What makes us different?
We are a small, friendly and welcoming group. That means we know every one of our students as an individual - we know their strengths and weaknesses and we understand what makes them tick. This is really important to us because we want to help our students to develop as people, not just as martial artists.
Our club is not a huge corporate entity. We all have day jobs, and we teach Karate not to make a living but because of our passion for it. All of our instructors have come up through the ranks together so we've known each other for many, many years. Between the five of us, we have 101 years of Karate experience!
We don't split our classes by age because we believe that different generations have lots to learn from each other. It also means that families can train together, and we have a number of parents who do exactly that - training alongside their children and learning at their own pace.
We see ourselves very much as a supportive Karate family.
Lesson Fees
The first lesson is free for all new students. Unlike many clubs, we do not have set weekly or monthly fees: students simply pay for each lesson as they attend it, and there is no charge for missed lessons.
The lesson fees are as follows:
- 1 hour lesson - £6
- 90 minute (senior grades) lesson - £8
Licences
After the first few lessons, all students must be licensed. This ensures that all of our students are covered for insurance purposes, and also includes NTK membership and recognition of grades. Licences cost £20 for children (£24 for adults) and are renewable annually.
Licence forms can be obtained from the Chief Instructor and, once completed, handed in at any lesson. It is the responsibility of every student to keep his or her licence up to date.
Equipment
All necessary equipment can be purchased through the club. Because we buy in bulk, we can offer substantially lower prices on all equipment than can be found in shops.
The first items of equipment that any new student would purchase would be the training suit, known as a gi, and a mouthguard for use when sparring.
It is, however, not necessary to purchase a gi immediately - we recommend that new students come to their first few lessons simply wearing loose-fitting tracksuit trousers and a t-shirt. Special footwear is not required, as karate is performed barefoot.
Eventually, students may wish to purchase their own weapons, such as nunchuku or a jo staff, which can also be obtained through us.
Gradings
Gradings are the means by which students progress to the next belt. They take place when the Chief Instructor considers a student to have achieved the necessary standard for the next grade. Two weeks notice are usually given, and the grading examination then usually takes place during the course of a lesson. The Instructors are, of course, always happy to discuss grading prospects with students or their parents.
The system of belts is as follows:
 | 10th Kyu |
 | 9th Kyu |
 | 8th Kyu |
 | 7th Kyu |
 | 6th Kyu |
 | 5th Kyu |
 | 4th Kyu |
 | 3th Kyu |
 | 2nd Kyu |
 | 1st Kyu |
 | 1st Dan |
Association
Since its beginning, Shinjitsu Martial Arts has belonged to NTK Martial Arts Association, which is run by Sensei Andy Wilshaw 7th Dan. Through this association we have close links with other karate clubs in the region, which over the last few years has given rise to an annual National Championships and further collaborative events currently in the pipeline.
This also gives our students national recognition of their grades and the opportunity to participate in varied and interesting events such as occasional courses covering other forms of martial arts.
Child Protection Policy
In line with current guidelines concerning child protection, we have a detailed Child Protection Policy in a format approved by the NSPCC. The Chief Instructor is the designated Child Protection Officer for Shinjitsu Martial Arts. We ensure that all instructors are aware of and apply this Policy at all times.
All of our instructors are fully insured and DBS checked.
Data Policy
Our Data Policy explains what personal data we collect from our students and what we do with it, and can be found here