Newcastle Sendai Karate Club

About Sendai Newcastle - Traditional 'Shotokan' as practised by Sensei Funakoshi, Sensei Nakayama and Sensei Enoeda.

Hello and welcome to the Sendai Karate Club, more specifically, the branch based in the Activity Room, Eldon Leisure, Newcastle. Following the success of our sister club in Sunderland, which has been running since 1967, Jeff Barwick started the Newcastle branch in 1975. The club is run by Ernie Payne (3rd Dan), Terry Parkinson (1st Dan - also Secretary) and Sandra Calder (3rd Dan), who all give excellent instruction / tuition. There are regular courses and gradings and Sensei Frank Brennan, 7th Dan, is a regular visiting instructor.

There are many benefits to Karate:   - promotes good all-round exercise   - promotes good health   - develops confidence   - is exciting and enjoyable   - improves reactions   - is an opportunity to meet new friends   - relieves stress   - teaches self-defence.

The club generally runs training sessions four times a week, two in the activity Room at Eldon Square, one in Byker on a Sunday morning, and one on a Monday evening All Saints' College, Westerhope. All sessions are open to all ages and ability levels. The sessions at Eldon Square are run by all three instructors, and the Sunday class is run by Terry Parkinson. Ernie Payne runs the Monday evening class. We also hold a class in the Sports Centre of Northumbria University's Coach Lane Campus, on a Monday evening, which Dave Elliott runs. This is affiliated to Sport Northumbria.

There is a new beginners class on Tuesday 18:30 at Eldon Leisure and again on Thursday from 18:15, to which all are welcome. Of course, new starters are more than welcome to any Tuesday or Thursday class.

We are affiliated to:

  - KUGB - Karate Union of Great Britain
  - ESKA - European Shotokan Karate Association
  - WSKA - World Shotokan Karate Association
  - ETKF - English Traditional Karate Federation
  - SKGB - Scottish Karate Governing Body
  - KE - Karate England

Membership of the club is free, with a £3.00 charge for training on a Tuesday / Thursday, or pay for both sessions on a Tuesday for £5 (i.e. pay on a Tuesday for Tuesday and Thursday that week only), and £3.40 on a Sunday. Payment for the Northumbria University session is £3 to non-members of Sport Northumbria, but free to members (mostly staff and students of the University). The first session for all is free, with the exception of Northumbria University. Training times are as follows:

Read Evening Chronicle report here:(opens new window)

For more information, email us or call Ernie (07946 028379) or Terry (07508 030850 or 0191 2771277).

Hope to see you soon!

There is a great deal of information available on the Internet on the history and terminology of Karate. I would like to thank those whose many sites have provided this information to make this site informative. Many thanks to Rob McCartney at York Kenshinkan Karate Club for much of this