Training and Club Information
Training Times
PMAC train twice a week, on Monday and Thursday nights from 7-8pm (juniors/beginners) and 8-9pm (seniors/high grades).
Fees
Training
- First session - FREE!
- 7-8pm (Juniors and seniors, "first session") - £1.25
- 7-9pm Juniors ("second session") - £1.50
- 8-9pm Seniors ("second session") - £2.25
Subscriptions (club membership, Isle of Man Karate Federation membership, insurance)
- New Members (Juniors) - £8.50
- New Members (Seniors) - £10.50
- Renewals (Juniors) - £7.50
- Renewals (Seniors) - £9.50
Events
Gradings
Gradings are every four months - usually the first or second week in March, July and November. In the run up to grading time all students will spend time training for their next grade.
Isle of Man Karate Federation Annual Competition
The Federation Competition takes place at a different federation club each year on Easter Saturday. Events include individual and team kata (forms), individual and team kumite (fighting), kobudo (weapons forms) and goshin budo (set attacks and defences). In recent years, the competition has been held in Easington (2008), on the Isle of Man (2007), in Spennymoor (2006), and Peterlee (2005). For photos from our competitions see the Photo Gallery.
Club Competition
Our club competition takes place over two training nights in mid-late May and allows students to compete against each other in kata (forms), kumite (fighting) and kobudo (weapons forms) events. Participation is not necessary, but almost everyone in the club does compete!
Presentation Night
The presentation night is the highlight of the PMAC year and takes place on the Friday or Saturday after the club competition. Trophies from the club competition, our annual awards ("Best Low Grade", "Instructor of the Year" etc) and various others (dan grade awards) are awarded and the club "chills out".
Christmas Party
Held sometime between Christmas and New Year at Easington Village Club, the night allows people to "let their hair down" and relax before training restarts in the new year.
Usual Training Session
- Warm-up
- Basics (as a club)
- Group work (grading groups going through grade work, bagwork, sparring and others)
- Bow out and break (end of first session)
- Higher techniques, sparring, kata, weapons, sanbon gumite (3-step sparring) and others
- Kata
- Bow out (end of training)
The above is a typical training session and can change at a moment's notice!
Equipment
To start with, you can train in tracksuit bottoms and a t-shirt. However, after a few sessions and before grading, a Karate suit or gi will be required. These can be purchased through the club for less than high street stores. Also available through the club are club badges (required for competitions), 'Black Books' (containing all grade syllabus' and other useful information) can be bought from Jane for £3 each and various styles of sparring pads.
Other items such as focus pads, kick shields and martial arts weaponry can also be purchased through the club or from A1 Trophies and Engraving