• Position
  The student should have a good theoretical and practical knowledge of the Karate stances and techniques.
• Balance
  This is the means by which the student controls the actual body position of his or her body when it is both stationary and moving.
• Co-ordination
  This is what enables the student to execute the various techniques with controlled balance in a given position. Form The student can develop form by executing all the techniques with good position, balance and co-ordination.
• Speed
  This is where the student increases the rhythm of performance without any loss of form.
• Power
  Power is the strengthening of the techniques.
• Reflex
  Having successfully understood and developed all the above steps, the student will reach a stage, through constant repetition, whereby the techniques become a natural movement.
• Conclusion
  The student should not rush this learning process and should, as far as possible, establish and understand each individual movement.

One of the distinguishing features of kyokushin training is that with each grading you are required to demonstrate your command of everything you have learnt to date, not just the material for the current grading, and you are expected to show improvement for all material learned for previous gradings.

The underlying philosophy is that when you reach the black belt levels, you are not only a karateka, but also a teacher and exemplar (as indeed you should be all the way through) for grades junior to you. Thus, if you cannot demonstrate a command of all techniques and kata from previous gradings, then you probably shouldn't be going for the next grade.

The IFKNZ has a structured syllabus that takes you all the way to 3rd dan. The basis of this syllabus was put together by Hanshi Arneil, and it still forms the basis of a lot of syllabi, even non-IFK ones, in Europe and elsewhere.

With each grade, you are exposed to more techniques and kata with increasing complexity, and by the time you get about half way to black belt, you are also expected to be able teach basic classes. While we do train for kumite (both full-contact and Kick Boxing), the emphasis is always on being a karateka first, and then on being a fighter.

The IFK also runs international camps for all grades or just black belts, and these are at very low cost. Hanshi Arneil and his senior Shihan (Nick DaCosta, David Pickthal, Jeff Whybrow to name a few) personally teach at these camps. You must however be a member of the IFK to participate in these camps. Students If you would like to join the IFKNZ as a student, all you have to do is contact the instructor nearest to where you live for more information. At present, we only have clubs in New Plymouth, so if you're looking for Kyokushin training elsewhere in New Zealand, just contact a kyokushin club in your area. The phone book and/or the internet are very useful in helping you find one.

Black Belts

In accordance with the principles of Hanshi Steve Arneil and the International Federation of Karate, anyone who is already an actively practising black belt from another kyokushin organisation or another style of karate can be accepted into the organisation at black belt level, subject to approval from the IFKNZ Executive Committee..

There is a one-time lifetime international membership fee charged, currently NZ$35.00. If you are already dan-graded in Kyokushin, your current grade can be recognised and ratified. However, you will not be able to grade further without demonstrating a thorough knowledge and command of the syllabus up to the next grade. There are fees for the black belt recognition, and these vary depending on the grade, and these are payable to the IFK in Pounds Sterling. If you are dan-graded in a non-Kyokushin discipline, we will recognise your personal achievements and you will be able to join the IFKNZ at shodan level.You will however be required fulfill the syllabus requirements before you will be able to grade higher. Many who join often start again at white belt in the dojo, and usually progress through the grades quite rapidly because of their existing abilities . For tournaments however, in order to be fair to other contestants, they usually compete at their skill level rather than their kyokushin grade level.

Dojo Owners and Operators

If you run a dojo, kyokushin or non-kyokushin, the same rules apply as above for black belts. In the case of clubs joining the IFKNZ, there is also a very low annual dojo fee of NZ$50.00, and the club gets a voting membership in the IFKNZ.
IFK Honbu does not interfere with the running of the organisation, as long as the reputation and standards of the IFK do not come into question, and as long as the IFK syllabus is observed. Once you have joined, existing members will make every effort to bring you and your students up to speed with the syllabus.

For more information see our Contacts Page.