Beginner karate in Osborne Park, Perth

First Contact: a four-week beginner's course in Kyokushin karate

For adults and teenagers who want a proper start, not a one-off class. You begin with no contact, in a small group of other beginners, and you choose every step after that.

Who this is for

  • You've thought about karate and want a real start, not a one-off class.
  • You've never trained, or you trained another style and want to try Kyokushin.
  • You'd like to learn in a small group where people know your name.
  • You're willing to work, and you want to know where it leads.

Who this isn't for

  • You want a single free class. This is a four-week course.
  • You want a casual drop-in activity.
  • You want a non-contact or point-sparring class.
  • You want fast belts, or to compete straight away.

Not sure yet? Come and watch. You're welcome to watch any class before you decide. The timetable is at the bottom of this page.

The course, the price and the groups

$89

For four weeks, with your keikogi (uniform) included. Four weekly lessons with the same instructor, in a group of no more than ten beginners. Starts next week [add the date]. We cap it at ten because the small group is the point.

Choose your group when you book: Thursday 6:00 to 7:00 pm, or Saturday 12:00 to 1:00 pm.

Why it isn't free

[Ricardo's honest reason, e.g. "It's a course, not a taster. Everyone commits, so the group stays small and learns together."]

If it's not for you

[Exit or refund policy after lesson one.]

After four weeks

You can join the regularly scheduled classes. Lessons 5 and 6 are planned inside the regular class, so your group joins the dojo together. [Cost of regular classes, any commitment.]

Kyokushin is a traditional karate known for strong basics, conditioning and respect. Partner training includes real contact, introduced in steps, with rules, supervision and your agreement.

What people usually want to know

What actually happens in a class?

Every lesson follows the same four steps: review the last lesson, learn one new idea, see how it fits into kata and kumite, then use it with a partner. Each week is set out below.

Will I fit in?

You start with other beginners, so nobody in the room is ahead of you. When you continue, your group moves into the regular class together.

Can I really do this?

No experience is needed. You learn the etiquette, your stance and your first punch in lesson 1, and everything builds from there.

Is this a fighting class?

No. First Contact is about learning karate: stance, movement, kata and working with a partner. Kyokushin does include real-contact sparring (kumite), but you reach it later, with rules, protective gear and supervision, and only if you choose it.

Will I be hit?

Not in the beginner course unless you choose it. The first lessons involve no contact with a person, and the one light-contact drill in lesson 4 is optional. Either partner can say "lighter" or "stop" at any time, and it's treated as normal.

What happens, week by week

Two journeys run side by side. Kata gives you progression, building toward a complete first kata. Partner work gives it meaning: you use what you learn with another person, one step of the contact ladder at a time.

Lessons 1 to 4 are the four-week course. Lessons 5 and 6 are for those who continue, inside the regular class.

Lesson 1, the course

Belonging

You'll leave thinking: I know where this is going, and nothing is asked of me before I'm ready.

  • We name the art plainly: this is karate with a contact ladder, and here is where it goes. You won't do any of it today.
  • Etiquette, posture, your first stance and first punch.
  • The first building block of your kata.
  • Target drills and focus mitts. No contact on a person.
Lesson 2, the course

Stability

You'll leave thinking: I am improving.

  • Stance, stepping, movement and distance (maai).
  • Moving through your kata.
  • Move into distance and strike the pad. Distance is one ingredient of kumite.
Lesson 3, the course

Awareness

You'll leave thinking: I understand why we learn blocks, and I know the rules we train by.

  • Blocking, turning, changing direction and guard.
  • Your first direction changes in kata.
  • Simple attack-and-block exercises. Before anything starts, we agree the rules: nobody is trying to beat anyone, both partners control the level, and anyone can say "lighter" or "stop" at any time.
Lesson 4, the course

Integration

You'll leave thinking: everything fits together.

  • Everything from lessons 1 to 3, put together.
  • The opening sequence of your first kata.
  • Two senior students show a controlled kumite round while the instructor talks you through it in words you already know: distance, guard.
  • An optional, structured light-contact drill using the rules from lesson 3. Nobody is pushed.
  • A closing talk on what comes next, including the grading path and when kumite starts for you.
Lesson 5, regular class, if you continue

Participation

You'll leave thinking: I belong here.

  • Continue your kata inside the regular class, alongside the rest of the dojo.
  • Extended partner exercises at the level you've agreed.
Lesson 6, regular class, if you continue

Possibility

You'll leave thinking: I can continue this journey.

  • Complete your first kata.
  • Use the movements with more timing and awareness.
  • Kumite is explained formally, including how steps 1 and 2 of the ladder fit inside it. You watch steps 3 and 4 in the senior class.

Ready to reserve your place?

Reserve your place

Where it leads: the contact ladder

You choose when to take each step, and you won't be asked to take one before you're ready. The four-week course covers steps 1 and 2.

1

Drills with no contact

Set attacks and responses with pads and mitts.

Covered in the course

2

Agreed light contact

Body only, at an intensity you agree beforehand.

Covered in the course, optional

3

Controlled kumite

Rounds with rules, supervision and protective gear.

Later. You watch it demonstrated.

4

Full-contact kumite

Regular class, for students who have chosen it. Competition is optional, and comes later.

Later. Your choice.

Who teaches

Senpai Ricardo Faiolli teaches every First Contact lesson, so you'll learn from the same instructor each week. [Add a photo, his grade, years training and who he trains under, with permission.]

Where, and what to bring

Address

7A/44 Hutton Street, Osborne Park WA 6017
View on Google Maps

What to bring

A water bottle and comfortable clothes. Your keikogi is included in the $89. No shoes on the mat.

Parking

[Where to park, and which door.]

Timetable. You're welcome to watch any class.

Wednesday

7:15 to 8:45 pm, regular class

Thursday

6:00 to 7:30 pm

First Contact 6:00 to 7:00 pm

Friday

6:00 to 7:30 pm, regular class

Saturday

12:00 to 2:00 pm

First Contact 12:00 to 1:00 pm

Ready to join, or want to ask first?

Send us a message and ask anything: cost, what to wear, what to expect. We reply personally.

Reserve your place Message us on WhatsApp

Or email theblackswandojo@gmail.com

Considering this for your teenager? Information for parents