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 Choosing a martial art club is very tricky. There are some clubs out there that have a large emphasis on being money making schemes. If you are prepared to pay for the standard (be it high or low) then that is fine. However in my experience these types of clubs sacrifice technical competence and quality for marketing and financial gain. Anyone can teach a martial art and call them self a black belt (or equivalent). Remember: black belt grade standard is only as high as the grading examiners in that organisation make it. There are countless organisations popping up all the time. It seems that everybody you meet outside the dojo (training hall) knows someone who knows someone who has been the three time world champion in their martial art! Perhaps that is me being too cynical. However it emphasises the requirement for joining bonafide club.
 Is Avon Karate a bonafide club? Avon Karate club and SEKU have heritage and pedigree. Enoeda Sensei was one of the JKA (Japan Karate Assoc.) instructors sent out around the globe to spread Shotokan Karate. Sensei Mick Dewey Chief Instructor and Head of SEKU, had Enoeda Sensei as his instructor. Sensei Mick Dewey's high calibre, philosophy and history is very well summed up in an interview he did for theshotokanway.com. As mentioned, unlike many martial arts clubs, Avon Karate Club is not-for-profit and the instructors of the Club don't receive a wage. We are proud to practice and pass on the traditional art of Shotokan karate. We attempt to up hold the traditional standard of technique that we have inherited from the ancestry of martial artists that have gone before.  If you are serious about a martial art you will need to research what martial art you wish to do. The three broad martial art groups are striking, grappling and weaponry. All martial arts will overlap these groups to differing degrees. As a starting point try researching Martial Arts in Wikipedia. Find out more about the different branches of that martial art. For example the four main recognised styles of Karate are Shotokan, Wado-ryu, Shito-ryu (honestly it is!), and Goju-ryu. Each having subtle differences in origins therefore emphasis. All martial arts have so many aspects that different people enjoy. You need to establish specifically what you want from your martial art. Different martial arts/styles/clubs will have different emphasis and ways of teaching. Different instructors may inspire, convey ideas and be of different abilities. You may only find this out from trying a number of clubs. Please bear in mind ability to teach martial arts and market a club well are two separate things.
 All that having been said, of course I very much hope you choose Avon Karate club! So where does it fit? • Striking Art Karate is predominantly a striking art. We practice the use of kicking and punching techniques. Our forte is a standing fight at arms distance. This allows for skill to overcome size. In Karate, a larger stronger person will still have an advantage but we seek to redress the balance. A strong fast front snap kick would make most, would be attackers think twice. In a grappling martial art such as Judo the larger person has a distinct advantage. A grappling martial art will often end on the floor and assumes a lone attacker who needs to be restrained. In Karate we do use locks and take downs. These are useful principles. However if we are close enough to perform an arm lock we are increasing our exposure to danger. Weapon based martial arts are very interesting and the skill involved is high. In terms of application weapons like the katana (Japannese sword) or Bo (long staff) are academic. I do teach a small amount of weapons work for interest. Occasionally basic bo staff (6ft staff), Sai and Tonfa in the class. • Traditional Art Avon karate club practices traditional Shotokan Karate. There is a sport aspect available, where there are competitions, but it is an aside rather than core. Why a traditional martial art rather than sport martial art? Traditional Karate training style "emphasizes the psychological elements incorporated into a proper attitude such as perseverance, fearlessness, virtue, and leadership skills. Sport karate places emphasis on exercise and competition." (Wikipedia). Our style of Shotokan Karate is traditional. It reflects on the etiquette and traditions passed on from Japanese (and Okinawan) culture and that of the past Karate masters. The etiquete includes bowing when entering the dojo (training hall), and bowing to other students as a form of respect. This instils a discipline, respect and atmosphere conducive to learning. This tradition, history and heritage of our martial art gives us an immence depth for us to explore in our training. Karate-Do means Karate 'way' or 'path', a whole outlook on not only karate but all aspects of life. "The ultimate aim of karate lies not in victory or defeat but in the perfection of the character of its participants." Gichin Funakoshi Sensei.
 Horfield Sports Centre - Wednesdays Horfield Sports Centre is at the top of Gloucester Road, where it becomes Filton Road. It is on the corner of Filton road and Dorian Road. Postcode: BS7 0XW. We meet near the squash courts in the sports centre. Session fees are to be given direct to the Instructor. • on Google Maps • on Multimap Kingsdown Sports Centre - Fridays Kings down sports centre on Portland St. Postcode: BS2 8HL. It is near the BRI (Bristol Royal Infirmary). We meet in the reception area or hall. Session fees are to be given direct to the Instructor. • on Google Maps • on Multimap • The First Busses web site.  As mentioned the club is not-for-profit and these are the costs involved: The cost per Session: Adults - £2.50 and Juniors - £2. Juniors are classified as under 16s. Under 12s must have an adult also training. No under 8s The annual SEKU membership fee is £18. It is compulsory. It includes insurance, a personal licence grading book, affiliation to SEKU, access to SEKU events including gradings. This can be paid on the third week of attending. (Renewal membership is £16) There is no club Membership fee. Basic Gi's (Karate Uniform) start at £15. A Gi is compulsory for the first grading onward and can be bought through the instructor. Gradings are every 3 months and are £18:00 for adults, £14:00 for juniors.
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