Author Archives: Stephen O'Brien

As many of you know, I’m a qualified personal trainer. I specialise in fight conditioning and draw on my experience as an ex professional kickboxer. I have many years experience in the fitness industry and have sampled, not just different … Continued

Q. What age can my child start from? A. We can insure children from the age of 4 years so this is the age they can start. Regarding ability, 5 is a better age. Q. Is there a maximum age … Continued

The March 2020 lock down undoubtedly proved difficult for all in the UK. From wearing masks, social distancing, shopping once a day, exercising for one hour a day, hospitals cancelling operations and cancer treatments, businesses going under with the loss … Continued

FREE online introduction course for beginners. Learn the basic karate skills to punch, block and kick. We’ll also show you how to get karate fit, stretch, hold pads, tie a belt and more. It’s all FREE. Just email to info@loughtonkarateclub.co.uk … Continued

Check out our first three online videos on YouTube: Warm Up & Stretch https://youtu.be/JNOoyEqwN6k 13 minute HIIT Karate Exercise https://youtu.be/xwCcrT5yZyk 13 minute Mini Beast https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dt_jbQnxHAc   With the aid of Campbell, we’ve started to film our grading syllabus and have loaded … Continued

List of techniques (Japanese) Junzuki, gyakuzuki. Mawashigeri. Junzuki, gyakuzuki, furizuki. Surikomi maegeri, uraken, teisho. Sokuto, gyakuzuki. Ushirogeri, gyakuzuki. Ago empi uchi, nukite, shuto uke. Maegeri, mawashigeri, sokuto, gyakuzuki. Tobikomizuki, gyaku mawashigeri, gyakuzuki. Empi, uraken, ushiro mawashigeri. Uchigeri fumikomi hiza, nagashizuki, … Continued

Red Belt (9th Kyu) Basic Techniques: Junzuki, gyakuzuki, jodan uke, gedan barai, mawatte (all in zenkutsu dachi), hizageri, kingeri, 1-10 in Japanese.  Yellow Belt (8th Kyu) Basic Techniques: Yoko uraken, tettsui otos hi uchi, mawashi empi, uchi uke, soto uke … Continued

The reason why karate is a beloved art form and way of life is because of the beautiful paradox that it presents. Karate is about learning to fight so that you don’t have to. The crucial lesson that karate-do teaches … Continued

Only when done incorrectly. You’ll note from this picture that the right way to hold a stance is to have the knee point in the same direction as the foot. It’s a natural position. When the knee is at a … Continued

  This is a grey area in karate practice which I’d like to explain in more detail. In our club, all contact is by consent. In an effort to clear up any misunderstandings, a quick chat before engaging with your … Continued