Frequently Asked Questions

What will it cost me? 
You may attend up to 4 trial lessons at £6 per session.  If you wish to continue training after this point you will need to join the club as a full member  Once you have paid the joining fee, you pay the member class price each time you attend a class (please refer to the prices section for a full list of pricing structure).

Do I have to pay if I don't go to class?
No. You pay for each class as and when you attend; if you are not there you don't pay. 

Are there any hidden extras in the prices?
You get everything you need to start you off in the membership cost. You will however need to renew your licence yearly. Grading, courses, tournaments, extra uniform & equipment are extra.  

Do I have to pay any monthly Direct Debits?
No. Everything is pay as you go. 

Have I got to bring a training partner?
No, there are many people who come on their own. The students are all very friendly and the club encourages everyone to interact with each other rather than stick to working with one person. 

What do I have to wear?
For your introductory lesson wear a t-shirt & track suit bottoms. If you decide to join you will receive one T-shirt & 1 pair of training trousers with your membership package. You may purchase additional uniform if you wish. 

What do I wear on my feet?
We train bare foot. You may wear Martial Arts shoes providing they do not have laces and that they have not been worn for outside use.  These must be purchased through White Tiger. 

Do I need to bring anything with me?
You will need to bring a drink with you, water, squash or energy drink is your choice, fizzy drinks are not advised. You may also need to bring a hand towel with you and perhaps another t-shirt to change into at the end of the class. 

Are there any changing rooms?
Most of the venues used are church halls and community centres which do not have changing/showering facilities, there are of course toilets available for you to change.  

How fit do I have to be?
The classes are structured for all different age, fitness and ability levels. Everyone has to start somewhere and most of us take up sport because we want to get fit.   

How old do I have to be?
Students may start from the age of 5 years old.  

Am I too old to start?
You are never too old; you know your own fitness level and work to your personal capabilities. A student who is 50 for example would not be expected to perform to the same fitness level as a 20 year old.  

Can I earn belts?
There is a structured grading syllabus from beginner through to Black Belt and beyond.  

How often do I take a grade?
Gradings are held approximately every 3 months. You must have completed a minimum amount of lessons between each belt and be able to show the techniques learnt to a reasonable standard to qualify. You will be advised when you are ready to grade, you are not expected to grade every time if you are not ready and will never be pushed into a grading that you are not comfortable with.  

Do I have to take gradings?
Students are encouraged to grade through the belt system, it gives you a goal and is a great achievement, however, you do not have to grade if you do not wish to do so.

Are there any differences between the children's and adult's syllabus?
Each age group has a syllabus structured for them.  

How does grading work?
You will be issued with a grading syllabus book within your membership package; this will explain the belt system full detail. Students are examined by the Chief Instructor up to their Brown Belt.  Little Tiger and Junior Black Belts are also examined by the chief instructor.  Adult Black Belts are graded at the CMAA head office in Manchester in front of a selected panel of examiners.  

I have trained and graded in kickboxing before with another school, do I have to start again?
If your certificate is from a reputable source then you may transfer your grade or take an assessment grade to test your abilities.  However, syllabus vary from one school to another therefore you must be able to show competance on all techniques prior to your transferred belt according to the White Tiger syllabus before you may progress to the next level. 

How long will it take me to get my Black Belt?
This varies from student to student. It will depend on your own personal ability, how often you train and how much work you put in.  On average for someone training 1-2 times per week it could be 3-4 years to reach black belt.

What is sparring?
We offer two kinds of sparring; Semi-Contact and Light Continuous. Semi Contact is points scoring based where each time a point is scored the competitors stop and return to their start position. Light Continuous is a continuous bout for a timed round.     

Is sparring dangerous?
When students decide they would like to try sparring, everyone begins with sparring exercises and drills, this helps to learn the technical side of sparing.  Students may continue with the drills and exercises for as long as they wish until they are comfortable to move up to the next level.  All sparring is controlled with protective equipment in use and supervised by a qualified instructor.

What if I really don't want to spar?
Most students find that they naturally progress into sparring as their own skills are enhanced and the higher up the belt system they move.  Many chose to have a go at sparring after a few belts, however, students do not have to spar if they do not want to.  Students are invited to watch a few sparring sessions if they are a little unsure about taking part.

Are there any restrictions to sparring?
Children will be assessed on their own abilities and may be restricted to drills only.  Adults may take part in the sparring drills as soon as they are members and may move onto sparring as they progress with their training. 

What equipment do I need?
A full set of equipment is a requirement for sparring. This includes: head guard, gum shield, boxing gloves, semi-contact gloves, groin guard (requirement for males, advisable for females), chest guard for females, shin guards and foot protectors.

How much does the equipment cost?
A good set of standard equipment can be on average around £100, you can of course get cheaper and more expensive but you get what you pay for.  White Tiger has certain restrictions on sparring equipment and only recognised manufacturers are acceptable for use during sparring.  

How do I get my equipment?
You may either order through White Tiger or purchase online direct from a reputable manufacturer.  If you wish to purchase direct it will most likely cost you more as you will also have to pay delivery.  Please check with your instructor before buying direct as you may find that it is not suitable and will have wasted your money. 

What does the member Insurance cover?
This is a Public Liability Insurance which is valid for 12 months, providing the individual and the club are members of CMAA.  It covers the individual should they accidently cause damage to property or another individual during a class session. It does not cover the individual for personal injury or loss of earnings.  White Tiger is not liable for any misuse of techniques either in or out of your class.    

Can I take part in tournaments?
There are tournaments available through the CMAA and affiliated organisations; you must have an up-to-date  licence for you to participate. Fights are separated into age, sex and experience and you must own your own full sparring equipment according to White Tiger Kickboxing's requirements. 

What else is on offer?
There are many courses and seminars available through the CMAA. Course schedules can be viewed on our events page .