LION BUDOKAN KARATE INTERNATIONAL
GUIDELINES & TRAINING INFORMATION
Everything you need to know before stepping onto the mat — from uniform requirements to belt progression and safety protocols.
GETTING STARTED
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE YOU START
Before stepping onto the mat, here are essential guidelines to ensure safety, respect, and readiness in your karate journey.
Personal Preparation
Hygiene, Attire & Accessories
- Hygiene: Fingers and toenails must be clean and short to prevent injuries.
- Attire: Wear the proper LBKI uniform, which should always be neat and tidy. Your appearance reflects on both you and our club.
- Accessories: Jewellery, watches, metal hair clips, and plastic hairbands must not be worn during training.
What to Bring
Essentials for Every Session
- Essentials: Always carry a towel, water bottle, and protective gear.
- Health: If you have asthma or other medical conditions requiring medication, bring your inhalers or medication to every session.
Dojo Etiquette
Conduct During Classes
- Valuables: Do not leave your valuables in the Dojo. We cannot be responsible for lost or stolen items.
- Conduct: Maintain silence and focus during all karate classes. Turn off mobile phones or set them to silent mode.
- Attendance: Please inform us in advance if you cannot attend a scheduled session.
- Safety: Children are not allowed to run inside the club when not participating. Always inform the instructor of any medical conditions or injuries before training.
Communication
Enquiries and Contact
- Direct any non-training-related questions to the appropriate channels rather than during class.
- For all other queries, use the official email: support@lbkikarate.com.au
UNIFORM AND DRESS CODE
UNIFORM STANDARDS AND EXPECTATIONS
Members must wear LBKI-approved uniforms to all sessions to uphold the club’s high dress standards. Cleanliness and neatness are essential.
General Expectations
Uniform Specifications
- Shirt and Pants: Shirt lengths must cover the hips. Sleeves and pant legs must be properly sewn to fit — not merely folded.
- Hair and Jewellery: Long hair must be secured back. All jewellery including rings, earrings, and watches must be removed before training.
- Nails: Keep fingernails and toenails trimmed to avoid injuries to yourself or others.
- Dojo Badges: Badges must be worn correctly; refer to the Uniform and Badges section for proper placement.
Seasonal Variations
Warm Weather Policy
- During the warmer months from December to March, LBKI training t-shirts may replace the standard uniform shirt for training purposes.
Boys / Men
Specific Guidelines
- Wear the standard LBKI Karate uniform with the club badge.
- A white t-shirt may be worn under the uniform shirt.
- Extra pants should not be worn underneath the Karate pants.
Girls / Women
Specific Guidelines
- The standard LBKI Karate uniform with the club badge is mandatory.
- A white t-shirt may be worn under the uniform shirt.
- Black or white tights may be worn under Karate pants.
- For those wearing them for religious reasons, plain black pull-on headscarves are allowed.
- Use only black or white hair ties; metallic clips and headbands are prohibited.
SAFETY PROTOCOLS
SPARRING AND SELF-DEFENCE SAFETY
All participants must adhere to these safety requirements during sparring and self-defence classes to ensure a safe training environment.
General Safety Requirements
Before Every Session
- Protective Equipment: Participants must always wear LBKI-approved protective gear during sparring and self-defence drills.
- Hygiene: Fingernails and toenails must be trimmed short to prevent injuries during physical contact.
- Attire: Remove all metallic or hard objects including jewellery that could cause injury.
- Vision Safety: Participants requiring prescription glasses must use safety glasses. Regular eyeglasses are not permitted.
Mandatory Gear — Post First Grading
Required Equipment After First Grading
- Gloves
- Mouth guard
- Shin and foot protectors
- Chest guard
- Groin guard (for male students)
These items are crucial for your continued participation in sparring and self-defence sessions and must be worn as directed to ensure your safety and compliance with our training standards.
CURRICULUM AND BELT PROGRESSION
TRAINING CURRICULUM AND BELT LEVELS
Our curriculum is structured into ten progressive belt levels, culminating in the Black Belt. Students develop both physical abilities and philosophical understanding.
BELT PROGRESSION
TRAINING COMPONENTS
Fundamentals
Basic techniques including blocking, punching, striking, and kicking. Must be practised with maximum concentration and effort.
Kata
A series of predetermined movements fighting against hypothetical attackers. A physical exercise, moving meditation, and philosophical practice.
Kumite
Sparring sessions using a point system adhering to World Karate Federation (WKF) rules. Applies kata skills in a controlled competitive environment.
Modern Self-Defence
Practical self-defence tactics for real-world scenarios including collar grabs, street fights, and anti-bullying. Emphasises personal protection.