Shiranamikai holds karate classes every week, throughout the year, including holiday periods.
Being part of The Japan Karate Association affords our members opportunities to participate in professionally-run gradings, competitions and multi-day training camps. All awards and qualifications achieved are recognised internationally.
The JKA offers world class tuition by instructors from our association’s headquarters based in Tokyo, Japan. The resident Chief Instructor of JKA England, Ohta Yoshinobu 8th Dan, is a regular guest at the club.
January 2027
Friday 1st January
New Year’s Day
Saturday 2nd January
Keiko Hajime / First Training of the New Year
Let’s make a great start to 2027 by training together!
From 4pm onwards
Saturday 16th January
National Kata Course & AGM
Kata course with JKA England’s technical committee.
Training open to all members; AGM for invited club representatives.
Bracknell Leisure Centre, Bagshot Road, RG12 9SE
Training: 10am-1pm
AGM: 2-5pm
Sunday 17th January
JKA England Squad Selection
Billericay, Essex
Kata Training: 12.30-2.30pm
Kumite Training: 3.30-5.30pm
February 2027
Saturday 6th February
Instructor Course
Suitable for instructors and senior grades looking to teach.
Sports Village, de Havilland Campus, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield Business Park, Hatfield, AL10 9EU
Theory: 11am-1pm
Practical: 2-5pm
Sunday 7th February
Referee Course
Suitable for instructors and senior grades looking to officiate at competitions.
Sports Village, de Havilland Campus, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield Business Park, Hatfield, AL10 9EU
Theory: 11am-1pm
Practical: 2-5pm
Tuesday 9th February
Pancake Day
Sunday 14th February
Valentine’s Day
Saturday 20th February
London & South East England Regional Course
JKA England karate training course.
[Awaiting venue confirmation]
11am-2pm
Sunday 21st February
JKA Wales National Course & Dan Grading
Open to JKA England members.
Abergavenny Leisure Centre, Old Hereford Road, Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, NP7 6EP
Training: 10am-1pm
Grading: 2-5pm
March 2027
Saturday 6th March
Central & Northern Region Karate Championship
Karate competition for JKA England clubs from the above areas.
University of Nottingham, NG7 2RD
Sunday 7th March
Mother’s Day
Saturday 13th March
London & Southern England Region Karate Championship
Karate competition for JKA England clubs from the above areas.
[Awaiting venue confirmation]
Beginners to purple/white belts: 9.30am-1pm
Brown and black belts: 12.30-5pm
Friday 19th March
Special Training Session
Ohta Yoshinobu Sensei, Chief Instructor of JKA England, will be visiting to teach a special class. Preceded by a grading for eligible students.
Our JKA England friends are welcome to attend, subject to space.
Grading: 6pm
Training: 6.30-8pm
Friday 26th March
Good Friday
Sunday 28th March
British Summer Time begins
Sunday 28th March
Easter Sunday Training
Our regular class. Sweet.
Monday 29th March
Easter Monday
April 2027
Friday 23rd, Saturday 24th, Sunday 25th April
JKA England Spring International Gasshuku
Special guest instructors from the Tokyo Sohonbu join Ohta Yoshinobu 8th Dan, Chief Instructor in England, for this world-renowned international training camp. Dan grading and instructor, referee and examiner exams for eligible course attendees.
K2 Leisure Centre, Pease Pottage Hill, Crawley, West Sussex, RH11 9BQ
Friday: 5-8pm
Saturday & Sunday: 10am-1pm
May 2027
Monday 3rd May
Early May Bank Holiday
May
JKA European Championship
[Awaiting confirmation of all details]
Sunday 9th May
Central Region Course
JKA England karate training course.
University of Bedfordshire, Polhill Avenue, Bedford MK41 9EA
10am-1pm
Monday 31st May
Spring Bank Holiday
June 2027
Saturday 19th 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 20th June
Fathers’ Day
Saturday 26th June
Special Training Session
Ohta Yoshinobu Sensei, Chief Instructor of JKA England, will be visiting to teach a special class. Preceded by a grading for eligible students.
Our JKA England friends are welcome to attend, subject to space.
Grading: 3.30pm
Training: 4-5.30pm
July 2027
Sunday 11th July
National Course & Dan Grading
Course with JKA England’s technical committee. Open to JKA England members.
