Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, the first class is free with a signed liability waiver. Please come train with us and see if our dojo is right for you!
Clothing: For beginning students, any clothing appropriate for standard athletic activities will work: shorts and T-shirts, sweats, etc.
Footwear: Karate training is barefoot. This helps one study body dynamics, movement, and power generation from the foundation on up. We currently allow exceptions for clean, indoor-only trainers at student discretion. Do not train in footwear of socks only. They are slippery on the wood floor.
Uniforms: Karate uniforms are optional, though recommended. Uniforms should be traditional and all white. One option is the Tokon Martial Arts uniform. Male students are required to wear an athletic cup.
Patches: For your Karate Uniform, there are patches available from the IKA Karate Headquarters. Patches should be sewn onto the left breast of the karate uniform with the fist symbol on top.
‘Budo’ is a Japanese term for ‘The Martial Way’. In one common modern interpretation, the kanji translate literally to “Way of stopping the spear”. In other words, stopping violence and related nonsense in its tracks, both through internal (practice, growth) and external (martial skills) resources.
[**”martial skills” is meant here in the broadest sense to include not just physical abilities but also situational awareness, tactics, de-escalation etc.]
Yes. We come from a tradition where all the instructors keep their arts alive by also being continual students. Endless learning. Here are a couple videos of Kyoshi Lindquist training with fellow students at the Estes Park Dojo.
We emphasize self-discipline, and we insist on self-control and courtesy both on and off the floor.
That said, a reasonably orderly class does promote learning and safety. “Courtesy” in the broad sense does include some elements of protocol, such as bowing on and off the floor and to fellow students during practice. And being on time for class.
For more on discipline vs self-discipline and respect vs. courtesy, see Iain Abernethy’s lesson Discipline and Respect in the Martial Arts.
Mr. Lindquist’s official title on the floor is “kyoshi”. In the past it has been “shihan”. “Sensei”, “sir”, and “Mr. Lindquist” are all also totally fine on the floor. For any guest instructors, it may depend upon context however “sensei” is a good all-purpose start. What we are doing here is emphasizing a heightened attention to best manners and good form, in and out of the dojo.
Outside the dojo, in acceptance that we’re embedded in American culture, thus deviating a bit from fully Japanese martial arts protocols, my first and last name have worked fine for me since I was born, no harm in using them for adults. I would prefer students under 18 continue to address me by last name or title outside the dojo. It’s an echo of older-generation manners to which I’d hope younger students are at least exposed.
Shudokan, meaning “house where you master the way”, is Okinawan karate out of the tradition of Kanken Toyama (see the lineage chart: Toyama – Hanoue – Brock – Brownridge – Scott – Lindquist).
This is not to be confused with the Shudokan branch of Wado-kai karate, nor the Shotokan karate of Funakoshi sensei, both of which Mr. Lindquist has studied in times past.
Gosoku-ryu, or “hard-fast style”, is the karate of Soke Takayuki Kubota, head of the International Karate Association out of Glendale, CA. North Boulder Budo is a member of the International Karate Association (IKA)
This is the name for Sensei Iain Abernethy’s study of the practical application of karate. Sensei Abernethy has put passionate effort into researching the historical origins and civilian-self-defense roots of traditional Japanese and Okinawa karate, and we take much of our lead on day to day exercises from his work.
Much is made of martial arts lineages, oftentimes too much, and the realities are often far more complex than simplistic answers convey. Since time immemorial students have moved amongst cities, trained several years with one instructor then for various reasons moved on to another, forming a complex web of connections that defy simplistic description. Here’s a sketch of some of the sources of Mr. Lindquist’s training, and some of their main paths of heritage.
Many traditional martial arts schools have lists of values or guidelines emphasized, with variations but frequently strong similarities amongst different karate schools and styles. We currently echo the phrasing from the Shudokan tradition: Character, Sincerity, Effort, Etiquette, Self-Control. We will sometimes repeat these aloud at the end of class as reminders.
Please use our Contact Form to ask us anything else about our training.