Karate clubs and dojos in the UK

What is karate?

Karate is a martial art that grew up in Okinawa, now part of Japan, and spread around the world during the twentieth century. It uses punches, kicks, strikes and blocks, and is trained in three parts: kihon, the basics; kata, set sequences of moves; and kumite, sparring with a partner.

In the UK the styles you will meet most often include Shotokan, Wado-ryu, Goju-ryu, Shito-ryu and Kyokushin. A club usually teaches one style and belongs to an association that sets its gradings.

What is a dojo?

Dojo is the Japanese word for the place where you train, and it means the place of the way. Many karate clubs train in a school hall or a sports centre and still call it the dojo while they are in it. You bow as you step on and off the training floor, as a sign of respect.

Belts and gradings

Beginners start at white belt and move up through coloured belts, called kyu grades, by passing gradings, often every few months. After brown belt comes black belt, the first dan grade. Reaching black belt usually takes several years of regular training, and the colours and timings vary from one association to another.

Your first class

Wear loose, comfortable clothes such as a tracksuit, and expect to train barefoot. Arrive a few minutes early, tell the instructor about any injury or health condition, and bring a bottle of water. Most first classes are a warm up and the basic stances, punches and kicks, taken slowly.

If you carry on, the club will usually ask you to buy a white karate suit, called a gi. Many clubs also ask you to take out a licence with their association, which includes insurance.

Karate for children

Classes for children usually work on coordination, listening and confidence, with games mixed into the training.

408 of the 2,397 karate clubs on EveryDojo list classes for children aged 4 to 6, and 409 for juniors aged 7 to 12.

Choosing a club

Look for an instructor with a current DBS check, first aid training and insurance, and a club that belongs to a recognised association. A profile the club has confirmed on EveryDojo shows what the club itself has told us, and a Verified badge means EveryDojo has checked its licence against a real certificate.