[Awaiting venue confirmation]
Training 10am-1pm; Grading 2-5pm
July / August
Summer Holiday Activities
Looking for an activity this summer? Our karate classes run throughout the school summer holidays.
Beginners are always welcome.
Saturdays / Sundays / Tuesdays / Wednesdays
August 2027
July / August
Summer Holiday Activities
Looking for an activity this summer? Our karate classes run throughout the school summer holidays.
Beginners are always welcome.
Saturdays / Sundays / Tuesdays / Wednesdays
Monday 30th August
Summer Bank Holiday
September 2027
September
South West Regional Course
JKA England karate training course.
[Awaiting confirmation of all details]
Founders Hall, University of Bath, North Road, Claverton Down, Bath BA2 7AY
11am-2pm
Tuesday 28th / Wednesday 29th September
Special Training Session
Ohta Yoshinobu Sensei, Chief Instructor of JKA England, will be visiting to teach a special class. Preceded by a grading for eligible students.
Our JKA England friends are welcome to attend, subject to space.
Grading: 6pm
Training: 6.30-8pm
October 2027
Saturday 10th October
Examiner Meeting
For JKA qualified examiners. Invitation only.
Sports Village, de Havilland Campus, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield Business Park, Hatfield, AL10 9EU
Meeting and theory: 11am-1pm
Practical: 2-4pm
22nd-24th October
JKA World Karate Championship
The Japan Karate Association’s flagship international competition with participants attending from across JKA-affiliated nations.
Japan
Saturday 3oth October / Sunday 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
Sunday 31st October
British Summer Time ends
Sunday 31st October
Halloween
November 2027
Friday 5th November
Guy Fawkes Night
Friday 26th, Saturday 27th, Sunday 28th November
JKA England Autumn International Gasshuku
Special guest instructors from the Tokyo Sohonbu join Ohta Yoshinobu 8th Dan, Chief Instructor in England, for this world-renowned international training camp.
Dan grading and instructor, referee and examiner exams for eligible course attendees.
K2 Leisure Centre, Pease Pottage Hill, Crawley, West Sussex, RH11 9BQ
Friday: 5-8pm
Saturday & Sunday: 10am-1pm
December 2027
Friday 10th December
Special Training Session
Ohta Yoshinobu Sensei, Chief Instructor of JKA England, will be visiting to teach a special class. Preceded by a grading for eligible students.
Our JKA England friends are welcome to attend, subject to space.
Grading: 6pm
Training: 6.30-8pm
Wednesday 29th December
Keiko Osame / Last Training of the Year
The last training of 2027. We’ll resume on Sunday 2nd January 2028. See our seasonal training post for any changes to schedule during this period.
Term and Holiday Dates 2027
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 dates and timings will be in line with each school’s term dates.
Spring Term 2027
Monday 4th January to Sunday 28th March 2027
Half-term: Monday 15th February – Sunday 21st February 2027
Easter/spring holiday: Friday 26th March – Friday 9th April 2027
(Easter long weekend: 26th-29th March)
Summer Term 2027
Monday 12th April to Sunday 25th July 2027
Half-term: Monday 31st May – Sunday 6th June 2027
(Early May Bank Holiday: Monday 3rd May. Spring Bank Holiday: Monday 31st May.)
Autumn Term 2027
Monday 6th September to Sunday 19th December 2027
Half-term: Monday 25th October – Sunday 31st October 2027
Christmas break: Monday 20th December 2027 – Sunday 2nd January 2028
Public Holidays 2027
Regular classes run throughout the year, including school holidays and during Easter. We close on New Year’s Day, Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
New Year’s Day: Friday 1st January 2027
Good Friday: Friday 26th March 2027
Easter Monday: Monday 29th March 2027
Early May Bank Holiday (May Day): Monday 3rd May 2027
Spring Bank Holiday: Monday 31st May 2027
August Bank Holiday: Monday 30th August 2027
(Boxing Day: Friday 24th December 2027)
(Christmas Day: Saturday 25th December 2027)
(Boxing Day: Sunday 26th December 2027)
Christmas Day Bank Holiday: Monday 27th December 2027
Boxing Day Bank Holiday: Tuesday 28th December 2027
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.