Welcome to your local Shotokan Karate Kai.
Ruddington Shotokan Karate Club has been established at the Village Hall in Ruddington for over 40 years!
If you are a newcomer to this sport then here is a short introduction to our style of karate ‘Shotokan’, which is the most practised style throughout the U.K. Europe and Japan. The style is very distinctive with its deep stances and powerful movements, but also stylish and elegant in its variety of Kata’s [set sequence]. Our club has been established for over 40 years, using methods that are close to the traditional Japanese way, with strict discipline to encourage a good training atmosphere within the club.
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Our classes are specifically designed to cater for those of you who have never had any experience in the martial arts before. There is a friendly family atmosphere, which allows you to participate without feeling overwhelmed or inadequate. The senior grades will explain all the basic exercises and techniques needed during the course, to enable you to prepare for your first grading.
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All lessons start with a warm-up; stretching and stamina exercises are also incorporated to improve your fitness and physique over a period of time. Training is tuned to individual needs, because everyone is different in their capacity to learn and raise their level of fitness. Everyone can benefit from Karate training, but only if they are prepared to work hard over a long period of time. The obvious benefits of being able to defend yourself are many fold, Karate is a great character builder, and we have brought many people out of themselves and also calmed a few rebellious personalities.
Club history
Ruddington Shotokan Karate Club has been established for over 40 years. The Club has developed methods that are close to the traditional Japanese way, with strict discipline to encourage a good training atmosphere.
Formation
The club was first established as part of Clifton Shotokan with Shihan Harvey Barker [6th Dan] as Chief Instructor of B.A.S.K.A and Sensei Dave Broughton [5th Dan] as the Club instructor. The club flourished under B.A.S.K.A. and Students travelled the country attending course’s and competitions.
Expansion
After a few years Shihan Harvey Barker broke away and formed his own association [E.A.S.K.A] with the Clubs at Clifton and Ruddington as the Main clubs featuring many courses and competitions in all styles not just Shotokan. This was a feature for many years with clubs from Kung –fu and Tae Kwon Do in the association.
Established
In the late 1980’s Rob Pannell [5th Dan] who had previously been a student of Sensei Barker took over as instructor of the Ruddington club. He expanded the club to include training sessions at Rushcliffe Arena and St.Peter’s School Ruddington. The club at this time prospered and well over 35 students have reached their Black belts with some going even further going on to pass their 4th Dan’s training with the club for 20 years.
Today
Sensei Kevin Rowley [4th Dan] is our Chief Instructor at the club assisted by several in-house trained junior and senior instructors. We are now part of Community Shotokan which is affiliated to Feko our main governing body. Sensei Raj Kumar [7th Dan] oversees the standard and reputation of our club and personally takes all the Black Belt grading’s.
A SHORT HISTORY OF KARATE
Karate - Empty Hand
The art of Shotokan Karate has been practised for many years, originating in Okinawa, an island located in the East China Sea 500 miles south of Japan. In 1477, following a period of political turbulence, the Shogun of Okinawa [Sho-Shin] banned the carrying and use of weapons by the nobles and peasants. So unable to defend themselves a fighting system was designed which uses hands and feet to deliver blows, kicks and strikes with great power and strength. The name ‘KARATE’ means ‘EMPTY HAND’, which emphasises there is no need for weapons or violent thoughts.
‘KARATE-DO’ [THE WAY OF KARATE] is a method of teaching Karate which is designed to develop the mind and body. Although at first forbidden, karate was openly taught and vigorously introduced into schools.
Okinawa’s Japanese overlords were very impressed by karate and asked for a demonstration. This they did, using a school teacher named GICHIN FUNAKOSHI, who had studied under two karate instructors [Masters Azato & Itosu] and was a dedicated Karateka. They were very impressed and he was invited to promote Karate on the Japanese mainland and to eventually establish a permanent training centre, which he named ‘THE SHOTOKAN’.
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During the years following Funakoshi’s demonstration in 1915,other Okinawan masters travelled to Japan to teach their art and in doing so formally introduced to the world an effective system of unarmed hand to hand combat. Although Karate has had to change and adapt to different cultures over the years. Its fundamental principles have stood the test of time. Today’s students of the art will practice many of the techniques as they were taught hundreds of years.