In addition to regular classes throughout the week, Shiranamikai hosts regular visits by the Chief Instructor of JKA England, Ohta Yoshinobu 7th 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 2024
Tuesday 2nd January
6.30pm
First training session of the new year
Let’s get the year off to a great start together!
Saturday 6th January
4-5.30pm; 6pm onwards
Shiranamikai Karate 15th Anniversary
Help us celebrate the club’s 15th anniversary with a special training session followed by dinner.
Sunday 21st January
10am-1pm; 2-5pm
National kata course & AGM
Thomas Becket School, Becket Way, Northampton, NN3 6HT
FebruarY 2024
Sunday 4th February
11am-4pm
Referee course
Suitable for instructors.
Sports Village, de Havilland Campus, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield Business Park, Hatfield, AL10 9EU
SATURday 24th February
10am-1pm
South East England regional course
Life Centre Sports Hall, Bromley Campus, London South East Colleges, Rookery Lane, Bromley, BR2 8HE
Sunday 25th February
11am-1pm; 2-5pm
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
March 2024
Friday 22nd March
6.15pm; 6.45-8.45pm
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.
Sunday 31st March
10am
Easter Sunday training
April 2024
Easter holiday activities
Classes run throughout holiday periods.
Beginners are always welcome.
Friday 26th April 5-8pm, Saturday 27th and Sunday 28th April, 10am-1pm
JKA England Spring International Gasshuku
Special guest instructors Okuma Koichiro 7th Dan and Hirose Hikaru 3rd Dan from the Tokyo Sohonbu, and Sawada Kazuhiro 9th Dan from Belgium 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
May 2024
Sunday 12th May
8am-6pm
London & South East Region Karate Championship
Life Centre Sports Hall, Bromley Campus, London South East Colleges, Rookery Lane, Bromley, BR2 8HE
June 2024
Saturday 15th June
9.15am onwards; 10am start, midday: 3rd kyu+
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
Friday 28th June
6pm; 6.30-8.30pm
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.
July 2024
Sunday, 14 JulY
11am-1pm; 2-5pm
National course & dan grading
JKA England national course followed by a dan grading. Open to JKA England members.
Guildford Spectrum, Parkway, Guildford GU1 1UP
August 2024
Summer holiday activities
Classes run throughout holiday periods.
Beginners are always welcome.
September 2024
Friday 27th September
6pm; 6.30-8pm
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.
October 2024
Sunday 6th October
11am-4pm
Instructor Course
Suitable for instructors.
Sports Village, de Havilland Campus, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield Business Park, Hatfield, AL10 9EU
November 2024
Saturday 2nd November
9.15am onwards; 10am start, midday: 3rd kyu+
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
Friday 29th November 5-8pm, Saturday 30th November 10am-1pm and Sunday 1st December, 10am-1pm
JKA England Winter International Gasshuku
Special guest instructors Imamura Tomio 8th Dan, Shiina Katsutoshi 8th Dan and Hirayama Yuko 7th Dan from the Tokyo Sohonbu 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
December 2024
Friday 13th December
6pm; 6.30-8pm
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.
Tuesday 31st December
10.30am-Midday
Last training of the year
The last training of 2024. We’ll resume Saturday 4th January 2025.
2024 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.
Spring term
Monday 8th January to Thursday 28th March 2024
Half-term: Monday 12th February to Sunday 18th February 2024
Easter/spring holiday: Friday 29th March to Friday 12th April 2024 (Easter weekend 29th March – 1st April)
Summer term
Monday 15th April to Wednesday 24th July 2024
Half-term: Monday 27th May to Sunday 2nd June 2024 (includes Spring Bank Holiday Monday 27th May)
Autumn term
Monday 2nd September to Friday 20th December 2024
Half-term: Monday 28th October – Sunday 3rd November 2024
Christmas break: Monday 23rd December 2024 – Friday 3rd January 2025
Public holidays
Christmas Day: Monday 25th December 2023
Boxing Day: Tuesday 26th December 2023
New Year’s Day: Monday 1st January 2024
Good Friday: Friday 29th March 2024
Easter Monday: Monday 1st April 2024
May Day Bank Holiday: Monday 6th May 2024
Spring Bank Holiday: Monday 27th May 2024
August Bank Holiday: Monday 26th August 2024
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. JKA England membership is required after three lessons and is renewed annually.
Brown and black belts should bring gumshields and mitts to all sessions. In addition, groin and chest protectors are recommended for all brown belt rank, and above, competitors.
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, and their record booklet is completed, and 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.