We hope that you and your families well and as sane as can be after all the weeks of lockdown. We know that there are many NHS and key workers amongst our membership base, and we’d like to thank you all for the work and sacrifices that you and your families have made over the last few months. 

As the government begins relaxing the lockdown rules, we’re looking forwards and making plans for when we’ll be able to reopen and start offering some classes. Currently it looks as if gyms, clubs and community sports will only be able to start reopening from the 4th July at the earliest and that the reopening will be accompanied by some restrictions and the need to incorporate safe social distancing rules etc. 

We anticipate that non-contact, outdoor group exercise will be allowed ahead of this date, and we are working on plans with the various instructors, to see to what extent we can offer outdoor group sessions. Clearly this will suit some of our martial arts classes more than others, but...

On the 24 March 2019, the dojo hosted its second karate kata competition. Organised by Kylie and Kieron of Ichiban Karate Leeds, the competition set out to provide an introduction to competitions for karateka. The competition was open to karateka of all ages and grades, from Zetsurin Karate Otley, Ichiban Karate (Leeds and Gipton) and Leeds University Karate Club. Now in its second year, the competition attracted enough entries to demand the use of both areas at the dojo throughout the day.

The day started off with the Open men’s kata category.  Whilst most competitions will start off with the junior age categories, it was hoped that the men’s category would serve as a bit of a showcase for the younger students, and also made sense practically as many of the entrants were also needed to help with the refereeing.

The men did not disappoint with their performances, the rule of no repeats for dan grades meant that the audience was able to enjoy a wide variety of high grade katas, complete w...

Starting a martial art will not only ensure you improve your fitness, lose weight and learn some self defence, but it its positive effects will also spill over into other aspects of your life.

Read about the 1st Ichiban Karate Kumite Competition held 9 Dec 2019.

The benefits of training across a number of different martial arts is often, unwisely, undermined, by many martial arts instructors, more intent on ensuring the protection and longevity of their own club than the wholesome development of their students. Similarly, or perhaps consequentially, many students, often believe that their chosen martial art is the best, or better than any other martial art.

Having started karate as a 6-year-old, I was guilty of having only stuck to one single martial art, however this was more as a result of habit and circumstance than an intention to avoid cross training. In May 2017, circumstances changed when we moved our karate club to Ichiban Leeds, offering a wide variety of traditional Japanese martial arts. In January 2018, I resolved to try at least one other martial art, I chose judo (BJC), taught by Bob Jones. I knew very little about judo other than I knew it was likely to compliment my karate, having previously done very little traditional karate t...