West End Karate Community Dojo

The West End karate school is held  at the Hilldene Community Centre in West End, Southampton and is open to all. Welcoming children and adult beginners as well as other experienced martial artists to come and learn with us.

Sensei Terry Foster is the school’s senior teacher passing on his knowledge of ‘Yonemoto Ha, Goju Ryu Karate’, to the next generation.  The focus of lessons are on developing the martial spirit and ability whilst being enjoyable and safe.

The class are mixed, with children and adults from 7.30pm until 8.30pm and then continue for adults only until 9.00pm. This allows families to practice together and for additional adult training to follow so as to cater for more involved and demanding lessons.

Class Details

Hilldene Community Centre

68 High Street, West End.
Southampton, SO30 3DU

Fridays – Children and Adults from 7.30pm until 8.30pm

Then continuing 8.30 – 9.00pm for adults only

There is a large car park on site making parking easy.

Lesson fees are £5.00 per child and £6.00 for adults.

Class Structure

Typically a lesson starts with a graduated warmup to develop strength and flexability. This is followed by the karate fundarmentals ie practicing and refining individual striking, kicking, defending and moving methods.

This leads on to learning and practicing forms or ‘Kata‘, a series of fighting moves that teach a variety of subjects ie attack and defence, balance, evasion and strategy.

Next is controlled fighting or ‘Kumite‘, which is the application of everything that has been learnt. This is done in such a way to ensure effectiveness but without harm or injury.

As students get fitter, stronger and their ability increases the intensity of fighting grows. However it is always conducted in a responsible and respectful manner.

Students whilst pushed during training are expected to know their own limits and to stop when those boundaries are reached.