rotating curriculum of Goju Ryu Karate, Jiu Jitsu, Tai Chi Chuan, Kobudo (weapons), Kendo, Self Defense and C.Q.C.S. (Close Quarters Combat Sambo). Through repetition, correction, praise and re-enforcement of the principles, a student will develop at a steady learning pace. Less than twice a week of training is when we see self-esteem issues reappear as fellow students advance quicker as a result of more frequent training. This in turn can cause the student to lose interest while in truth they only want to be on par with their peers.