The tradition of Karate in Llanferres

Step into the Dojo of Llanferres and discover the world of Llanbedr DC Karate Club and be guided by its experienced instructors. Here we explore the reasons why this noble martial art should be embraced - from its rich traditions to its profound benefits for personal growth, self-defence, and physical fitness and give yourself the opportunity to embark on a journey and experience the essence of Karate.

What is the story of the JKS Llanbedr DC Karate Club?

Llanbedr DC Karate club was formed by Sensei’s Stu Needham and Dave Scregg and Phil Manning in 2010. All of the instructors have a wealth of experience and are clocking up around 100 years experience between them. Initially the club just taught kids but then developed a senior class.

Over the years the club has grown and in 2020 they joined JKS Wales and became affiliated with Japan. In the more recent years Sensei Ryan

Moore who competes for Wales has joined the trio as a club instructor.

Why did you decide to create a new group in Llanferres?

Llanferres was an option we considered a few years back but our member base wasn’t as strong as it is at present. We currently have a number of students that live in the Llanferres area and as such felt now would be a good time to create a further night at this location. This will provide further opportunities to train for our current members and potential access to the club for people of the Llanferres area.

Are you affiliated to a national club?

We are affiliated to the JKS which is a club based in Japan. More locally we are affiliated to JKS Wales. This provides our students the opportunity to travel the world training if they wish. The club is also affiliated to the Welsh Karate Governing Body (WKGB) which allows members to compete in world events. Sensei Ryan has recently represented Wales in the karate commonwealth games.

What kind of Karate do you practice? What is Kata?

We practice traditional Shotokan Karate as taught at the hombu dojo in Japan. Kata is a Japanese word that translates as form. It is a pattern of moves which students have to complete in order to grade. Some also choose to do kata at competition level. How does it work in terms of competition with other clubs? There are a few traditional karate clubs in the local area but very few that act on a non profit basis. We are not a business and all of the money taken is pumped back in to the club for the development of students. All instructors have their own jobs so the club is

LLANFERRES BADMINTON CLUB : JUNIOR SECTION

Our junior badminton club will be restarting in September in Ruthin on Thursday early evening

We have a limited number of places available for 7-15 yr olds

To register your interest and for more information please message Claire Halestrap: clairehalestrap@harrisondd.co.uk not a form of income for them. All instructors have been members of similar clubs in their younger years and take a lot out of seeing the students progress, some being placed at world events. It is a real family feel to the club and it is this ethos that attracts the majority of members. A number of students have come to us from other clubs that charge extortionate monthly fees. We pride ourselves on charging a fee which hasn’t increased since we opened the club. www.llanbedrdckarate.com

How can people join the club? Can a debutant of any age join?

We are insured to teach people age 4+. We teach people of all backgrounds and all abilities. We cater our classes to involve all persons.

Can you describe the benefits of the art for the young and old?

For some karate is seen as a form of self defence, for others they come just to keep active. A lot enjoy the friendship and social aspect of the club. There is something for everyone and you can train as much or as little as you want. It all depends on what you want to get out of it. As an example, this weekend a number of members are travelling to South Wales to train. This is optional but those that attend will enjoy meeting more like minded people and benefiting from the expertise of a high ranking guest instructor that will be in attendance.