Explanation of UPKUDO Classes

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.com and 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.

1. 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.
   
   
2. SAFETY TRAINING GEAR set usually runs $150 plus tax for the entire set which includes headgear, hand gear, footgear, mouthguard and holder, and tote bag. This can be paid on master cards, visa or cash or check. Shin Insteps are recommended to avoid the clashes to the shins in sparring They are $35 and the groin cup supporter for all boys over 7 years of age and men are $25 for the set. 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 and the costs for that is $60 up. Students must come to class dressed in their uniform.
   
   
3. Payments: At Alpha UPKUDO we accept cash, check (made payable to Alpha). Mastercard and Visa have an additional 4% processing fee for dues and gear. For testing fees since they go to Grand Master they must be check or cash only. There are no refunds or deferred charges as we do not have contracts like most schools.
   
   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.
   
   
4. After 30-60 days from joining, students may test after they have learned their basics for their first belt in karate called a white belt. Depending on how well they do, they can also receive at that time up to 3 stripes which are called degrees. Teachers give the approval and Master Anne calls the students family to schedule a day to test. The fee for this belt is $45.
   
   The following belts are longer time periods to earn and have a higher fee as belt rank goes up. Degrees on kyu belts are only $30 each. Yellow then 1, 2 3rd degree yellow, Green then 1,2 3 degree green, Red then 1,2, 3rd degree red and finally Black Belt. Black belt takes usually 3 to 4 years to accomplish this. Advancement is based more on skills acquired rather than time frame.
   
   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.
   
   
5. Alpha UPKUDO classes are taught by Master Anne Radke (adult and teens) and she oversees all classes of the Federation. Renshi Liz Tatum, Mr. Josey teach in Wednesday Children Class, Sensei Justin with other black belts teach Monday class. Master Anne teaches Wednesday teens and adults class. Class fees are based on 4 or 8 classes a month. Any months that have holidays are usually evened out with the months that have five weeks. There is no extra charge for five-week months. Fees are $100 per month. Only students who are under the scholarship ABB4ME that is 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, 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. Donations made to our 501C3, A Better Body.US are tax-deductible.
   
   
6. Patches on the front can be purchased at any time. They are the sew on kind $20 for the Grand Master Federation patch and $20 for the Alpha School Patch. The embroidery on the back is custom and the fee is $75 and can be done at any time. Contact Master Anne by phone (850) 514-4334 or email masteranne@upkudo.com if you would like to do this or purchase patches.
   
   
7. 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 $225-300 per 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.
   
   
8. Grand Master Gary Lee Baker usually comes and teaches the students about 1 time a year. Participation in the seminar is $50 for members, and $75 for non-members. Spectator fees are $10 for UPKUDO family members and $25 for non-family members. Once you test you are considered as family, and 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 video recording or streaming during his visits. 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.
   
   
9. 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 Children's Research 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.
   
   
10. 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.
    
    
11. Order of rank 1. No belts (kyu) 2. White belt, 3. Green Belts, 4. Red belts, 5. Black belts 1-10th degree (and Kelegion Kais – people who are in special internship to be a teacher one day). 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.
    
    
12. 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. They must adhere to the rules and guidelines.

We have an extensive YouTube channel called Alpha UPKUDO Students to show you how to do the techniques, tie your belt and much more. Go to the link below and subscribe.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwOQGAMmOuX2mAxEu4VjH7w/playlists

There is so much more and the web tells some of it. www.upkudo.com. But maybe this will help with any questions you have. If you have any questions, please contact your instructor or Master Anne Radke at (850) 566-4544 or masteranne@upkudo.com. Sometimes, before class there is time to meet and discuss things and always afterwards. You can also make an appointment during the day if needed. Once it gets close to 5:30pm on class days, students are coming in and preparing by stretching before class so this is not a good time for meetings. We also participate in free food donations and you are welcome to take some.

Our phone number is (850) 514-4334 and personal cell phone (850) 566-4544 if you have questions. Always here to answer them for you. You will receive emails and possibly texts about invoices or upcoming events.

So glad to have you part of the family!

Children's Rules