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Sowerby Bridge Shotokan Karate Club

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Sowerby Bridge Shotokan Karate Club has had a long history.  The club is now part of the Karate Union of Great Britain (KUGB - www.kugb.org).  At its heart it looks to foster the true potential within each student.  Karate fosters the spirit of the individual and strives to encourage each student to be the best that they can be.  With diligent training, we aim not only to create an advanced level of physical fitness but also mental fitness with confidence and determination to always do your best. 

 

Karate has many benefits for adults and children.  

 

  • It has been proven that martial arts improve concentration

  • Discipline developed from Karate becomes a valuable life skill

  • Physical fitness from Karate builds a strong and agile physique

  • Flexibility is important in preventing injury and Karate vastly improves flexibility

  • Karate builds a self-belief and self-confidence in your own abilities 

  • Tenacity is another skill learned in Karate, the ability to overcome adversity

  • Karate also brings together a group of people who passionately believe in its benefits and practice – and Karate is fun!

 

Training is provided by qualified instructors who have been fully DBS checked.  Both instructors have been training in Shotokan Karate for over 30 years and have attained senior grades.  The instructors bring a deep understanding of the mechanics of Karate, the technical details as well as the discipline and respect.  Having competed at regional, national and international level, this experience will also be used to develop the skills of students.

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Sowerby Bridge Shotokan Karate Club is a completely inclusive, non-discriminatory club welcoming all ages, backgrounds and physical abilities, from total beginners to senior grades.

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Sowerby Bridge Shotokan Karate Club

Foundry Street Community Centre

Foundry Street

Sowerby Bridge

HX6 3AS

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Training times:

Tuesday 19:30 - 21:00 

Friday19:30 - 21:00 

Juniors: 

Tuesday 19:30 - 20:30

Friday19:30 - 20:30 

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Session Fees:​

  • Free for first session

  • £5.00 per session

  • £35.00 per month Standing Order for all sessions (saving £80.00 per annum)

  • Family discount - 10% for each additional family member

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Annual Fees:

  • Club Membership £25.00 due in January each year

  • KUGB licence - Cost varies depending whether the applicant is a new or existing member as well as the age of the applicant.  Licence application can be done online here or a paper based application form can be requested from your instructor.  Licences need renewing on the anniversary of when the licence was purchased.

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History

The club was founded in1980 by Barry Gaskin a former member of the Halifax Shotokan Karate Club and was affiliated to the Karate Union of Great Britain (KUGB). Barry used to train with one of the club's current instructors, Peter Ingham, at Halifax for a number of years and had become good friends  Peter would regularly go to Sowerby Bridge to help with teaching and in1983 when Barry decided to emigrate to Australia he offered Peter the position of Chief Instructor of the club, which he was happy to accept.

Due to Barry the club had managed to obtain the services of the Chief Instructor for the KUGB, Sensei K Enoeda, as its grading examiner and for many years the club enjoyed this privilege. Sensei Y Ohta arrived from Japan to assist Sensei Enoeda and soon the club was enjoying courses and grading under Sensei Ohta as well.

Unfortunately Sensei Enoeda passed away, which was a great loss to all who had met him, and after a time Sensei Ohta formed the Japan Karate Association England. The club decided to stay with Sensei Ohta's teaching and in 2003 affiliated to the JKAE.  In 2017 Sowerby Bridge Shotokan Karate Club made the decision to re-affiliate with the KUGB.

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