This note is intended mainly for our new students, but our old hands should still look through it to make sure you have everything
you need for your training.
Membership...
This is your insurance. The cost of membership is £25 per annum. This can be paid in one or as a monthly standing order. Both options
are available in the online store. You will need this before you are permitted to belt test.
Suits...
Suits are currently £21 for child sizes (160cm and
below) adult sizes are £26. Suits are available to order from your instructor when you are ready and committed.
Gradings...
These are belt tests and cost £20.
We ordinarily run belt tests every three months (March, June, September and December) but the schedule is still a little disrupted by Covid. Dates of belt tests are announced in classes, on the website and on the ATMA students group. If you would like to be
added to the ATMA students group, add 'Laura ATMA Fisher' as a Facebook friend and we'll add you to the group.
You will need to pass a fitness test and submit
a written test before being allowed to grade. Details of both of these can be found on this site. Fitness tests can be found by clicking on the Fitness Tests tab on the menu. Knowledge assessments are on the Documents and Info tab for both children and adults.
The information to help you complete these tests in under the Background Info tab.
Kit......
A note went out when we returned after the final lockdown
about having your own kit to minimise contamination. This has not changed. Even without Covid, shared kit can lead to things like ringworm being passed around.
You
will need:
1.
Pads. Either focus pads or thai pads. Examples of both are shown on the ATMA Student group on Facebook.
2. Bo staff. It's the big sticks you see us waving around. Fancy carbon graphite ones are available online from £25 upwards. Master Fisher has two types of wooden
bo staff available (£12-15). If you have small children, broomsticks will do the job, or a piece of dowling rod from B&Q (with the added bonus that they can decorate the ends to personalise them). Remember, carbon graphite will not take the contact
work as well as wood will!
3.
Rubber/wooden knife. (between £4 and £12) Knife form is a syllabus requirement from red belt onwards. You can have your own at any time, but in the case of children, this is at the parents' discretion.
4. Sparring kit. Now that we can have contact again, we will
be making a return to sparring. You will need:
-Boxing gloves (around 8oz for kids, 10-12oz plus for adults. The heavier you are, the more padded your
gloves should be)
-Shin/ foot protection. This can either be in the form of boots with separate shin protection or combined. Examples are shown on the ATMA Students group on
Facebook. Again, choose something that looks weight and size appropriate. Tiny padding is for tiny people.
-Headguard. Examples are shown on the ATMA Students group on
Facebook. They are available with face guards based on personal choice.
- Groin/ chest protection. We strongly recommend that all males wear a groin
protector. The reasons why are obvious. Once breasts have developed, I would recommend chest protection (it is optional). Most female chest protectors are terribly designed, usually by people without breasts but I'll present several examples that may suit.
Female groin guards are also available, but are utterly pointless.
-Gumshield. These vary from the pricey, dentist made ones to cheap, 'boil in the
bag' models. If you have a small child/ still growing mouth/ don't spar that often, a cheap one will do. If you compete/ spar regularly and you have all your adult teeth, you may want to consider a moulded one. Gumshields do not just save teeth, but they prevent
teeth cutting the inside of your mouth.