Karate clubs in Dewsbury

Two WYSOK clubs train in Dewsbury, both at Thornhill Social Club on Mountain Road, and between them they offer a genuine choice of discipline rather than two versions of the same thing.

Hellcat Martial Arts runs Wado Ryu karate on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, 6:00pm to 8:00pm, open to all grades. Hellcat Ju Jitsu uses the same hall on Wednesdays, with juniors from 6:00pm to 7:00pm for five to thirteen year olds and adults from 7:30pm to 9:00pm for fourteen and over.

Both clubs are led by Sensei Richard Bellwood and Sensei Jamie Bellwood, who between them hold black belt grades in karate, ju jitsu and several weapons styles. That range is the point: a student at one club can cross-train at the other, and the instructors draw on all of it rather than teaching from a single syllabus.

Despite the name, Hellcat Ju Jitsu is not purely ju jitsu. The sessions take in a good deal of kickboxing and karate alongside the throws and locks, which gives the club more of a mixed martial arts feel than the name suggests. If you are unsure which of the two would suit you better, come to either and ask — the honest answer often depends on what you want out of it rather than which is objectively better.

Students travel in from across Dewsbury, including Thornhill, Thornhill Edge, Thornhill Lees, Overthorpe, Middlestown, Savile Town and Overton. The hall is a straightforward one to find and park at, which matters more than people expect on a dark evening in January.

Karate suits people who want striking, distance and timing. Ju jitsu suits people who are happier closer in, working with throws, locks and control. Children often take to one or the other quite quickly, and there is no harm in trying both before deciding.

Every WYSOK instructor is DBS checked, first aid trained and fully insured. The association has been teaching across West Yorkshire since 1979 and is affiliated to NAKMAS, a national governing body for martial arts schools.

Your first session is free at either club, with no contract and no joining fee. Wear something loose, bring a drink, and arrive a few minutes early so the instructor can introduce themselves properly.