In addition to weekly and termly classes, Shiranamikai hosts regular visits by the Chief Instructor of JKA England, Ohta Yoshinobu 8th Dan.
Our affiliation with The Japan Karate Association affords our members opportunities to participate in professionally-run competitions, and training camps where they receive world class tuition by the best instructors from our association’s headquarters in Tokyo.
JANUARY 2026
Thursday 1st January
New Year’s Day
Saturday 3rd January
SHIRANAMIKAI 17TH ANNIVERSARY
Lesson followed by dinner – let’s make this a great start to the year!
Swiss Cottage
Training: 4pm
Followed by dinner.
Sunday 17th January
National Kata Course & AGM
Surrey Sports Park, Richard Meyjes Road, Guildford GU2 7AD
Training: 10am-1pm
AGM: 2-5pm
FebruarY 2026
Sunday 8th February
Referee Course
Suitable for instructors and senior grades looking to officiate.
Sports Village, de Havilland Campus, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield Business Park, Hatfield, AL10 9EU
Theory: 11am-1pm
Practical: 2-4pm
(Timings TBC)
Saturday 14th February
Valentine’s Day
Tuesday 17th February
Pancake Day
Saturday 21st February
South East England Regional Course
SportsDock, University of East London, University Way, London, E16 2RD
10am-1pm
(Venue and timings TBC)
Sunday 22nd February
JKA Wales National Course & Dan Grading
JKA Wales national course followed by a dan grading. Open to JKA England members.
Abergavenny Leisure Centre, Old Hereford Road, Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, NP7 6EP
Training: 11am-1pm
Grading: 2-5pm
(Venue and timings TBC)
March 2026
Saturday 7th March
London & South East Region Karate Championship
The Life Centre Sports Hall, Bromley College, Rookery Lane, Bromley, BR2 8HE
Beginners to purple/white belts: 9.30am-1pm Brown and black belts: 12.30-4pm
(Venue and timings TBC)
Sunday 8th March
Central & Northern Region Karate Championship
Sunday 15th March
Mother’s Day
Friday 27th March
SPECIAL TRAINING SESSION
JKA England Chief Instructor Ohta Sensei will be visiting to teach a special class. Preceded by a grading for eligible students.
JKA England friends are welcome to attend, subject to space.
Grading: 6pm
Training: 6.30-8pm
Sunday 29th March
British Summer Time begins
April 2026
Friday 3rd April
Good Friday
Sunday 5th April
Easter Sunday Training
10am
Monday 6th April
Easter Monday
Easter Holiday Activities
Our karate classes run throughout holiday periods.
Beginners are always welcome.
Friday 24th, Saturday 25th, Sunday 26th April
JKA England Spring International Gasshuku
Special guest instructors from the Tokyo Sohonbu join Ohta Yoshinobu 7th Dan, Chief Instructor in England, for this world-renowned international JKA training camp. Dan grading for eligible course attendees.
K2 Leisure Centre, Pease Pottage Hill, Crawley, West Sussex, RH11 9BQ
Friday: 5-8pm
Saturday & Sunday: 10am-1pm
May 2026
Friday 8th & Saturday 9th May
JKA European Championship
Norway
Sunday 17th May
Central Region Course
June 2026
Saturday 20th June
JKA England National Karate Championship
Represent your club by competing alongside JKA members from across the country in kata, kumite and team events.
K2 Leisure Centre, Pease Pottage Hill, Crawley, West Sussex, RH11 9BQ
Doors: 9.15am
Colour belts: 10am
Brown belts and above: 12.30pm
Sunday 21st June
Fathers’ Day
Friday 26th June
SPECIAL TRAINING SESSION
JKA England Chief Instructor Ohta Sensei will be visiting to teach a special class. Preceded by a grading for eligible students.
JKA England friends are welcome to attend, subject to space.
Grading: 6pm
Training: 6.30-8pm
July 2026
Sunday 13th July
National Course & Dan Grading
JKA England national course followed by a dan grading. Open to JKA England members.
Sports Village, de Havilland Campus, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield Business Park, Hatfield, AL10 9EU
Training 10am-1pm; Grading 2-5pm
(All details TBC)
August 2026
Summer Holiday Activities
Looking for an activity this summer? Our karate classes run throughout the school summer holidays.
Beginners are always welcome.
