Frequently Asked Questions

Let us answer your questions

How do I chose the right school and how do I know it is a good one?

You need to go in and take a look. What is the feeling like in the place? How are the instructors? Do they have a nice professional set up? Do they show respect to their members and other martial arts groups? Do they allow parents to watch?

Depending on what you are hoping to get out of Karate for yourself or your child, you will know where you need to be.

Why choose the Lambert Karate Dojo?

A few points alone:

The Lambert family have been teaching martial arts in Goulburn longer than anyone. Over four decades of proven high quality service to the community.
Voted Goulburn’s best health, fitness and wellbeing facility three years straight.
Purpose built word class training facilities right here in Goulburn. Click here.
Internationally recognised Male and Female Black Belt Instructors. Click here.
Pay as you go and monthly options available. Classes starting as low as $10.
No contracts or direct debits. No need to select a set training day.
Beginners only classes running all year round for children & for teens and adults.
High quality spectator areas, including family friendly and children’s areas.
Plenty of off street parking and located next to one Goulburn’s best resturants.

Do I need to be fit to start?

No it is not a requirement. We will get you feeling fit, strong and healthy in no time. We will also give you the skills to supplement your own training so you can practice effectively on your own to help in maintaining your level and gaining what you would like to achieve. At any time you can speak to your class instructor and they can provide you with a home training plan. As you or your child begin, we can supply you with a personal black belt instructor to help you improve your health and skill level, where other schools may throw you in the deep end with no personalised help. Our aim is to build you up, not break you down.

What should I wear for my trial classes?

The main thing you want when training is to feel comfortable. Wearing an appropriate sport or gym top / t-shirt and either shorts, tracksuit bottoms, tights, etc usually work best. We also suggest bringing along a drink bottle and sweat towel for when we take a short break about half way through the class.

Will someone be there to help me during my first class?

There certainly will be. One of our experienced team of black belt assistant instructors will help guide you through your first few classes and answer any and all questions you may have. We are here to help you achieve your goals and will continuously follow up with you. We want you to reap the benefits of martial arts training in Goulburn and Crookwell and are here to help you build the confidence and skill level for you to do just that.

How will I be treated if I have previous experience or come from another school?

With respect, of course.
We have had numerous members from other schools and clubs join us in our centre over the years. Regardless of their background, we treat them with the respect they deserve for their past experience. We work closely with these people to help them intergrate and become part of our style, our centre and our International organisation over a period of time. No matter where those who join us have had their previous experience, they always find a home with us and are still training today.

How effective in Karate compared to other martial arts?

Everything has good points and martial arts are no different. However if you are looking for a style that teaches effective self defence and uses training methods that are equally effective in achieving this, then we are for you. Whether you are in the Dojo, a tournament or out on the street, our experienced instructors will teach you everything from conflict resolution right through to effective take down and restraint holds against all manner of attack scenarios – including weapons. There is nothing overly fancy in our methods or techniques, we practice effective traditional Karate that actually works. We also acknowledge that if you are realistically going to be able to stand your ground against an attacker, you need to be in the best possible shape to ensure your skills work. Karate helps in keeping you fit, strong and healthy while you build your skills. If you are practicing martial arts and you are not in good shape and practicing methods you do not you believe would actually work, then you must be honest and ask yourself the ultimate question: why am I doing this?

Our traditional methods, including Kata and application training, have survived centuries due to their effectiveness. Okinawa Karate is often referred to as the original mixed martial art as it includes so many versatile and unique training methods that it can easily adapt to most fighter types be in long distance, close quarters, both or ground fighters.

How often do I need to attend classes?

You are welcome to come as much or as little as you like. However for best results we recommend a minimum of 1 – 2 classes per week. This generally sees steady progression over a good period of time and achieves pleasing results. The more you put into training, the more you will get out of it. The beauty of Karate is that you can work at your own pace, suiting your own lifestyle and looking after your body. It is about the journey, not the destination.

How often can I grade up a belt?

Our centres hold grading examinations four times per year. However, most people aim to grade two times per year. Many other schools hold gradings between 4 – 6 times per year. Having a belt around your waist is one thing, what you can actually do with while it is around your waist is very different. We have attendance, goal setting and belt tip programs in place with all of our class categories to keep you on track and motivated between grading examinations.

Clubs promising programs such as black belts in 12 months or allowing several gradings per year are giving a false sense of security and not following the traditional methods. Yes it is nice to grade and progress, but we beleive if it is worth doing it, it is worth doing right and working towards over an extended period. The traditional path may be longer, but the rewards are better and studies have shown that those training in a traditional martial art are more likely to stick at practicing after achieving black belt, than those who do not.

Do you offer other martial arts, beside Karate, at your centres?

We offer traditional Okinawan Goju-ryu Karate as a martial art in Goulburn and Crookwell. This martial art has been in the Australia for over 45 years and has been effective enough in developing the local community for over four decades. Goju-ryu has so many aspects of training to it that to master the art fully is considered a life long pursuit. There is so much on offer in this unique training system to keep you interested and motivated, while at the same time developing your confidence, concentration, co-ordination, discipline, respect and more.

Today many locations across the country are centres which teach numerous martial arts under one roof and where students can swap and change between classes. An ‘apprentice of all, master of none’ characteristic is quick to develop, where students swap and change martial art at various times and ages to prevent boredom and most concerning, when the skill level becomes increasing difficult and persistence is needed. Sticking with one system and trying to achieve mastery of it is what brought around the term martial arts master. Studies have also shown that those who stick with one martial art are more likely to continue it’s practice throughout their life.

How will the grades I earn be recognised?

All grades from our Dojo are Nationally and International recognised by the Australian and International Okinawan Goju-ryu Karate-do Federations. When participating is centres teaching numerous martial arts, be careful that you don’t end up putting a lot of hard training in to receive a grade not recognised or respected by any governing authority or other martial arts clubs in Australia or overseas. We are the only Dojo recognised by the Japanese government department of the Japan Traditional Martial Arts Association.