FAQ

At Burning Light, we've done our best to create a website that anticipates and satisfies your  needs. With that goal in mind, we've compiled a list of frequently asked questions. If you do not find an answer to your question here, contact us.

1. Do I need any special equipment?

No, not really.  Your first few classes can be sweat pants and a T-shirt (your first classes are free too). If you decide you would like to continue your training then the instructor will order you a Gi.  From that point on, your Gi (and a belt of course) should be your only required equipment .

2. What does it cost to train?

 A Gi is about $25, this is a one time only purchase. There is no registration fee.  The dues are a monthly fee. $20/month for Children, $25/month for Adults, and $45/month for a family.  The only other cost is for testing, this is a $25 fee due before your test.   It’s really inexpensive when you consider other places charge as much as $200 a month and up to $250 to test!

3.   How long will it take to get my black belt?

The entire journey of white to black belt will take about 5 years. Then the real journey begins!  Really it all depends on how often you attend and how hard you train. At lower ranks testing for the next belt level could be as often as once every 3 months.  Expect a longer period for some upper levels and/or if your not in class as often. .

4. Do I have to belong to Temple Baptist Church to attend the class?

 No. The Academy is a ministry of the church. All are welcome to attend.  Please bring along a friend!  Parents you are welcome to stay and watch the class.

5. Do Karate and Christian beliefs really mix?

Yes, they do..

1. THROUGH THE CONCEPT OF MASTER.  Martial arts are traditionally taught with the concept of Master, either as an instructor or as a figure in the background. In Christian martial arts, the Master is Christ and the teachings are His, from the Bible. "Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ." (Matt. 23:10, KJV). Christian black belts, no matter what degree, are not masters of anything; they are disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ.

2.. THROUGH THE CONCEPT OF WARFARE.  Martial arts means fighting arts. While plain old martial arts train only the physical and the mental self in the art of war, Christian martial arts train the spiritual, too. The Bible tells us that we do not fight against flesh and blood, but against evil rulers and authorities, against mighty powers of darkness that rule in an unseen world. Ephesians 6:11-18 is very clear that as Christians, we are mighty soldiers on God's side of the battlefield. Surely, we need to learn how to fight.

6. What do the belt colors mean?

The various colored belts worn in karate signify a practitioner's rank. A beginner starts as a white belt, and works towards earning a black belt. In our progressive Shorinji-Ryu Karate, there are eleven levels of colored belts before black.

 Perhaps the most useful aspect of rank is its potential to serve as a goal setting system, depending on how you manage your progress. Learning new techniques and new body dynamics is best done in the small increments served up by a reasonable ranking system. The "discrete" skill levels defined by rank can also serve as guidelines for instructors. Rather than correcting you on every mistake you make, or correcting you inconsistently, your instructor can consistently critique you in a focused fashion according to what he or she needs to see during a test.

 Earning a new color belt means passing an examination. At a rank exam you typically stand with other students before a board of examiners, and perform various techniques required for the new rank. After the test, the panel of instructors issues you a pass/fail grade. As you progress in rank, the requisite techniques become more numerous and complex, and you must also demonstrate a deeper understanding of the dynamics involved.

 Our dojo observes the following rank/order of belts.

White
Yellow
Advanced Yellow (has a black center stripe)
Green
Advanced Green (has a black center stripe)
Blue
Advanced Blue (has a black center stripe)
Brown
Brown 1st (has a white center stripe)   
Brown 2nd (has a black center stripe)
Advanced Brown (half brown, half black)
Black