About Karate

At Doushikai, we teach and grade both senior and junior students in traditional Shotokan Karate.

Learning and practising karate is a very enjoyable sport. To begin, you don't need any special or expensive equipment; you can practice at home what you learn at the club and unlike many sports it can be practised throughout the year.

The training begins simply with learning to loosen up by stretching properly. Following this, you will learn a variety of techniques, punches, kicks, "blocks", defences, deflections. It will seem strange at first, but be patient - students find that the benefits including co-ordination very quickly become apparent.

Grading takes place at regular intervals throughout the year. Successful students gain differently coloured belts, awarded according to the martial arts and personal skills which they demonstrate.

The club is affiliated to an international association, Dillman Karate International, based in Pennsylvania. This means that we are not limited to one national association (of which there are many in the UK) but have set our sights wider. This gives us an opportunity to appreciate other styles of karate and martial arts and the skills they have to offer, as well as being able to travel abroad to enhance our own skills.

Additionally, we regularly welcome senior instructors from overseas, who come to the UK to run courses and fellow students from abroad who wish to study with us. The club secretary will keep you informed of all activities which are taking place and opportunities open to you.