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KARATE NEWS

Leicester Karate Club Membership Form

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!

End of year

Dan Grading

The 15th December 2024 was another good dan grading for the dojo. 

Started at 10am with special training on the applications to Hangetsu and concentrating on the fundamentals of "fixing" legs into the ground at the moment of impact to create powerful techniques either in defence or attack. 

One of the principals of Hangetsu is how to fight on a slippy surface and how to alter foot position to maintain strong contact with the ground.

Just before 12 the dan grading took place and after nearly two hours the examinees came through with good, positive results. Congratulations to: Michael Jarvis, 1st Dan, Keith Sherriff, 2nd Dan and to two new 4th Dans: Alison Golland and Jo Sherriff.

Congratulations to them all!

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 66 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.

Soon a downloadable PDF will be available to all members which I hope some will find interesting.

It is a work in progress and covers events from 1946 right through to the present day...

Dave Wilkins

UPDATE 26th January 2025

A printed book of the clubs history including events in 2024 is now being produced and will be available to purchase in February 2025.

Details to follow soon!

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last day apr 25 Arakaki dojo

Vasil, Shoaib, Angelee, Lauren, Myself, Kadekaru, Don and Michael. Last day of training in Arakaki Dojo, Naha, Okinawa. April 2025

Okinawa group apr 2025
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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. 

© 2025 by LEICESTER KARATE CLUB

Contact us

Leicester Karate Club

75 Humberstone Gate

Leicester LE1 1WB

Downstairs in the Secular Hall Building

0116 2704279 or 07984 903082

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