About Us

Denjo Karate Jitsu

Island Karate

Karata means ‘empty hand’. Sometimes referred to as ‘Karata-do’ or the ‘the way of Karate’.

 

Karate was developed in Okinawa where it served as a self defence against thieves and marauders. At that time it also involved the usage of weapons such as the quarterstaff and rice flails. Karate was introduced to Japan by a school teacher named Gichin Funakoshi. Other Okinawan masters followed, introducing their own styles of practice.

 

Modern karate is almost entirely a striking system, using high energy kicks, punches and strikes as weapons. Persons practising Karate are as Karateka. They wear light, white cotton tunics fastened with a coloured belt. The colours of the belt vary according to the proficiency attained. White trousers are also worn although these are sometimes a darker colour.

 

At regular intervals, the karateka undergoes a grading examination. The coloured belts leading to the black belt are known as Kyu grades. Black belts are known as dan grades and there is a scale of proficiency between 1st Dan and 10th Dan within the Black belt itself.

NEW Joiners start as a White belt, after a minimum of 10 x 1hr lessons the new Club Member is invited to grade which happens on four weekends a year, Juniors Grading takes place on a Saturday Morning and lasts for three hours. The Senior Grading takes place on a Sunday and lasts approx four hours.

Left                 White Belt

                      Red & White

                      Red

                      Yellow & White

                      Yellow

As you climb up through the grades the lessons become more complex and therefore it takes up to six months to receive your invite for your grading.

 

Right               Orange & White Belt

                      Orange Belt

                      Green & White Belt

                      Green Belt

                      Blue Belt

Senior Members

 

Left                 Brown Belt

                      Brown & White Belt

                      Brown & Red Belt

                      Brown & Black Belt

                      Black Belt                                            

After Black it takes multiple years each time to receive your Dan grading invitation. Currently the most Senior Grade in the Club is Sensei Den who is a Seventh Dan.