Where and When:

Currently we train at our community hall Dojo every Saturday for a Kids Class and Wednesday for Adults of all abilities.

The 'Carlton Road' community hall is located Upstairs at Wadsley URC, Carlton Road, Hillsborough, Sheffield, S6. Click here for a map and to get directions

Please arrive half an hour before the start of the training session to get changed and signed in.

The cost for each session is £5 (£2.50 for Full-Time Residential Students at the University of Sheffield on production of a valid U-Card) with equipment provided where used. You will need a Gi (karate suit) if you are a beginner, which we can supply, or you can get one from from a sports shop such as Decathlon. If you train with us, and don't already have one, then you will need an AMA licence, which also includes insurance (around £10 for a new member). All Dojo's are covered by full public liability insurance with the senior Sensei's covered by instructors insurance.

If you would like to train at Sheffield Shotokan KC:

For Beginners: Please contact Sensei Bob Hague by Bob's e-mail. Bob will take you through the steps you need to become a member of SSKC. This will include registration and licencing, which costs around £10. Once you are signed up, there will be a trial period to make sure that you are comfortable with the environment and training. After this period we require you to obtain a formal Karate suit (Gi), these can be purchased from the SSKC, through the Internet or a large sportsware retailer such as Decathlon.

For other Karate-ka: Again please contact Bob Hague so that he can arrange a Licence for you and assess your current level and requirements.

Whatever your grade we aim to provide a training environment that will stretch you physically and mentally, whilst being safe and progressive in the art of teaching Karate.

Carlton Road Dojo:

• The Carlton Road Dojo is a spacious upper church hall, run by really friendly church members.
• We are so lucky to have this kind of space for our club, they have also allowed us to have a storage room to keep our equipment which is a good thing because this is were most of the club funds go.
• Every Dojo member must have at least a square metre of space according to regulations, and this place certainly fills the expectations.
• It is ideal for courses or exhibitions. With a really high roof the atmosphere is great.
• We have the ability to turn our hand to anything during training whether it be mats or body armour (every child member is provided with it during fighting training)

General Training:

As with all Shotokan Karate, we follow three basic aspects of training: Kihon (Basic Techniques); Kata (Formal Movements); and Kumite (Sparring).

Kihon:

Kihon is the repetition of a single or group of techniques (see pictures below), these are important to teach beginners correct technique and for all karate-ka to polish and hone their skills.

Kata:

The left picture shows Kata, which uses a traditional set of movements as developed by the forefathers of Karate. Kata builds external and internal strength through the use of technique, breathing control and 'Zanchin' (typically described as a heightened sense of awareness). This can then be taken through to Bunkai (application of Kata, second picture), which uses the moves of the Kata in a one-step (Ippon) Kumite setting. This practice of the movements in a realistic form allows the student to make the kata work in short form. The next three pictures show students practicing Tekki Shodan Kata. This Kata is performed in Horse Stance (Kiba-Dachi) along a line to the left and the right, this movement represents fighting as if with your back to the wall.

Kumite:

Before the step up to free sparring (Ju-Kumite, right-hand picture), there are many intermediate forms of sparring the most basic of which is Gohon Kumite (5 step sparring, left-hand picture). This typically leads to Ippon Kumite (one-step sparring, picture second left) and Ju Ippon Kumite (semi-freestyle sparring, picture third left), which is an essential part of the Dan grading syllabus.

Combination Training:

We regularly combine two or more of the traditional methods of training above, plus ideas from other Martial Arts, with the aim to create either a more realistic training environment or a situation that requires the student to engage further with their training. Such examples of this include bag and pad work (left-most pictures) and taking a set of techniques practised in Kihon and applying them in an Ippon Kumite style exercise (pictures 1, 1A, 1B and 2).

Kids Class:

The Saturday class is a learn and compete session, with our young at heart members baring in mind that the youngsters are the future of the club. The Kids Class instructors are fully licensed and insured, CRB background checked through the sports governing body (Karate England) and licensing authority (Amateur Martial Association) and hold a current first aid certificate.

Equipment:

• We are big believers in training with equipment to enhance training.
• There is no equipment for you to purchase at our club, as the club funds are re-invested every year.
• The only equipment to buy will be your suit, which can be bought anywhere.

Fit to Perform:

• As you can see below we encourage athleticism and the ability to fall and cope with any tumble that you might incur.
• You should then also have the ability to throw and be thrown.
• Please note this is a non compulsory part of training and does not appear in any gradings for belts.

Disclaimer: All media showing technical activities are demonstrated by licensed members of Sheffield Shotokan Karate Club, under the supervision of an instructor who is fully licensed and has completed their association recognised coaching award. In addition to this the premises are covered by the appropriate public liability insurance. Sheffield Shotokan Karate Club is in no way responsible for any injuries occurring through the use or misuse of the techniques demonstrated. Any opinion expressed on this website is that of the author's and not necessarily Sheffield Shotokan Karate Club or it's individual members. All content is © Sheffield Shotokan Karate Club and/or it's respective Author.