Suzaku Martial Arts
About this club
Suzaku Martial Arts is a well-established Beeston club with a strong record at association gradings, training on a Friday evening at Beeston Village Community Centre from half six until eight. Wado Ryu Karate is taught from ten years old upwards. The club’s Pee Wee class runs alongside it in the same hall for the first hour, so a family with children either side of ten makes one trip out rather than two, and the last half hour belongs to the older group on their own.
It is run by Sensei Antony Longmire, who joined WYSOK as a teenager in 2005 and now holds 5th Dan in karate, one of the most senior grades in the association. His weapons record is more unusual still: Black Belts in seven separate weapons arts — sai, bo, jo, nunchaku, kama, tonfa and iai — along with 3rd Dan in Kobu Jutsu, the combined weapons syllabus, and 4th Dan with the sai. Traditional weaponry is often taught as a sideline to karate. At Suzaku it is taught by someone who has graded in it as seriously as he has in the empty-hand syllabus, which is a rare thing to have on your doorstep.
Class timetable
| Day | Time | Class | Ages |
|---|---|---|---|
| Friday | 6:30pm – 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: LS11 8DQ.
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.