Karate clubs in Wakefield

Eight WYSOK clubs train in and around Wakefield, which makes it the heart of the association. Between them they cover karate, ju jitsu and kickboxing, from four-year-olds through to adults starting from scratch, on six nights of the week and Saturday mornings.

Newmillerdam Karate Club is where WYSOK began. It runs at the Lakeside Methodist Centre on Barnsley Road on Tuesday and Thursday, 7:00pm to 8:30pm, for ages ten and up, led by Sensei Shane Walker. The Pee Wee class runs in the hour before, 6:00pm to 7:00pm on the same nights, taking children from four to eleven with Sensei Diane Townsend. Families from Sandal, Kettlethorpe, Crigglestone, Calder Grove and Durkar make up much of both classes.

Junior Jitsu uses the same hall on Saturday mornings, 9:30am to 11:00am, for six to fourteen year olds. Sensei Ruth Walker and Sensei Mark Valente teach ju jitsu — throws, locks and groundwork rather than the striking of karate — which suits children who want something a little different, and works well alongside a karate class on a weeknight.

Optimal Martial Arts and Self Defence meets at Standbridge Community Centre on Standbridge Lane on Monday evenings, 7:30pm to 9:00pm, for ages ten and up. Shane Walker started the club in April 2000 and it has run ever since. Much of what is taught is about adapting technique to real self-defence situations, and the club carries a deep bench of instructors holding grades across several styles.

Eagle Rose School of Karate trains at Horbury Methodist Church on High Street on Tuesday evenings, 7:00pm to 8:30pm, for ages seven and up, under Sensei Matthew Barlow. It is the natural choice for anyone in Horbury or Ossett.

Hanshin Martial Arts runs two different disciplines at Sharlston Community Centre on Weeland Road, both for ages ten and up: kickboxing on Tuesday from 6:30pm to 7:30pm, and Wado Ryu karate on Friday from 7:00pm to 8:00pm. Sensei Simon Diaz is one of WYSOK's most respected instructors, with long experience across both. Students come from Sharlston, Crofton and Walton.

Shinobi Martial Arts is the newest club in the association, at Kirkhamgate Village Hall on Brandy Carr Road, Thursday evenings from 5:45pm to 7:15pm for ages six and up. Sensei Kevin Wood has competed at international level. The club draws from Kirkhamgate, Wrenthorpe, Flanshaw and Outwood.

Yojindo Ryu Martial Arts Club meets at The Brig on St Marys Road, Normanton, on Thursday evenings from 6:30pm to 8:00pm. Sensei Mark Valente brings knowledge of ju jitsu and traditional weapons alongside his achievements in Wado Ryu. Normanton and Altofts are its main catchment.

Every WYSOK instructor is DBS checked, first aid trained and fully insured, and the association has been teaching in the Wakefield area since 1979 under the same family. We are affiliated to NAKMAS.

Your first session is free at any of these clubs. There is no contract and no joining fee — come along, try it, and decide afterwards.