Monday 31st August
Summer Bank Holiday
September 2026
Saturday 12th September
Examiner Course
For JKA examiners.
Sports Village, de Havilland Campus, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield Business Park, Hatfield, AL10 9EU
Theory: 11am-1pm
Practical: 2-4pm
(All details TBC)
Friday 18th September
SPECIAL TRAINING SESSION
JKA England Chief Instructor Ohta Sensei will be visiting to teach a special class. Preceded by a grading for eligible students.
JKA England friends are welcome to attend, subject to space.
Grading: 6pm
Training: 6.30-8pm
October 2026
Sunday 4th October
Instructor Course
Suitable for instructors.
Bradbourne Vale Rd, Sevenoaks TN13 3LE
Theory: 10am-1pm
Practical: 2-5pm
(All details TBC)
Sunday 25th October
British Summer Time ends
Saturday 31st October
JKA England Open Karate Championship
Represent your club competing alongside other Shotokan associations from across the country and other JKA-member nations in kata, kumite and team events.
K2 Leisure Centre, Pease Pottage Hill, Crawley, West Sussex, RH11 9BQ
Doors: 9.15am
Colour belts: 10am
Brown belts and above: 12.30pm
(All details TBC)
Saturday 31st October
Halloween
November 2026
Thursday 5th November
Guy Fawkes Night
Friday 13th, Saturday 14th, Sunday 15th November
JKA Europe Gasshuku
Course organised by the member countries of JKA Europe.
(All details TBC)
Friday 27th, Saturday 28th, Sunday 29th November
JKA England Winter International Gasshuku
Special guest instructors join Ohta Yoshinobu 7th Dan, Chief Instructor in England, for this world-renowned international training camp. Dan grading for eligible course attendees.
K2 Leisure Centre, Pease Pottage Hill, Crawley, West Sussex, RH11 9BQ
Friday: 5-8pm
Saturday & Sunday: 10am-1pm
(All details TBC)
December 2026
Friday 18th December
SPECIAL TRAINING SESSION
JKA England Chief Instructor Ohta Sensei will be visiting to teach a special class. Preceded by a grading for eligible students.
JKA England friends are welcome to attend, subject to space.
Grading: 6pm
Training: 6.30-8pm
Wednesday 31st December
Last Training of the Year
The last training of 2025. We’ll resume on the first Saturday of January 2027.
2026 TERM AND HOLIDAY DATES
Our children’s karate classes run by term. Please note that these dates may differ slightly to those of your child’s school. After-school club timings are in line with each school’s term dates.
SPRING TERM
Monday 5th January to Sunday 29th March 2026
Half-term: Monday 16th February – Sunday 22nd February 2026
Easter/spring holiday: Monday 30th March – Sunday 12th April 2026
(Easter weekend 3rd-6th April)
SUMMER TERM
Monday 13th April to Sunday 19th July 2026
Half-term: Monday 25th May – Sunday 31st May 2026
(Spring Bank Holiday Monday 4th May)
AUTUMN TERM
Wednesday 2nd September to Thursday 17th December 2026
Half-term: Monday 26th October – Sunday 1st November 2026
Christmas break: Monday 21st December 2026 – Friday 1st January 2027
PUBLIC HOLIDAYS
New Year’s Day: Wednesday 1st January 2026
Good Friday: Friday 3rd April 2026
Easter Monday: Monday 6th April 2026
Early May Bank Holiday (May Day): Monday 4th May 2026
Spring Bank Holiday: Monday 25th May 2026
August Bank Holiday: Monday 31st August 2026
Christmas Day: Friday 25th December 2025
Boxing Day: Saturday 26th December 2025
Boxing Day Bank Holiday: Monday 28th December 2025
All sessions are pre-booked and prepaid: classes for younger children are booked by term while those for older children, teens and adults are booked by the month. Karate & Stretch is booked by the term. JKA England membership is required after three lessons and is renewable annually.
Brown and black belts should bring gumshields and mitts to all sessions. In addition, groin and chest protectors are recommended for competitors of brown and black belt rank.
Kyu gradings are held for those who are eligible and include a certificate and new belt if successful. All students must ensure membership is current, their record booklet completed with a photo in situ.
Those wishing to undertake a dan-grade exam need to undertake a pre-assessment which is valid for 3 months. They must also have attended a national course within the previous 12 months.