Newbury and Tadley Shotokan Karate Clubs are both established clubs with a good family atmosphere started over 15 years ago. The clubs have students ranging from the age of 5 up to an adult level, where all ages are mixed in classes together.
At all clubs the lessons cover three main areas:
· Kihon (Basic techniques)
· Kata (Forms)
· Kumite (Sparring)
As well as covering these three areas we focus on building confidence with self defence skills and improving fitness, all whilst still having fun.
Throughout the year regional grading exams are held regularly, where students take an exam for their next grade if they are ready, with many young students this promotes a sense of achievement resulting from hard work and determination. in addition to the grading exams the clubs run a student of the month program, where juniors have a chance to be recognised as having shown good effort or improvement and be awarded the student of the month medal if chosen that month.
Aside from gradings and student of the month award there are also annual TISKA championships for both Kyu Grad (colour belts) and Dan grades (black belts), which gives students the opportunity to compete against other members of TISKA from around the country.
The Instructors you will find at the club are Mr Al-Azzawe Stockley (5th Dan) and Mrs Al-Azzawe Stockley (5th Dan). Both have been training for more than fifty years combined under TISKAs chief instructor Shihan Sahota and teaching for more than 20 years combined.
Both Mr and Mrs Al-Azzawe Stockley have experience in competing at TISKAs national and international championships and have attended several courses abroad for training. They look forward to giving the same opportunities to Newbury, Tadley and Basingstoke clubs students over the years, some of which have already attended a training course in Spain with the chief instructor.
Gusharan Sahota
Gursharan Sahota was born in Kenya, East Africa but moved to the UK at the age of 12. He took up Karate at the age of 14 in the local Bedford club and was awarded black belt 1st dan (shodan) four years later.
Now a 9th Dan, Gursharan has competed in a multitude of kata and kumite events, many at national and international level. But the most significant event in his career was the visit he made in 1984 to Japan. There, he fulfilled a great ambition by training in a Japanese dojo under the instruction of Sensei Hirokazu Kanazawa.
This experience proved to be a turning point for Gursharan. On his return to England, he realised the trip had been the inspiration he needed to dedicate his future to training and teaching karate as a way of life.
Gursharan’s first club was opened in Luton/Dunstable in 1981 and this is now the association’s hombu (HQ). Having been a teacher of the art for many years, he formed his own association in 1993 – TISKA (The Traditional International Shotokan Karate Association) which is now one of the biggest associations in the UK.
Gursharan’s love of karate has never diminished. He still teaches over 35 classes a week in the UK and regularly takes master classes internationally. All in all, he has brought hundreds of students of all ages up to black belt standard and beyond.
He is also involved in charity work, helping to subsidise trips for surgeons to third world countries to operate on underprivileged children. He has, for many years, funded many projects in India, and is at present helping to fund the building of a new school.
Gursharan lives in Buckinghamshire and is happily married with a son and daughter who already show signs of following in their daddy’s footsteps.
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