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Starting karate for the first time can feel a bit unknown — so here’s exactly what will happen when you arrive at our Flackwell Heath dojo for your first class.
Arriving at the Dojo
When you arrive at Flackwell Heath Community Centre, you’ll be greeted by our instructors and shown where to stand. Parents are welcome to stay and watch — many do, especially for the first few sessions.
- Arrive 5–10 minutes early
- Wear comfortable sports clothing
- Bring a bottle of water
- No shoes needed — we train barefoot
Meeting the Instructor
You’ll meet our friendly, experienced black belt instructors who will guide you step by step. We specialise in helping beginners feel comfortable and confident.
Learn more on our Why Choose Us page.
Warm Up & Mobility
We begin every class with a gentle warm up including stretching, mobility work and simple movements.
Basics (Kihon)
You’ll learn the fundamental building blocks of Shotokan Karate:
- Stances
- Blocks
- Strikes
- Footwork
To explore terminology, visit our Shotokan Terminology page.
Kata (Forms)
Beginners start with Kihon Kata, a simple kata teaching direction, balance and focus.
Learn more on our Shotokan Kata page.
1. Kihon Kata
Partner Work (Optional)
Beginners are never thrown into sparring. Instead, you may practise:
- Basic blocking drills
- Distance and timing exercises
- Simple one step sparring
End of Class & Etiquette
We finish with a cool down and traditional dojo etiquette:
- Bow to the instructor
- Bow to fellow students
- Thank each other for training
Class Information
📍 Flackwell Heath Community Centre
🕙 Saturdays: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
👶 Beginner Session: 10:00 AM – 10:45 AM (FREE Trial Class)
What Happens After Your First Class?
Most beginners choose one of the following:
- Continue weekly training
- Purchase a karate uniform (gi)
- Begin working toward their first grading (which are held at the dojo every 3 months)
After the first week, most students decide to take out a membership, and we will provide a licence and insurance so you are fully covered for training and grading.
If you want to understand the grading process, visit our Adult Grading Syllabus .
Common Questions
- Do I need to be fit? No — beginners start gently.
- Do I need a uniform? Not for your first few classes.
- Is karate safe? Yes — fully supervised.
- Can parents watch? Absolutely.
- Can adults start at any age? Yes.
More answers on our FAQ page .
