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THE KIHAKU DOJO

The Kihaku Dojo trains on Tuesdays:

6.00 to 6.45pm  

Open classes for children (aged 6 years and above)

The session encourages children to learn Karate while having fun,

enhancing physical fitness and making friends. 

Family members are welcome to watch the training session. 

and adult beginners

Adults will have a more structured session with Matthew Corrall

who will teach the basic moves and techniques. 

Matthew's Karate is dedicated to the art of Shotokan and the understanding of waza (or technique). 

This is evident in his karate and in his method of teaching.

7.00 to 8.00pm

Brown and Black Belts only

at

The Weald School Recreation Centre

Station Road

Billingshurt

West Sussex  RH12 9RY

For more information, please contact

Sensei Simon Staples

E-mail:  kihaku.dojo@hotmail.com

Mobile:  07762 630594

KIHAKU DOJO had its humble beginnings in the early 1980s, meeting on Tuesday and Friday nights for training at an old primary school in Billingshurst - a schedule still being followed to this day.

At that time the instructor was Dave Clair, 3rd Dan, who also ran dojos in Littlehampton and Sutton.  Sutton is where some of the original members of Billingshurst were from.  Sensei Clair linked the three dojos with the name of Shin-Jin.

During training, the students' heels and ankles were always hitting the cast iron pipes of the old central heating system that was never in good working order.  The windows would be broken on a regular basis so the floor had to be inspected before every lesson to ensure there were no pieces of glass.

In 1983, the Billingshurst Dojo moved to its current location at the Weald Recreation Centre where it was run by Senseis Dave Clair and Jess Lavender.  Eventually, Sensei Lavender took over,  broke away from the Shin-Jin group, and renamed the Dojo the Billingshurst Karate Centre.  It remained a member of the South of England Karate Union (later changed to Shotokan of England Karate Union or, as it is widely known, SEKU).

From 1987, Simon Staples, under the guidance of Sensei Lavender, started helping out by teaching beginners.  This arrangement progressed until, in the late 1990s, Simon and Sensei Lavender co-ran the Dojo with Simon teaching every Tuesday and Sensei Lavender each Friday.  In 2000, Sensei Lavender handed over the Dojo to Simon.

Three years later, Billingshurst Karate Centre left SEKU to follow Sensei Dave Hazard who formed a new association called the Academy of Shotokan Karate (ASK).  It was during this time that Simon changed the name of the Dojo to Kihaku, meaning "spirit and soul".

The Kihaku Dojo warmly welcomes original members who return regularly to train or visit.  There have been at least three marriages as a result of students meeting at the Dojo.  The offspring of these unions have trained, or continue to train at Kihaku, completing a circle that leads us back to the origins of Billingshurst's Kihaku Dojo.

GALLERY OF DAN GRADES

KIHAKU DOJO

"Spirit and Soul"

Learn to protect yourself, your family and your property

Traditional and practical Karate

Boost fitness and confidence

No nonsense or hard sell

 For more information, or to schedule a visit to the Dojo, please contact

Simon Staples

07762 630594

info@kihakudojo.co.uk

Adults, juniors (minimum age of 8 years) and families are most welcome.