ABOUT ICHIBAN
Learn What We’re About
It all starts with a dream: a dream to create a single centre, a single dojo, that is home to a variety of excellent traditional Japanese martial arts, all working together to create a centre of excellence, a family centre of health and wellbeing, An opportunity to develop the true spirit of budo.
Ichiban Leeds is now home to karate, aikido, judo, kenjitsu, aikijitsu and Jiu Jitsu clubs that share a vision. Egos are left at the door to make space for excellent teaching, training and performance.
TRADITION . EXCELLENCE . DEDICATION
MARTIAL ARTS AVAILABLE
Ichiban Dojo has worked hard to find and bring together the best martial arts clubs and coaches to form a unified and collaborative traditional Japanese martial arts dojo in Leeds.
Whilst each martial arts club at Ichiban is has its own National Governing Body, students are encouraged to train across the various different martial arts offered, to learn, improve and grow. Each club recognises the limits of its art, and the benefits of cross training.
Aikido is a dynamic martial sport for all, it relies on good technique and using an opponent’s strength against them. It instils self-confidence, mental resilience and physical fitness. It uses a range of throws, projections, arm locks and circular movement. Ichiban follows sport or Kodokan Aikido.
Shukukai Karate is an effective and dynamic martial sport and self-defence. It instils self- confidence, physical fitness and provides for a healthy lifestyle.It may be defined as a weaponless means of self defence. It consists of dynamic offensive and defensive techniques using all parts of the body to their maximum advantage.
Kodokan Judo, the gentle way an effective martial and Olympic sport and relies on good technique and using an opponent’s strength against them. It instils self-confidence, physical fitness and provides for a healthy lifestyle. It involves a series of throws, ground immobilizations, and for adults chokes and arm locks.
Shorinjikan Jiu Jitsu is a practical self-defence martial art that focuses on the use of locks, throws, strikes and holding techniques to deal with real life situations. Originating from ancient Japanese techniques used by the Samurai when forced to fight without their weapons, Jitsu teaches you to overcome stronger, larger, more powerful opponents, even armed ones.
Focus on Aiki Jitsu 合気柔術
Aiki Jujitsu is the basis from traditional Aikido teaching and is structured around using circular movements to generate energy and power. Its origins are based in the samurai and ruling classes in Japan. It emphasizes an early neutralization of an attack through joint manipulations and throws using the attackers momentum against them.
Focus on Kobudo 古武道
Kobudo (古武道, "old martial way") is a traditional Okinawan martial art focused on weaponry often practiced alongside karate, involving tools like the bo (staff), sai (trident), tonfa (club), and kama (sickle) to develop focus, coordination, and self-defence skills, preserving ancient techniques lost when karate was modernized.
Focus on Ichibans
(Multi Martial Arts) 挌闘技
“Ichibans” (under 10 years) will be taught Mixed Martial Arts delivered by specialists in Aikido, Judo and Karate they will follow three national syllabi one for each of the martial sports. The sessions swill be divided into three sections with an emphasis on exercise and fitness, quality technique and martial games to improve skill levels.
FACILITIES
TOP CLASS TRAINING AREA
Ichiban has a large 18x10m dedicated matted area for its martial arts. Providing the perfect training area for a variety of martial arts.
COMFORTABLE WAITING AND VIEWING AREA
Having fitted a world class training area, we haven't forgotten about the importance of a comfortable seating area for our martial artists and their biggest supporters, their family and friends.
INSTRUCTORS
All instructors across all our martial arts, are experienced, insured and DBS checked.
CHANGING AND SHOWER FACILITIES
Ichiban has separate male and female changing rooms as well as shower facilities, providing that little bit of extra comfort after a tough class.