How
do I know the school is any good?
Justyn Billingham is the chief instructor for Blaze Martial
Arts and currently holds Black Belt grades recognised in Tae Kwon
Do (TAGB), Karate (Sankukai), Freestyle Kickboxing (WSKA) and
The Keysi Fighting Method. He also regulalry studies other arts
such as Pencak Silat, Escrima, Ju Jitsu, Boxing and Jeet Kune
Do. He
has been studying Martial Arts for over twenty years and is considered
an authority on Kicking techinques, writing a monthly column for
the number one Martial Arts magazine in the UK, Martial
Arts Illustrated.
The
school is certified to NVQ level 2 standards and we have Child
Protection and Health & Saftey policies in place. Justyn has
been CRB checked in order to work with children and is fully licenced
and insured. Justyn is also first aid trained.
These are
the current requirements for anyone teaching Martial Arts (whether
they charge for the services or not) and is law.
How much
will it cost me to train?
It depends on the programme you chose to join as you can
train up to 13 times a week in various Martial Arts. Call us for
more information as we have several options available.
How
many times a week can I train?
We teach Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings (running
three adult classes and two kids classes a night) and Saturday
mornings - so take your pick.
What
else do I get when I join?
On joining the Academy, you will receive an official training uniform a Martial Art licence and insurance for life (this naturally expires should you leave) and eligibility to the Blaze Academy Black Belt Grading Program.
What
is the overall atmosphere like in the academy?
The vast majority of our members are with us as a result or
recommendations and not through aggressive marketing campaigns
(unlike other schools), and with 300 members training on
a weekly basis this speaks for itself. The success of our academy
comes about as a result of the students that train with us and
through the fact that we are a family run school with a proven
track record.
What
is the 'Black Belt Grading Programme'?
It is a grading syllabus designed to measure the progress of our
students.
The belt colour worn indicates the current level of skill, knowledge
and ability each student has. Belt grades start from White Belt
and progress through to the highest achievable coloured grade
- Black Belt.
How
do your gradings work?
In the 'good old days' a belt grading would take place
every three months, cost a small fortune and involve around an
hour of intense examination in front of a panel of judges and
spectators. In Blaze we realise the stress this can have on students,
especially beginners therefore, our grading process is a little
more relaxed. Each belt grade is divided into three stages and
each stage is tested in class each month by the chief instructor.
Help, advice and individual feedback is then given to help a student
improve if it is seen that they are struggling and they are then
either moved up to the next level or given a little more personal
help during class to help them move up comfortably. Our outlook
on belt gradings is that they are progress checks to prepare you
for the Black Belt grade which is the ultimate grade in Martial
Arts and if you have progressed as you should throughout your
coloured belt gradings, you will be adequately prepared for your
Black Belt grading - which is a little tougher!
Is
there an additional cost for each of my gradings?
No,
the grading, all belts and grade certificates are a complimentary
part of the Blaze training programme. We do not charge you for
gradings unlike other schools who look to make extra money off
the back of a gradings.
Do
I have to grade?
No, gradings are purely optional and we have a number of students
that chose to just enjoy the training without the desire to grade.
How
does the Black Belt grading work?
Unfortunately in this day and age, Black Belts are given away
too easily and in most cases this once again is down to the amount
of money that can be made from this grading. This unfortunately
does nothing other than de-value the Black Belt grade and question
the true ability of many students of this level. At Blaze the
Black Belt grading is rigorous, demanding and hard work and we
believe that it has to be to ensure that all who pass can uphold
the full requirements that we believe a Black Belt should be able
to uphold.
What
styles of Martial Art do you teach?
We train in a mixed Martial Art syllabus comprising of
Tae Kwon Do, Kick Boxing, Ju Jitsu, Karate, Western Boxing, and
The Keysi Fighting Method, a new concept in Martial Arts Training.
Our belief is that by training solely in one style we limit our
knowledge, skill and ability.
What do I need to wear when I first start?
We recommend
some light comfortable clothing such as jogging bottoms and a
t-shirt / sweat shirt. Training shoes can also be worn if desired,
however, these must be removed during sparring sessions or pad
and mat work.
Am
I too old / young to join a Martial Art School?
We currently
have members between 5 and 65 years of age. There is no real age
limit to Martial Art training as students are encouraged to work
to their own comfortable level of ability. It is our recommendation
that you speak to your doctor prior to starting any fitness program
if you have any concerns.
Am I likely to get hurt?
All forms of training at
the Blaze Academy are done under the expert guidance and supervision
of experienced instructors and, therefore, every precaution is
taken to ensure that injuries do not happen. You are given the
option of participating in sparring and we run beginner level
sparring sessions every month.
What
is 'Sparring'?
Sparring involves the practice of kicking
and punching techniques using a very controlled form of 'fighting'.
We practice various different types of Martial Art sparring at
the Blaze Academy.
These
range from non-contact sparring through to a more advanced version
of contact sparring for our experienced students. Sparring is
completely optional but does form a vital part of the Kickboxing
training that we practice.
Do
I have to purchase my equipment through the Blaze Academy?
No, additional Martial Art equipment can be purchased wherever
our students prefer, however, all equipment purchased must conform
to the Blaze Martial Arts Academy regulations in accordance with
our licencing and insurance policies.
It would
be advisable to check this prior to purchasing the equipment.
What other opportunites are there for me in Blaze?
We run a coaching programme to teach students how to become a
Martial Arts Instructor and one day run their own school. We run
seminars with top Instructors from other disiplines and regularly
hold trips to training camps around the country and abroad.
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