Starting your karate journey?

Our trial classes are held on Mondays and Thursdays at The Paxman Academy, from 6.00 to 6.45pm, and Saturdays at The Stanway School, from 11.15am to 12.00pm. You'll train alongside our beginners, white belts and orange belts, learn some basic moves and get a feel for how the club operates. Please note that we are insured to teach children from age 6 and up: children must be aged 6 or older on the date of their first class.

Once your trial is complete you can either pay as you go per class or purchase a monthly membership plan. We also offer a one-time joining package that includes a karate suit.

If you want to keep training with us you will also need a JKA England membership. This once-per-year fee will allow you to participate in courses, gradings and competitions and will also include your member-to-member insurance, which is required if you want to train with us.

What do I wear?

We train barefoot, so all you will need to wear is light, loose clothing. Tracksuit trousers or shorts and a t-shirt will be fine. Bring some water for afterwards.

What will it cost?

Karate can be considered a relatively cheap activity to participate in. The following is a guide to typical costs that a member might expect to pay over time.

We offer a Standard membership plan which allows you to attend any of our classes up to three times a week and offers the best value for money. We also offer a Light plan for one class a week. Alternatively, you can pay as you go per class. All classes are booked either online via our website or via the TeamUp app on your mobile. Monthly membership plans range from £18 to £36 per month. Family discounts are available for families with 3 or more members.

New members will need to obtain a gi, the uniform of a karate practitioner. Beginner suits normally cost £20 to £25. We also offer an introductory package that includes 10 classes and a suit for £55.

Members of martial arts clubs in the UK require participants to be licensed by a national governing body. This licence includes association membership and member-to-member insurance. An annual licence usually costs £30 and is required for all club members. If you decide to attend regularly, we will provide instructions on how to register with JKA England and obtain your licence.

Members may also want to participate in gradings, a test where they are examined by an independent examiner and may be awarded the next belt level, typically once per year or more. Grading fees usually cost around £30 per member.

Advanced students who have been training for a couple of years may also want to purchase other equipment such as mitts and mouth guards. These typically cost around £10 and £5 respectively.

Will I get hurt?

You are no more likely to get hurt or injured practising karate than in any other sport. In our style of karate it is against the rules to hurt another participant, either on purpose or by accident. Whilst karate training builds strength, flexibility and, ultimately, power, it also emphasises impeccable control over your techniques and your emotions.

Students typically do not engage in free-style, or point sparring until they have a couple of years' experience. More advanced techniques and freestyle sparring entail more risk, and students are not permitted to pass to the next grade unless they demonstrate self-control, excellent technique and maturity.

Our grading system

We encourage training twice a week to reach the standard required for grading. We host gradings with a JKA England examiner 3 times a year. Typically, younger kids should expect to take a grading once per year, and older kids and adults two to three times per year. Usually, the higher the grade, the longer the period is between gradings.

For more information see the Ranks and Gradings page.