Join us for our All grades course at Ponteland Leisure centre, hosted by Sensei Val Dale (6th Dan) and Sensei Robin Dale (6th Dan)

Time Table:

10:00 - 11:30: Session 1: All Grades
11:45 - 13:15: Sesson 2: Brown & Black Belts
13:15 - 16:00: Dan Gradings 

***  For those registering to grade please take note of the following:

• Registration for all gradings close 4 days before the grading date (Wednesday 23:59). 
  No registrations can be made past this time. 
• Training is compulsory and is included in your grading fee.
• You have permission from your club instructor to grade.
• For those grading from 3rd to 4th DAN your clubs senior instructor must advise the Grading Manager at least 14 days before the grading of your decision to perform Bunkai or Jiyu Kumite during your grading.  
• Please make sure you have read and understood the Dan Grading Rules.
  

Senshi Karate are running a mini competition on 11 October 2026. This will be an informal competition for those who are thinking about participating in the competitions in November or who just want to try it out. This will be a low key, low stress environment: there won’t be the usual number of referees and judges, there won’t be mats and there won’t be draws or heats. Just come along, practice your kata and kumite/jukuren and get feedback on the spot from the ref/judge.

This will be ideal practice for those who are looking to compete or grade soon. In fact, for those who want to participate at the competitions in November or who want extra practice before their next grading, come to Senshi Karate's Bootcamp which is run every Wednesday evening during October 2026.  Speak to Sensei Frank or Sensei Arianna for more details

Sunday 11 October 2026, 1400-1700

• £10 per person
• Open to all Shotokan Connect students
• Plenty of parking
• No cafe on site: nearest one is Copper Kettle cafe, 142 Rochester Way, London SE3 8AR, closes 3pm
• Nearest supermarket: Aldi, 241 Kidbrooke Park Rd, London SE3 9PP, closes 4pm

Senshi Karate Article: https://senshikarate.com/2026/08/30/senshi-karate-mini-competition-11-october-2026/

SHOTORAMA is absolutely nothing less than a festival of shotokan karate and all its flavours, created and attended by your friends across the karate world. It’s an experience you just can’t get anywhere else.

We hope you are all well; you’re doing a great job and we’re proud of you! The challenges of life keep coming, and even though you’re doing great, we know sometimes you need to kick back (or front, or side); maybe you need to join us at SHOTORAMA 2026! It might be just what you need, to come and share the martial art you love with the friendliest faces in town.

It is our hope that SHOTORAMA will continue to be a place to celebrate our experienced instructors, to meet and play with our friends, and most of all to share that love of shotokan karate which – literally, as well as spiritually – brings us together.

Instructor Line up:

Sensei Adam Purkiss 6th Dan, KUGB
Sensei Amelia Senft 3rd Dan, HDKI
Sensei Neil Jerome 6th Dan, HDKI
Sensei Hayden Meredith 3rd Dan, Shotokan Ryu Kase Ha
Sensei Rangan Ravindran 5th Dan, HDKI
Sensei Georges Dussartt 6th Dan, Shotokan Connect
Sensei John Parnell 7th Dan, Shotokan Connect

Schedule:

12:00 – 12:10 Welcome, Picture, & Warm Up
12:10 – 12:55 Workshop Session 1
13:00 – 13:45 Workshop Session 2
14:00 – 14:45 Workshop Session 3
14:50 – 15:35 Workshop Session 4
15:50 – 16:35 Workshop Session 5
16:35 – 17:00 Final Session & Farewell

Book you place asap: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/kenmeikarate/2294858

Website: https://shotorama.com/

The FSK UK have extended invitations for all Shotokan Connect members to participate in the FSK UK British Open hosted at The German School in Richmond in November. 

We encourage everyone to attend, where possible, to show the high standard and talent of our members.  Shotokan Connects Judges & Referees will also be there to lend their expertise.  

Prices:

• Individual Events: £26 (per person per event)
• Pair Events: £20.50 (per person per event)
• Team Events: £20.50 (per person per event)

Registration:

To obtain a list of events and register please contact FSUK via email: info@fskuk.co.uk

Sochin Karate Club invite all Shotokan Connect members to a Karate Festival celebrating the 80th birthday of Sensei Georges Dussart in Canterbury on Saturday, 7 November.

Sensei Georges, 6th Dan, a senior member of Shotokan Connect, is the Chief Instructor of Sochin Karate Club, Canterbury and has been a Karateka for five decades.

Two martial arts sessions will be staged. Sensei John Parnell will deliver a session on traditional Shotokan Karate which will be followed by Sensei Sam Birch giving a hands-on session using Bo fighting staves.

Following that there will be a reception with food and refreshments, which will be followed by (optional) drinks in a local public house. Attendees can opt to just attend the reception by purchasing a sandwich platter.

Key details:

Date: Saturday, 7 November
Venue: EKC Canterbury College, New Dover Road, Canterbury CT1 3AJ
Book Tickets: Sensei Georges Birthday Celebration

Timetable:

• 2pm to 3.20pm: Shotokan Karate – Sensei John Parnell, 7th Dan
• 3.40pm to 5pm: Bo fighting staves – Sensei Sam Birch, 6th Dan
• 5pm: Reception in college refectory – refreshments – birthday toast to Georges
• 7pm: Move on to a local public house for drinks (optional) just a five minute walk away

Tickets:

To help Sochin Karate Club cover some of the costs of the event tickets are priced at:

• £19 for the double martial arts sessions (plus Eventbrite’s small handling fee)
• £2.50 for a sandwich platter, tea and coffee (plus Eventbrite’s small handling fee)

Accommodation:

Premier Inn is a three minute walk from Canterbury College: https://www.premierinn.com/gb/en/hotels/england/kent/canterbury/canterbury-city-centre.html

Join us for our December all grades course at Lodden Valley, our all grades courses are designed for everyone from novice right through to senior Dan grades, there is always something new for everyone to learn or enhance their training.

This session will be hosted by Sensei Ian Willis (7th Dan) and Guest instructor TBC during this session we will be focussing on Kihon and Kumite

Time Table:

10:00 - 11:30: Session 1: All Grades
11:30 - 13:00: Session 2: Brown & Black Belts
13:30 - 17:00: Dan Gradings
 

***  For those registering to grade please take note of the following:

• Registration for all gradings close 4 days before the grading date (Tuesday 23:59). 
  No registrations can be made past this time. 
• Training is compulsory and is included in your grading fee.
• You have permission from your club instructor to grade.
• For those grading from 3rd to 4th DAN your clubs senior instructor must advise the Grading Manager at least 14 days before the grading of your decision to perform Bunkai or Jiyu Kumite during your grading.  
• Please make sure you have read and understood the Dan Grading Rules.