Frequently Asked Questions:

What is the Licence?

 

The Licence is the student's membership to the club.  This covers students to go to training, compete at competitions, take part in seminars and be graded.  In the unlikely event of serious injury the licence also covers the student under Affinity TKD's Insurance.  Another benefit of the Licence is access to the online Members Section which has all of the Student Syllabus as well as videos of the fundamentals and Patterns, which means students can practice at home.  The Licence fee is £36 (just £3 per month) and is collected annually, due on the 1st of April each year.  

 

My child isn't training during the school holidays, do I still pay the Standing Order?

 

Yes.  The training fee is an annual figure that is divided into monthly transactions for ease of payment.  If a parent preferred to pay termly the figure would just be divided differently, over the course of a year the amount is exactly the same.  Having the payment on Standing Order means not having to worry about remembering to pay for training each month and secures a space in the class for the student.  So it is important that even when classes close for the holiday periods the payments come out as normal. 

 

Our uniform doesn't fit anymore, how do I get a new one?

 

On joining the club the student will receive a Dobok (training uniform) and a study book as part of the Starter Pack.  If a student outgrows their Dobok just message the Instructor with the students current height in Centimetres so we can order a new one that will fit.  The cost will be given and once payment has been made a new one will be provided.  The same goes for if the Study book is lost or damaged.

 

How do I get Sparring Gear?

 

Once a student has been training a little while and gone through at least their first Grading they will be eligable to get Sparring Equipment.  This opens up a new element in training and allows students to practice their combatitive techniques in a controlled environment.  To order new equipment email with a request to purchase and you will be given the options to choose from.  The cost of new equipment is £130 for Males and £120 for Females.  The kit consists of Head guard, Gloves, Foot protectors, Shin guards, Gum shield and a Groin guard (males only).  

 

Can I source my own equipment and uniforms?

 

As a general rule we discourage this as we want our students to have the best quality kit available.  As well as this we have very strict safety guidelines we must adhere to and often when people source their own safety equipment they can't be used as they don't meet the criteria that has been set out for us to follow.  If a student is struggling with the cost of new equipment please speak to the Instructor for advice.

 

We are no longer able to continue training, what is the procedure for leaving the club?

 

In the event that a student will no longer be attending the classes the first thing is to email the Instructor to give them 1 months notice of when they intend to leave.  The next thing is to cancel the Standing Order for after the 1 month notice date has passed as was agreed on the consent form when joining the club.  After this period the student will be removed from the current student database and placed on a separate one for past students, incase they return at a future date it speeds up the process for signing up.

 

How often are the Gradings?

 

The gradings take place 3 times per year, usually at the end of each academic term.  Students who are eligible to test for their next grade will be invited by email usually 1 month before the event takes place.  Note that not every student will grade at every grading.  Invites are given out based on ability, attendance, self progression and generally if they are ready to test.  Students tend to grade a little faster in the beginning when the syllabus is more basic, as the grades get more difficult the time spent between gradings generally increases.  Invites are given out on the belief that the student is capable of passing the test, if however closer to the date the student has shown they will likely not pass then the Instructor will discuss this with the student.  If this is the case a new grading date will be advised and the current invite will be removed.

 

How long until I am a Black Belt?

 

A long time.  The average time to attain a black belt from Affinity TKD is around 7 or 8 years, sometimes longer and sometimes sooner.  It depends massively on the individual, their age when they started, their commitment to learning, their ability level and how much they have dedicated themselves to attaining the standard needed to pass the test.  The Black Belt test is tough and rightfully so, we are proud to have a good standard of Taekwon-Do at our club and if you make it to this level you know without a doubt that you have earnt it and the black belt really means something.

 

Do you go to Competitions?

 

Yes.  We compete as often as we can and usually that means travelling.  We invite all students 8yrs and above to compete at local and national competitions and we have several international events open to us that we travel to.  For domestic tournaments everyone is welcome and encouraged to take part, we believe that competing is the best way to improve your skills and test them under pressure.  For the trips abroad this is invite only and must you be personally invited by the Instructor to attend, this is primarily for safety as on the international scene the standards can be very high and we won't send anyone that isn't ready for that. 

 

How often should I go training?

 

As often as you are able to is always the answer.  Life is busy and people won't always be able to get to every session, however if you can make it to class go as often as you can.  The more you train the more you will improve, the more fun you will have and the increased likelihood of being invited to test for the next grade. 

 

I am unfit, should I wait until I am fitter before joining?

 

Regardless of fitness level just start.  People often say they will come along when they are fitter and they never ever do, because this is what gets you fit.  It is important to remember that everyone has their own level that they work on, so never try and compare yourself to the people training 10+ years as it takes time.  Every individual will be encouraged to do what they are able to do and as time goes on they find that their strength and fitness has improved with consistency.  So don't wait, start first and see the benefits.

 

Do you offer Private Lessons?

 

Yes we do offer private 1-1 lessons and sometimes small group sessions.  The cost of a private 60 minute session is £55 per hour.  The student who wishes to book the session must secure the venue to do the training, sometimes this is at home in a large space or a studio at a leisure centre.  If that isn't possible the Instructor can secure the venue booking and add the cost to the fee.  The benefits of private work is astounding, having the concentrated attention on a single student is profoundly beneficial and often sees the student progress faster.  Busy periods for private sessions are generally before gradings and competitions however they are offered all year round.