F.A.Q

Frequently Asked Questions
What will it cost me?You may attend up to 6 trial lessons first 2 are free then charged at £3.00 per session. If you wish to continue training after this point you will need to join the club as a full member Once you have paid the joining fee, you pay the member class price each time you attend a class (please refer to the prices section for a full list of pricing structure).

Do I have to pay if I don't go to class?  Yes we will allow a certain amount of nights missed as we know not all nights can be made so some allowances will be catered for.
If you train once a week you will only be charged for that amount of nights
If you train two nights a week you will be charged for that amount of nights

Are there any hidden extras in the prices?You get everything you need to start you off in the membership cost. You will however need to renew your licence yearly. Grading, courses, tournaments, extra uniform & equipment are extra.

Do I have to pay any monthly Direct Debits? No we accept cash only

Have I got to bring a training partner?No, there are many people who come on their own. The students are all very friendly and the club encourages everyone to interact with each other rather than stick to working with one person.

What do I have to wear?For your introductory lesson wear a t-shirt & track suit bottoms. you may purchase a suit at anytime just ask the instructor for prices and details.
As of November 2011 all new students must purchase their own suits we shall no longer supply these free of charge sorry.

What do I wear on my feet?We train bare foot. You may wear trainers for running but all pad work and sparring is barefoot.

Do I need to bring anything with me?You will need to bring a drink with you, water, squash or energy drink is your choice, fizzy drinks are not advised. You may also need to bring a hand towel with you and perhaps another t-shirt to change into at the end of the class.

Are there any changing rooms?
We are using the school hall
, but its best to come ready to train to save time, there are of course toilets available for you to change.

How fit do I have to be?The classes are structured for all different age, fitness and ability levels. Everyone has to start somewhere and most of us take up sport because we want to get fit.

How old do I have to be?Students may start from the age of 6 years old.
Am I too old to start?You are never too old; you know your own fitness level and work to your personal capabilities. A student who is 50 for example would not be expected to perform to the same fitness level as a 20 year old.

Can I earn belts?There is a structured grading syllabus from beginner through to Black Belt and beyond.

How often do I take a grade?Gradings are held approximately every 5-6 months but cuuld be longer.
You must have completed a minimum amount of lessons between each belt (40) and be able to show the techniques learnt to a reasonable standard to qualify. You will be advised when you are ready to grade, you are not expected to grade every time if you are not ready and will never be pushed into a grading that you are not comfortable with.
The clubs instructor may ask you to sit out a grading as you may not be ready to take it at that present time, do not be offended by this it just means your just not ready at that time but with a little extra hard work you will be ready.

Do I have to take gradings?Students are encouraged to grade through the belt system, it gives you a goal and is a great achievement, however, you do not have to grade if you do not wish to do so.

How does grading work?You will be issued with your next grading syllabus after each grading. Students are examined by the Chief Instructor up to their Brown Belt. Then a panel shall examine you for your black belt.

I have trained and graded in kickboxing before with another school, do I have to start again?If you can produce a certificate which can be traced to a reputable source then you may transfer your grade or take an assessment grade to test your abilities. However, syllabus vary from one school to another therefore you must be able to show competence on all techniques prior to your transferred belt according to the clubs syllabus before you may progress to the next level.

I have trained or am training in another style, can I learn kickboxing?
When you are still new to martial arts, it is advisable to stick to one thing in the early stages. All styles are different and you may find you have two instructors requiring different things. If you wish to learn more than one style; it is best if you find styles that compliment each other rather than oppose each other.
If you have previously trained in another style but wish to change to kickboxing; you must be prepared to learn a different way of training. All styles differ, if you feel you do not wish to change then it is advisable to find a club that teaches the style you are familiar with but we encourage everyone to learn as many style as they feel comfortable with learning.

How long will it take me to get my Black Belt?This varies from student to student. It will depend on your own personal ability, how often you train and how much work you put in. On average for someone training 2-3 times per week it could be 4-6 years to reach black belt.

What is sparring?We offer two kinds of sparring; Semi-Contact and Light Continuous. Semi Contact is points scoring based where each time a point is scored the competitors stop and return to their start position. Light Continuous is a continuous bout for a timed round.

Is sparring dangerous?
When students decide they would like to try sparring, everyone begins with sparring exercises and drills, this helps to learn the technical side of sparing. Students may continue with the drills and exercises for as long as they wish until they are comfortable to move up to the next level. All sparring is controlled with protective equipment in use and supervised by a qualified instructor
Please also remember this is still a contact sport and can result in the odd knock here and there.

What if I really don't want to spar?Most students find that they naturally progress into sparring as their own skills are enhanced and the higher up the belt system they move. Many chose to have a go at sparring after a few belts, however, students do not have to spar if they do not want to. Students are invited to watch a few sparring sessions if they are a little unsure about taking part.

Are there any restrictions to sparring?Children will be assessed on their own abilities and may be restricted to drills only. Adults may take part in the sparring drills as soon as they are members and may move onto sparring as they progress with their training.

What equipment do I need?A full set of equipment is a requirement for sparring. This includes: head guard, gum shield, boxing gloves, semi-contact gloves, groin guard (requirement for males, advisable for females), chest guard for females, shin guards and foot protectors at present the club supplies most of these.(Groin guards and gum sheilds and chest protection not supplied)

How much does the equipment cost?A good set of standard equipment can be on average around £100, you can of course get cheaper and more expensive but you get what you pay for.
How do I get my equipment?You may either order through us or purchase online direct from a reputable manufacturer. If you wish to purchase direct it will most likely cost you more as you will also have to pay delivery. Please check with your instructor before buying direct as you may find that it is not suitable and will have wasted your money.

What does the member Insurance cover?This is a Public Liability Insurance which is valid for 12 months, providing the individual and the club are members of W.A.K.O.. It covers the individual should they accidentally cause damage to property or another individual during a class session. It does not cover the individual for personal injury or loss of earnings. Crumlin Freestyle Kickboxing Club is not liable for any misuse of techniques either in or out of your class.

Can I take part in tournaments?There are tournaments available through W.A.K.O. And various clubs, you must have an up-to-date licence for you to participate. Fights are separated into age, sex and experience and you must own your own full sparring equipment according to the clubs requirements, not everyone will be asked to compete, only those who the clubs instructor feels ready to compete shall be asked.

What else is on offer?
When there
are any courses and seminars available they will be displayed on the club and event calender.