STRENGTHEN YOUR CHARACTER
We have some of the highest ranked male and female karate instructors in the UK.
Former European and National Champions.
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DECEMBER 2025
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The oldest established Karate Club in Great Britain est. 1966
KARATE NEWS
Leicester Karate Club Membership Form
HDKI National Championships
Several of the members took part in their first Karate competition in Solihull on the 11th October. Everyone commited to their cause very well and some good results and near misses. Well done to Joseph Gunduz on gaining the bronze medal in the mens kata and a big well done must go to 10yr old Edison Boland on winning his four fights and winning the gold medal on his first ever tournament!
Roll on next event!
Luxembourg Oct 2025
This years 2nd instalment of the academy training took place in Luxembourg. A great historical city and an enjoyable trip with Lauren, Jade, Mark and Anne.
Training was began with Nico pushing everyone through their paces on the Friday, followed by Mike Fedyk and Jim Martin on the Saturday with testing combinations. On the Sunday Dirk Heene finished the course with bunkai to Nijushiho and principle of movement and grounding bodies to make kime.
Looking forward to Portugal in May 2026.
Leicester University Karate
Joel Mander asked me to help with setting up the university karate club and the 5th October saw a group of 16 willing students, some with karate experience from various places in the UK (and one student from India) all taking part.
Lauren and myself both ran a basic introductory class covering some basic principles and all the students picked up very quickly with the principles and good positive feedback received at the end.
Hopefully a good start to a new karate dojo.
Sandan Above Class
20/21 Sept 2025
Even at a higher level of training and experience there is always the drive to get better and to develop knowledge and skills. Well there was no shortage of commitment and endeavour during this senior weekend. The first day I taught Hoya Kumite as shown to me by Steve Cattle in the early nineties. Everyone picked this up quickly and good hard training throughout.
Calmed it down on the Sunday with a detailed look at Gojushiho Sho.
Well done to all the seniors that took part. Just managed to squeeze everyone on to the mats!
Japan Easter 2025
Another excursion to Japan has come to an end and once again a great holiday (and training) completed. Lauren, Don and myself have all been before but new experience for Don's daughter Angelee, Lucy from "up north!", Vasil and Shoaib. Lady named Angie who isn't from the karate world also joined in on our adventure.
The first week in Okinawa was great with over 10 hours of training under the attentive eye of Kadekaru who was an excellent, patient host and many thanks for taking Lauren and me through the oldest version of Gojushiho. Very interesting and a new project to develop this kata!!
A big congratulations to Angelee on passing her black belt in the Budokan, in Naha while she was there. A more impressive feat after recovering from a virus a couple of days before.
The second week was sightseeing around Tokyo, Kyoto and many more. Some great weather and new sights to experience. Roll on August 2026 when we are aiming for a two week trip to Okinawa with lots of training and fun times ahead!
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 84 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 12th September 2025
A printed book of the clubs history is now produced - still some copies left to buy!
Vasil, Shoaib, Angelee, Lauren, Myself, Kadekaru, Don and Michael. Last day of training in Arakaki Dojo, Naha, Okinawa. April 2025
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.
