Our clubs in and around London are family orientated and run by professional instructors with many, many years of experience. Yawara Martial Arts was first established by Sensei Dave Clarke in Woking South West of London over 25 years ago. Karate and Judo, which are the traditional Martial Arts styles we teach at our clubs, are ideal sports for children building self-confidence, balance, co-ordination, discipline and courtesy, while learning basic self-defence skills. You find lots of different Martial Arts clubs in London, but few have the long history of Yawara Martial Arts and can pride themselves with instructors that have the knowledge and experience of Sensei Dave Clarke.
Woking » Lightwater » Wandsworth »If you live in or around London and you're looking for a way to encourage your children to take more physical exercise it's worth considering a Martial Arts class designed for youngsters. Your child may have already expressed an interest, thanks to popular comic creations, or your child may simply be more suited to independent sports rather than team games such as football or rugby. At our Wandsworth club in London, or one of our clubs in Woking or Lightwater South-West of London, your child will learn the basics of Martial Arts in a safe and friendly environment.
Our school is the United Kingdom Seiki-Juku Karate Organisation (UKSKO). Seiki-Juku means ‘True Spirit’. The word Karate itself means ‘empty hand’, one incapable of grasping or holding on to pride, prejudice or any other selfish desire. The empty hand is to be offered to others in the service of life itself.
To have thousands of followers in any school makes it impossible for teachers to give any type of individual attention. Therefore it is the policy of our school to seek controlled expansion and to scrutinise any would be teacher, or student hoping to progress above Kyu grade. This is one major point of difference between our school and most other schools of Karate. The quality of our school comes first and foremost and is therefore preferable to an over-large group.
The sooner you can purchase a Karate suit (Gi) for your child the better. Karate suits are available from the club together with association badges. Loose clothing or a tracksuit may be worn for the first two or three training sessions. Once children have reach a certain level they will be required to have certain sparing and protection equipment.
Your child will be able to enter three Karate gradings or assessments per year, providing they have attended at least 70% of the training sessions between each grading. Under this system even very young children can see their progress without having to take severe exams. As every parent knows, nothing succeeds like success!
Championship tournaments of any type have no place in real Karate. The results of a real challenge would end in serious injury. Thus contest becomes artificial combat. Both teachers and students are required only to devote themselves to training and helping each other. However those students who wish to take part in contest in order to test both their nerve and prowess are encouraged to do so.
Our club has a very good contest record having produced Regional, Southern England and National Champions. However parents should always bear in mind that contests are only one part of Karate training and what we are really trying to teach is the pleasure of being a controlled and skilful Karate Ka (student).
It was earlier unusual for any Karate club to take junior members. Today, many enrol children from six years, or even earlier, and together these youngsters form a substantial percentage of students in the UK. Their standard of Karate is generally good, depending upon their teacher or school, and can be quite amazing. While being excellent in form, some of their techniques are delivered with a power that would easily floor an adult attacker. But, despite their explosive potential as Martial Arts exponents, the subject of children in Karate is one deserving of the greatest care and attention. It is in today's children that the future of Karate exists and it is every teacher's job to make sure they are properly nurtured. Teaching children is one of the most important tasks in any teacher's workload. Only the best instructors in a club should be in charge of junior sessions and we have one of the finest in Sensei Dave Clarke here in London. Despite a general realisation of all this, too many teachers still set about trying to teach senior Karate to juniors. It must be remembered that Karate in its original form was designed as a pure fighting art in an age when people did not live to advanced years. There was no need for training routines to take into account any long-term effect of stress on joints and such complications as osteoarthritis. Children today should be kept well clear of anything of that nature. They grow in fits and starts at different times and can do without extra stress which may have an adverse effect on their muscular and skeletal structure.
Our Judo school, the Anglo Japanese is the oldest Judo and Martial Arts Association in the UK, founded by Kaoru Mishiku Sensei in 1929. Mishiku Sensei was a master of Judo, Ju-jutsu and Kendo, and a graduate of the Sekai Butokukai, which was the premier Martial Arts University of Japan.
The form of Judo practised by our club is Kyo Shin Do, which is not merely a style of Judo, but a philosophy, laying great emphasis on safety, discipline and the building of confidence.
The sooner you can purchase a Judo suit (Gi) for your child the better. Judo suits are available from the club together with association badges. Loose clothing or a tracksuit may be worn for the first two or three training sessions.
Your child will be able to enter three Judo gradings or assessments per year, providing they have attended at least 70% of the training sessions between each grading. Up to the age of 10, your child will add to their white belt when they are successful. Under this system even very young children can see their progress without having to take severe exams. As every parent knows, nothing succeeds like success!
Our club has a very good contest record having produced Area, Regional, Southern England and National Champions. However, parents should always bear in mind that contests are only one part of Judo training and what we are really trying to teach is the pleasure of being a controlled and skilful Judo Ka (student).
Judo teaches children self-discipline and respect for oneself and others. Judo provides the means for learning self-confidence, concentration, and leadership skills, as well as physical coordination, power, and flexibility. As a sport that has evolved from a fighting art, it develops complete body control, fine balance, and fast reflexive action, which will benefit children in all aspects of life. Above all, it develops a sharp reacting mind well-coordinated with the same kind of body. Judo training also gives a child an effective self-defense system if the need arises.
Kodomo (Karate for Children)
Call Sensei Dave Clarke to Join Today!
Contact Number: 07956 291064
Email: info@yawaramartialarts.com
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