We teach traditional Japanese Karate to all ages.
Opened in June 2021 JKA Bass Rock brings traditional karate to Gullane and Dirleton in the heart of beautiful East Lothian.
Whether you want to be the next Scottish champion, to gain your back belt and learn more about the art of Karate, or if you want to improve your health and wellbeing. JKA Bass Rock Karate club is the place to be!
Our instructors, Sensei Paola and Sensei John have 26 years combined experience in teaching traditional JKA Karate and many more years of training in the art.
The club follows the principles of JKA Karate, cultivating the spirit of perseverance, in students from age 6 upwards. There is no upper age limit to JKA training, just a willingness to learn and to continually develop your body and mind.
Our training centres on 3 key concepts
- Kihon: (基本, きほん) meaning “basics” or “fundamentals.” The term is used to refer to the basic techniques that are taught and practiced as the foundation of most Japanese martial arts.
- Kata: (型 or 形) meaning “form”. It refers to a detailed, prearranged, choreographed pattern of martial arts movements made to be practised alone.
- Kumite: (組手) literally “grappling hands”. It is the part of karate in which a person trains against an adversary. As students progress this becomes more akin to sparring.
Each class splits time to recognise and participate in these three elements of traditional karate.
Karate for personal development
Karate is great for both kids and adults. It supports chiiku (mental development), tokuiku (moral development) and taiiku (physical development). Respect and discipline are at the core of JKA karate. We always begin Kata with a block and end with the attack. Because we never start a fight, but we do finish it.
Everyone progresses at their own pace, as they develop the key skills of technique and control. Beginning with a few basic moves and gradually building up to complex routines or controlled free sparring.
Brown and Black belts are encouraged to take part in monthly squad training, which brings together our top martial artists from around Scotland, for more advanced training.
We are affiliated with JKA Scotland and we support and attend all the courses and gradings they run. Should you decide to become a member of JKA Bass Rock Karate Club you will also need to become a member of JKA Scotland.
We offer you 4 classes for free, to get a feel for training and to get to know the club, after that classes operate on a pay as you go basis. Only additional expenses would be annual membership, insurance and a karate gi (unifom).