Junior Martial Arts

The Park Club is pleased to be able to offer superb controlled environments for our martial arts classes. These combined with our extremely professional coaches ensure that The Park Club is the perfect place for your child to become involved in either Karate or Aikido.

Shukokai Karate is a traditional martial art that provides an exciting and challenging way to get fit, improve suppleness, co-ordination, agility, strength and all round aerobic fitness. Founded by Sensei Chijoru Tani who was taught by Sensei Kenwa Mabuni it has its foundations in the Shitoryu system, one of the original karate schools in Okinawa.

Kyo Rei Shukokai Karate now has 800 members with direct links to senior instructors in Japan, Europe and the UK. Classes emphasise on Good Manners, Respect for Elders and Discipline, with a structured syllabus and testing system.

The founder of Aikido, Morihei Ueshiba, described Aikido as being “the path to enlightenment through the study of martial arts”. It is a traditional Martial Art that teaches self defence whilst also giving its practitioners a development of the body, mind and spirit that ultimately benefits their health, their way of thinking and allows them to be more efficient and effective in their day to day activities.

Martial Arts for Young Members

Martial Arts activities are offered throughout the year to cater specifically for boys and girls. Fully qualified instructors will ensure all participants are afforded the best opportunity to develop their talent during their courses. Martial Arts activities are broadly divided in to two categories; Term Time activities and Holiday Camps. There are two main martial arts that The Park Club offer to our members, they are Karate and Aikido.

Term Time Karate and Aikido Activities

These, normally, six week courses are designed to run within Spring, Summer and Autumn school terms divided by half term holidays. The following activities are available during these times.

Karate Courses for Children Aged 4 to 5

Courses for the younger children, aged 4 and 5 years of age, focus on an early development of the core skills thus ensuring an enjoyable involvement in Karate. It will also help to develop their coordination and balance generally. Children have the opportunity to start on the Karate belt system, which will be their benchmark for their involvement in Karate.

Karate Courses for Children Aged 6 to 10

Courses for the elder children, aged 6 to 10 years of age, offer a chance to further develop the skills learned in the earlier course to a more accomplished level. Children still use the belt system and by now can see real advances in their ability.

Karate Courses for Children Aged 11 to 15

Courses for children, aged 11 to 15 years of age, see the continued emphasis on development of all areas of Karate, ensuring that the core skills of Karate become habitual for all children involved in the sport. Throughout all stages of Karate discipline is a key factor, this ensures that by this stage in Karate children are confident enough to lead their own demonstrations, under the supervision of our professional coach.

Grading for Karate is taken several times through the year, for more information please contact Pat Fisher on 020 8743 4321, or via e-mail patf@theparkclub.co.uk

Holiday Camp Multi-Sport Activities for Children Aged 4 to 15

During school holidays, week long Multi-Sport Camps are available for all young members to enjoy. The Club’s Multi-Sport Camps are very popular and are the perfect solution for those who do not wish to spend the whole day focused on one sport. Multi-Sports camps will often incorporate Karate as one of the four daily options.

All of the coaches are fully qualified and they offer a wonderfully fun and professional style to ensure that all children taking part in the all-day camps go home totally fulfilled with their days activity.

Multi-Sport Camps are available for boys and girls of all ages and can be booked on a daily basis or for the whole week. Holiday Camps afford parents the added flexibility of being able to leave their children at the Club for a ½ day or the whole day if they prefer. An early drop-off and late collection service is also available.

When Are Martial Art Courses and Multi-Sport Camps Available?

Details of when the Term Time Martial Art Courses and Holiday Multi-Sports Camps are run and the associated costs may be found in the Sports and Activity timetable or on www.mytpc.co.uk

Martial Arts Instructors

The Park Club are very pleased that they are able to offer instructors in these Martial Arts that have international experience. Our Karate Sensei is qualified to level of 4th Dan and was the national heavyweight champion in 2003. p>

Frequently Asked Questions about Martial Arts Courses and Camps

What equipment do children need to bring?

All equipment is provided by the Club.

What should they wear?

Children can take part in Martial Arts wearing just shorts and t-shirts, no footwear is required for the class as children take part bare footed. If your child wishes they can wear tracksuits but these may become restrictive as children improve their skills and ideally a suit is recommended, but not vital.

Course Outline

Unlike some courses we can not offer a course outline IN karate and Aikido as this is just not possible, but below is the structure of the Belt System that the children follow whilst taking part in Aikido at TPC.

All beginners will start with a white belt until graduated to 10th KYU

Red = 10th KYU
Yellow = 9th KYU
Orange = 8th KYU
Green = 7th KYU
Blue = 6th KYU
Purple = 5th KYU
Purple, white stripe = 4th KYU
Brown = 3rd KYU
Brown, 1 white stripe = 2nd KYU
>Brown, 2 white stripes = 1st KYU
Black Belt = Shodan

For more information on the Karate Belt system please speak to Pat Fisher, patf@theparkclub.co.uk