Our club is registered with the KDS and because of this, you can be assured that the level of instruction received will be of a very high standard. The KDS spends a lot of time to ensure that this is the case. All of our instructors are constantly under scrutiny, to maintain our expected high standards.

Our instructors are not paid - KDS clubs are financed solely by the member’s subscriptions and all the money raised goes to the upkeep of the club and used to benefit its members.

One area of great importance to the KDS is the Instructors ability to pass on technical skills, ideas and concepts that will be required by the members to improve their proficiency. To help with this, courses are arranged regularly throughout the country and are designed to improve the instructional techniques of the leaders and their understanding of the problems, which lay the path for the improvement of their members.

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Why do Karate?

Past experience has shown that people take up karate for many different reasons. Interestingly, the number of people who join to learn self defence by no means represent the majority. Many people join to get fit, some join because it's something different, and so on. Whatever the reason, those that persevere with the practice of karate invariably find it has much more to offer, both physically and mentally, than conventional sports.

Martial Arts: Fact and Fiction

Martial arts, like karate, have received considerable attention in recent years, especially through films and television. Martial artists are portrayed as being capable of astounding feats of strength, endurance and super-human athleticism. The reality of the situation is, of course, totally different. Although of course people like Harada Sensei are enormously gifted, karate will always be within the realms of the possible, where myth has no place.

Why KDS?

KDS is suitable for men and women and you don't have to be fit to begin, in fact many people start as a means of getting fit. All clubs have friendly and approachable instructors and interactive environments are encouraged in practice sessions.

What are the grades?

KDS, like most other styles, has a series of grades to differentiate between relative levels of ability. The belt colour system we use is as below:

White (Novice): All beginners start at this level
Red (6th Kyu)
Yellow (5th Kyu)
Orange (4th Kyu)
Green (3rd Kyu)
Blue (2nd Kyu)
Brown (1st Kyu)
Black (1st Dan - 5th Dan)

The 5th Dan is the highest grade in KDS. Gichin Funakoshi, the founder of Karate in Japan, held the level of 5th Dan and we in KDS do not believe that there is any need to go beyond this level.)

Gradings

New starters will be assesed for grading at the end of their first year of regular training.

Kyu gradings will be done at courses which are on the KDS Calendar either KDS Regional or National Courses. There will be a minimum two of members of the Technical Executive present.

Students should speak to the senior instructor at their club for more details of gradings and their eligibility to grade.

Fitness

Since KDS emphasises mobility, co-ordination and balance with a relaxed body condition, this particular style of Karate can be practised by anyone regardless of age, build or sex. However during the warm-up, practice can involve relatively strenuous activity. If there is any doubt about your ability to perform such exercise then the instructor can tailor the warm-up and set of practices to suit your needs.

Am I too old?

This question is often asked by the more mature students out there who are amazed by the level of fitness and flexibility of the older members of our club and falsely believe that these people must have started practising Karate at an early age. No! This is not the case. No one is too old to start Karate!

What does Shotokai mean?

Shoto, which can be translated as pine waves, was the pen name of Gichin Funakoshi, the person who originally brought karate from the Okinawan Islands to mainland Japan and is acknowledged as a founder of what we term karate today. On his death in 1956, a council (kai) was formed to organise his funeral and this council was called the Shotokai. The Shotokai consisted of members from several of the leading karate clubs in Japan. This organisation has continued to further the development of karate and has affiliated clubs in many different countries.

How does KDS differ from other karate styles?

There are many karate styles to choose from and certain styles suit different people. In KDS there is great emphasis in developing the correct relaxed body condition and the ability to move, in order to avoid or anticipate attacks and also to deliver the maximum power in techniques. Perhaps the best way to see if KDS appeals to you is to come along to a practice and try it out.

Do you enter competitions?

KDS is a traditional martial art and does not enter competition. This is because we believe that competition is against the true spirit of martial arts and also extremely ineffective in actually teaching you how to fight. Our practice does however involve sparring, but at an appropriate level for a given individual's experience.

How long does it take to master Karate?

During the practise of KDS Karate and through the use of your body, you will discover many things about yourself.

At first, this will be most noticeable in your improved physical coordination, and as the initial awkwardness of the physical exercise gradually disappears, it will leave you to perform effectively and smoothly, the movements required. You will then become more aware of the need to understand, not just the movement, but also the situation, the time and the application of the movement, with a view to eventually controlling any series of events in which you may find yourself.

We do not intend to suggest that this will be a short process, but with the guidance of your Instructor and the KDS, we hope to help you enjoy each step you take towards proficiency.

We feel that the more practise is understood, the more you will want to learn. Remember, limitations to progress are only limited by your drive to learn.

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Could you tell us a little about how you became involved with the martial arts?
I started at Staffordshire University in 1997, one of 10 sports I took up at that year's Freshers' Fair. Karate is the only one that stuck.

What grade do you currently hold?
1st Dan which I graded to in 2007

What was it about Karate that so appealed to you?
Well I hate the Gym, it's just not social enough and you don't really learn anything. Karate gives me everything from fitness to posture as well as the obvious self defence skills.

What does your own training consist of?
As well as club training, I work with Bokkens and a Powerball to build power without stiffening up the joints. Also do Pilates-type exercises for core strength.

What is your best memory from training over the years?
A 'mildly' wine inspired attempt to fit the entire London club into a Reims phone box on a course there a few years back. We succeeded after deciding our largest member was in fact technically from the Hatfield club and not counted.

When not training, what do you like to do?
There's a growing number of Malt Whisky fans within the KDS of which I'm one. And if I'm not working, I'm generally either on the Playstation or finding some new bar or restaurant in London.

What piece of advice would you give to people to help them develop their martial arts?
Stick at it! There's no such thing as a free lunch and even sporting greats like Federer or Beckham got there through sheer, hard work.

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