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Former European & National Champions.
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2026 is our 60th year - the oldest karate club in the U.K.
KARATE NEWS
Quote of the Month
“Concentrate your mind first then your body will follow."
Sensei Taiji Kase
Leicester Karate Club Membership Form
80th Anniversary
What a day! On Saturday 24th October, almost 80 years to the day, our dojo was born. All thanks to a pioneer of Judo, Harry Ewen (see below). In 1960, Aikido began and 6 years later, Karate was established.
We ran two special karate/aikido classes with Peter Brown, Carl Brown and myself teaching. Everyone who took part, which involved aikido and karate students, some who travelled from Cambridge and some from as far as Lithuania to take part in the training. The classes were enthusiastically received and all thoroughly enjoyed the training.
On the ground floor almost 40 story boards going through some of the history from 1946 to present were viewable and it was good to meet students from the 70s, 80s, 90s that used to train in the dojo and had fond memories to share.
A lady that came with her grandson was the daughter of Fred Brown who pioneered aikido in 1960 and was a former teacher of Peter Brown. It was great to see her there and her grandson may consider taking up aikido.
Peter Brown also celebrated a milestone of 60 years of aikido this weekend, it is an honour to have his expertise in the dojo every Friday evening.
A great day and a memorable weekend with black belts training on Jion Go on the Sunday.
Happy Birthday and Parliamentary recognition!
On the weekend of June 13th and 14th Leicester Karate Club held its 60th anniversary exhibition and I am pleased to say it was a great success and it was great to meet students from the dojo who trained in all the decades from the sixties, seventies right through to present day. Stories shared, contacts made and some great new information and archive photos. Thanks to Lynne Conroy for some great memories and to Tony Hodgkin for some photos from before I began my own karate journey.
We have also now been recognised in the UK Parliament:
60 years of Leicester Karate Club, the UK's oldest karate club - Early Day Motions - UK Parliament
Club History
In December 2022 I began a project of documenting the history of our martial arts club which, as it stands, is the oldest established martial arts club in Great Britain. Same venue since it started in October 1946.
I have found newspaper articles, and various media articles as well as old photos and write ups on our dojo, its instructors and much more. So far it is around 120 x pages deep with content being added on a regular basis.
Sometimes more questions arise than answers on the dojos history and as the sands of time move on, some information as to what happened at various times in the club are open to speculation.
It is a work in progress and covers events from 1946 right through to the present day...
Dave Wilkins
UPDATE 5th Sept 2026
A 2nd special anniversary edition will be available at the end of the year, much more content!
Harry Ewen founded Leicester Martial Arts dojo in October 1946 and such was its popularity that around 300 people trained in the dojo every week. Initially Jiu Jitsu but changed to Judo a year later. Aikido started in 1960 and Karate started in 1966. We train in the oldest, established club in Britain.
