Hellcat Martial Arts
About this club
Hellcat Martial Arts is the association’s Dewsbury club, training twice a week at Thornhill Social Club on Mountain Road. Wado Ryu Karate is taught in a single class for all grades on a Tuesday and a Thursday evening, open to anyone from six years old upwards. Each session runs a full two hours, which is long enough to work properly through technique, kata and partner work in the same night rather than taking one and leaving the rest until next week.
It is run by Sensei Richard Bellwood, who founded the club, alongside his son Sensei Jamie Bellwood. Between them they hold Black Belts in karate, in Ju Jitsu and in several of the Okinawan weapons — Kobu Jutsu, bo and iai — which is a wider spread than a club of this size would usually have to call on. It also means nobody here is limited to one thing. The pair run a separate Ju Jitsu club from the same hall on a Wednesday, and anyone who wants to train in both is welcome to. Each style is graded on its own syllabus, so belts do not carry across from one to the other, but the training does — and students who cross between them tend to be the better for it.
Class timetable
| Day | Time | Class | Ages |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuesday | 6:00pm – 8:00pm | Wado Ryu Karate — all grades | |
| Thursday | 6:00pm – 8:00pm | Wado Ryu Karate — all grades |
Term-time and holiday variations are announced in class and on the club’s Facebook page.
What to bring to your first session
Nothing you do not already own. A T-shirt and jogging bottoms, bare feet, and a bottle of water. Once you decide to continue you will need a gi (suit) and a NAKMAS licence — the instructor will sort both, and there is no rush.
Getting here & parking
Yes
Postcode for satnav: WF12 0BQ.
Common questions
Do I need a karate suit to start?+
No. Come in a T-shirt and jogging bottoms for your first few sessions. You train barefoot, so no trainers are needed either. Once you decide to carry on, your instructor will sort out a gi and a licence — there is no rush and no pressure.
How much does it cost?+
You pay per session, on the night. There is no joining fee, no contract and no monthly direct debit. Your first session is free so you can see whether it suits you before spending anything.
What age can my child start?+
Our Pee Wee classes take children from four years old, in separate shorter sessions pitched at that age group. Main classes generally start from around ten, though this varies by club — ask the instructor.
Can I stay and watch my child?+
Ask the instructor at your club. Some halls have room for parents to sit in and some do not, so it varies from venue to venue.
How often are gradings?+
Kyu gradings run roughly every three to four months across the association. Your instructor will tell you when you are ready — nobody is pushed to grade before they are.
Are the instructors checked?+
Every WYSOK instructor holds an enhanced DBS certificate, current first aid training and full insurance through our NAKMAS affiliation.