Established 1979 Affiliated to NAKMAS Wakefield · Leeds · Dewsbury · Barnsley
swalker@wysok.co.uk Free taster session — no contract
Wado Ryu Karate · Horbury / Ossett, Wakefield

Eagle Rose School of Karate

Wado Ryu Karate All ages 7+ Tue · 7:00pm–8:30pm Free first session
VenueHorbury Methodist Church
Class timesTue · 7:00pm–8:30pm
Chief instructorSensei Matthew Barlow
First sessionFree — no contract

About this club

Eagle Rose School of Karate trains on a Tuesday evening at Horbury Methodist Church on High Street, from seven until half eight. Wado Ryu Karate is taught in a single class for all grades, open to anyone from six years old upwards, so beginners and black belts share the same hall and the same hour and a half — which is how a small club keeps its standard up.

It is run by Sensei Matthew Barlow, WYSOK’s Deputy Chief Instructor, who began training in 1989 and has trained and taught without a break since. He holds 7th Dan in karate — one of only a handful in the association — along with 5th Dan in Kobu Jutsu, 4th Dan in bo and a Black Belt in Ju Jitsu. He is not on the mat alone either: Eagle Rose has several senior instructors between them holding grades across karate, the weapons syllabuses and Ju Jitsu, which for a club of this size is unusual. It means a student can go a very long way here without ever needing to look elsewhere.

Class timetable

Day Time Class Ages
Tuesday 7:00pm – 8:30pm 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: WF4 5LE.

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.