Alpha UPKUDO Karate is the office for The UPKUDO International Karate Federation. The philosophies of “love always wins” and “positive in is positive out” are Grand Master Baker philosophies on how people should be taught. Many come to our school with discipline, social, attention or emotional problems or may have a limited use of one area of their body. The beauty of the UPKUDO style is we teach individuals, not discriminating against age, race or sexual orientation. Grand Master Baker told Master Anne “I do not train you like a woman, but rather as a student”.
When you see a child hold a green belt rank or higher, you can bet they have the skills adults do. They are required to write essays and go through rigorous testing just like adults at black belt level. Testing will vary as students grow at different paces. Some will grasp quicker and some take longer to reach belt levels but none are tested because they have the money. They must have the skills.
We have witnessed the students grow from being weak to strong, lack of confidence to proud and shy to leadership. The main ingredient is love by which every instructor possesses; love and respect for life. All who wish to learn and grow can realize more about themselves and those around them by being in our program.
The volunteer instructors work hard and are dedicated to the success of every student. Master Anne is the also the Executive Director of A Better Body.Us,Inc. a nonprofit 501(c3). Many students pay half the dues of the normal fee because of the donations made to A Better Body which helps support Alpha UPKUDO in its community work. There are events, shirts and ways you can support this nonprofit, which is tax deductible. This will help keep the dues low so that many can enjoy this great style of life changing martial art. The instructors are mentors, skilled martial artists and some hold certifications in fitness, health, law degrees and life skills.
The founder of our system is Grand Master Gary Baker 9th Degree Black Belt. The Chief Instructor and President of the UPKUDO International Karate Federation is Master Anne Radke, 7th Degree Black Belt with extensive training for over 30 years in self-defense and martial arts.
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/alphaupkudo/ If you want to be on the email list of updated news, events and photos - email to masteranne@upkudo.comand request to be added. All correspondence and invoices are emailed. Click on www.upkudo.com to read more about us and click on link to You Tube Alpha UPKUDO Students at top of the page to learn more through video. There you will see various techniques, bully prevention, self-defense, seminars and other useful information. You will need to subscribe and it is free to do so. Some private links are only sent to members such as Grand Master Baker sparring tips and our fighting strategies. Master Anne can send you a link if you cannot view it.The Mental and Physical advantages of UPKUDO are many! Discipline, focus, control, respect, and always doing your best but other things they learn are the importance of family and being part of a team, how to be their personal best, how to be responsible, being courteous and honorable, personal safety and anti-bullying, katas (pre-arranged set of movements to learn their karate moves), point sparring which is done with control. You improve not only your physical body but your mental thinking and spiritual strength. The more you train, the more it equips you to handle life's battles and personal growth. Passing your belt tests requires you to be disciplined.
It is recommended that you purchase children's gear at the start to fully participate, but it can be delayed a month if finances prohibit it from the being purchased at signup. Adult students do not have to purchase gear if they are not sparring. No student is allowed to spar without proper safety gear purchased from us. All students are required to purchase a uniform before beginning classes. Students must comer to class dressed in their uniform.
Students pay in advance on or before the 1st of the month. Any payments received after the 5th will incur a $10 late fee. If a student starts mid-month, it will be prorated.
Lafayette UPKUDO pay dues to the City of Tallahassee at Lafayette Community Center. Gear and Testing go to Alpha UPKUDO. ALL STUDENTS MUST PURCHASE A UNIFORM FOR $55 to 60 to participate in the class. No exceptions.
Tully's UPKUDO is paid directly to Renshi Debbie Tully. UNIFORM, Gear and Testing go to Alpha UPKUDO. All students must have a uniform purchased through Alpha UPKUDO.
Most students after they get their red belt, start paying on the degrees extra to go toward their black belt fee so the cost isn't too much at once. It generally takes 2 to 3 months after their white belt test as with each level it gets harder and with more requirements. Children in black belt are tested the same as adults so if your little guys keep with it, it will truly be earned. Process is usually 4 to 5 years to reach black belt and sometimes longer for younger children as black belt essays must be written.
Only students who are under the scholarship provided by our nonprofit pay a reduced fee of $50 per month regardless if they come to one or two classes a week. So, it is encouraged that your friends and loved ones support A Better Body.US a 501 C3 so that these students and families may benefit. Ways to do so are make contributions to A Better Body as a tax-deductible donation at www.abetterbody.org, Buy Shirts when on sale, participate in seminars (Bully for children under 12, Personal Safety for teens and adults or our Rise Up Fitness and Sparring Warrior Challenges. Many businesses like to support our events so they advertise on the event shirts for only $50. This helps are participants receive a shirt as well as a prize.
We have a demo and competition team, for students willing to commit to the demo or competition team practices. If so, they will receive a patch. However, they MUST be at all practices. Students usually purchase the pull over the head style uniform to have all their patches and special embroidery on it. This usually is $175 uniform. They also are allowed special privileges like red pants and red gear which the team wears. So, it is exciting to be on the team. All team members MUST HAVE the small school patch on the front as well as the UPKUDO Grand Master Patch on their uniforms.
Grand Master Gary Lee Baker comes and teaches the students about 1-2 times a year and member fees are only $50 each prepay a week or earlier. Spectator fees are $10 each and if not, a member it is $75 and $25. Once you test you are considered as your family is a member. It is a great time for the founder of the system to see your child and make suggestions to them and to me or the other teachers on how to teach them better. Photos are welcomed but no videotaping. We like to share all the photos taken in a folder on Facebook, so please share. A copy on video of the seminar is $35.
We usually host an inner school tournament once a year. There is a competitor entry fee of $50 which pays for the trophies and every person receives one depending on how they place and a shirt. Spectator fees helps us contribute to the nonprofit A Better Body.US and St Jude’s Children’s Hospital. These are our charities of choice.
Sometimes we go to out-of-town tournaments and compete but you must be approved to do so by Master Anne. We are always looking for shirt sponsors, if you know of a business that wants their logo on the back of the tournament shirt, it is $50 advertising sponsorship and is tax deductible.
Weapons training is reserved for green belt and up. The weapons we train in are the bo staff and the sais. You must exhibit control of the weapon and have completed the drills prior to learning the weapons katas.
Order of rank 1. No belts (kyu) 2. White belt, 3. Green Belts, 4. Red belts, 5. Black belts (and Kelegion Kais – people who are in special internship to be a teach one day) 1-10th degree. Master Anne is 7th degree and Grand Master is 9th Degree because his teacher is still alive and you cannot pass your instructor. His name is Larry Rhinehart.
Some people are recommended for Kelegion Kai rank which in means a teacher internship. To enter the program the fee is $375. An essay is required to be written as to why accepting this position would be important to you. There is no pass or fail or certain belt rank to be recommended. This assistant teaching certification allows the student after gaining adequate knowledge to help teach and eventually after a year be able to teach their own class and accept compensation for doing so. Belt ranking as long as you are a Kelegion kai is the same fees as any other student. The advantage is that you are considered in the black belt group and entitled to special privileges that other students cannot be included on.
When a student is in our karate class, it looks good on a resume for future employment. Kelegion Kais are also allowed to teach their own class after Master Anne's approval and are regularly attending classes to continue learning. This gives opportunity to be compensated while gaining experience.
Teachers and assistant instructors are as follows:
