In addition to weekly and termly classes, 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 2025
Saturday 4th January
SHIRANAMIKAI 16TH ANNIVERSARY
Lesson followed by dinner – let’s make this a great start to the year!
Swiss Cottage
Training: 4pm
Dinner: 6.30pm
Sunday 18th January
National Kata Course & AGM
University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey, GU2 7XH
Training: 10am-1pm
AGM: 2-5pm
Timings TBC
FebruarY 2025
Sunday 2nd 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
Saturday 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
Sunday 23rd February
South East England Regional Course
SportsDock, University of East London, University Way, London, E16 2RD
10am-1pm
March 2025
Saturday 8th March
London & South East Region Karate Championship
Life Centre Sports Hall, Bromley Campus, London South East Colleges, Rookery Lane, Bromley, BR2 8HE
8am-6pm
Venue and Timings TBC
Friday 28th 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 30th March
Mothers’ Day
British Summer Time begins
April 2025
Sunday 20th April
Easter Sunday Training
10am
Easter Holiday Activities
Our karate classes run throughout holiday periods.
Beginners are always welcome.
Friday 25th, Saturday 26th, Sunday 27th 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 2025
June 2025
Sunday 15th June
Fathers’ Day
Saturday 21st 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: 1pm
Sunday 29th 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: 10am
Training: 10.30-12pm
July 2025
Sunday 13th July
National Course & Dan Grading
JKA England national course followed by a dan grading. Open to JKA England members.
TBC-Guildford Spectrum, Parkway, Guildford GU1 1UP-TBC
11am-1pm; 2-5pm TBC
August 2025
Summer Holiday Activities
Looking for an activity this summer? Our karate classes run throughout the school summer holidays.
Beginners are always welcome.
September 2025
Friday 12th 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
Saturday 13th September
Examiner & Club Instructor Course
Suitable for instructors and examiners.
Sports Village, de Havilland Campus, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield Business Park, Hatfield, AL10 9EU-TBC
Theory: 11am-1pm
Practical: 2-4pm
Venue & Timings TBC
October 2025
Sunday 5th October
Instructor Course
Suitable for instructors.
Sports Village, de Havilland Campus, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield Business Park, Hatfield, AL10 9EU-TBC
11am-4pm
Details & Timings TBC
Sunday 26th October
British Summer Time ends
November 2025
Saturday 1st November
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: 1pm
Friday 14th, Saturday 15th, Sunday 16th November
JKA Europe Gasshuku
Course organised by the member countries of JKA Europe.
All details TBC.
Friday 28th, Saturday 29th, Sunday 30th 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
December 2025
Friday 12th 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
Tuesday 31st December
Last Training of the Year
The last training of 2025. We’ll resume Saturday 4th January 2026.
10.30am-Midday
2025 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 6th January to Friday 4th April 2025
Half-term: Monday 17th February – Sunday 23rd February 2025
Easter/spring holiday: Monday 7th April – Monday 21st April 2025
(Easter weekend 18th-21st April)
SUMMER TERM
Tuesday 22nd April to Tuesday 22nd July 2025
Half-term: Monday 26th May – Friday 30th May 2025
(includes Spring Bank Holiday Monday 26th May)
AUTUMN TERM
Monday 1st September to Friday 19th December 2025
Half-term: Monday 27th October – Friday 31st October 2025
Christmas break: Monday 22nd December 2025 – Friday 2nd January 2026
PUBLIC HOLIDAYS
Christmas Day: Wednesday 25th December 2024
Boxing Day: Thursday 26th December 2024
New Year’s Day: Wednesday 1st January 2025
Good Friday: Friday 18th April 2025
Easter Monday: Monday 21st April 2025
May Day Bank Holiday: Monday 5th May 2025
Spring Bank Holiday: Monday 26th May 2025
August Bank Holiday: Monday 25th August 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.