What style of Karate do you teach?  We teach Shotokan Karate which is a traditional martial art developed in Okinawa and Japan and introduced to the UK in the 1950’s. 

Who will be teaching my child?  There are four main instructors.  See our instructors page.

How much does it cost to train?  We keep our sessions charges very low, current charge is £3 per session.

Why is it so cheap?  The club keeps its costs as low as possible as we believe we should make karate available to as many people as we can. 

Who do I pay?  Sessions are paid for at the beginning of each session in cash.

Are there any other costs?  Once you are sure they definitely want to continue learning karate there are further costs which we have explained below and your instructor can give you details of these costs.

    A Karate suit:  The suit that students wear to train is called a Gi.  

    A karate licence:  You must be licensed in order to train and take grades.

    Karate mitts:  Not required initially as the club will have spare pairs, get mitts when you can afford them. 

    Grades: In order to be able to wear the next colour belt you must take an exam known as a grading. 

How often are gradings held?  Grading occurs every 3 months and your instructor will tell you if you will be allowed to grade. 

How often should I train?  Initially once a week, if your child is under 7.  Over 7 it is ideal to train twice a week.

Where and when can I train?  The club is based at Stockport Lads Club on Hempshaw Lane, Stockport.  We train Thursday evenings 7:30pm to 8:30pm and Saturdays afternoons 4pm to 5pm. Both sessions are open to all students, although we generally split the classes between juniors and seniors. 

Are the sensei’s DBS (formally CRB) checked and First Aid trained? Sensei Grice, Sensei Moore and Sensei Neil Philips are enhanced DBS checked and First Aid trained.

Will me or my child get hurt? Whilst every effort is made to ensure you or your child do not get hurt. You should be aware that Karate is a contact sport and as such injuries can occur. 

Useful advice for parents: 

Please ensure your child’s instructor is aware if your child has any additional learning needs or medical conditions. 

Do not compare your child to any other child in the dojo. Every child is unique and they will develop at their own pace. 

Do not tell your children off if they are not training to a standard YOU expect of them. This is the quickest way to ensure your child gives up karate. Your child’s instructor will tell you if they have any issues with your child’s behaviour whilst they are in the dojo. 

Whilst we encourage mums and dads to stay and watch their children train, you should avoid communicating or interacting with your child whilst they are training. This distracts your child and sends them confusing messages. 

If you need to talk with an instructor never attempt to do this during a training session unless it is an emergency. All instructors will be happy to answers any questions before or after the session.

The key to helping your child gain a black belt is to ensure that they enjoy training, feel confident about their ability and know that their parents are proud of them.

Remember : If you are sat watching thinking I could do that, We are not just a kids Karate club, we have many Mums and Dads who have sat and watched their kids train and decided to join in themselves, we teach from 4 years to as old as your body will allow, so if you want to keep fit while learning a traditional martial art then get up and have a go ….