Shotokan Karate Philosophy
Students work towards being THE BEST THEY CAN BE.
Training helps mental, physical, emotional well being.
They grow positively, with confidence.
We work towards a Karate training moral code, which is relevant to Karate and to everyday life.
We encourage our younger students to participate in Junior Achievement Programme which helps them to understand.
Dojo Kun/Dojo Code
- One! To strive for the perfection of character!
- One! To protect/defend the paths of truth!
- One! To foster the spirit of effort!
- One! To honour the principles of etiquette!
- One! To guard against impetuous courage!
Our Grand Master Sensei Funukoshi was a sickly child brought up in Japan in the late 1800s and developed his own style of Karate, which is as helpful to physical, emotional and mental health today as it was back then.
20 Precepts/ Principles
1. Karate-do begins with courtesy and ends with courtesy
2. There is no first strike in karate.
3. Karate is an aid to justice.
4. First know yourself before attempting to know others.
5. Spirit first, technique second.
6. Always be ready to release your mind.
7. Accidents arise from negligence.
8. Do not think that karate training is only in the dojo.
9. It will take your entire life to learn karate, there is no limit.
10. Put your everyday living into karate and you will find “Myo” (subtle life secrets).
11. Karate is like boiling water, if you do not heat it constantly, it will cool.
12. Do not think that you have to win, think rather that you do not have to lose.
13. Victory depends on your ability to distinguish vulnerable points from invulnerable ones.
14. The outcome of the battle depends on how you handle weakness and strength.
15. Think of your opponents hands and feet as swords.
16. When you leave home, think that you have numerous opponents waiting for you.
17. Beginners must master low stance and posture, natural body positions are for the advanced.
18. Practicing a kata (patterns) exactly is one thing, engaging in a real fight is another.
19. Do not forget to correctly apply: strength and weakness of power, stretching and contraction of the body, and slowness and speed of techniques.
20. Always think and devise ways to live the precepts of karate-do every day.
We’re proud of the service we provide, but don’t just take our word for it — see what our happy students have to say in the reviews below!
Our Karate Club Locations
Train with us at a location near you. We run karate classes across Hertfordshire and the surrounding areas, making it easy to find a time and place that fits your schedule.
✅ Karate in Langford – Monday evenings
✅ Karate in Ashwell – Saturday evening
✅ Karate in Letchworth – Sunday mornings & Friday evenings
✅ Karate in Hitchin – Wednesday evenings
✅ Karate in Stevenage – Thursday evenings
✅ Karate in Welwyn Garden City – Saturday mornings/afternoon & Wednesday evenings
✅ Karate in Harpenden – Saturday afternoons
✅ Karate in Hemel Hempstead – Thursday evenings
✅ Karate in Watford – Sunday afternoon & Tuesday evenings