Karate in Seaham – It’s not just for Kids!

Karate is a fantastic way to keep fit, stay healthy and meet new people. As well as developing self-defence or combative skills it also strengthens muscles and joints, improves balance and coordination and enhances heart and lung function. All great reasons why you should start practicing now!

But most people have the idea that Karate is just for kids, right?

Wrong!

It is true that recently the numbers of kids practicing Karate has tended to surpass the numbers of adults whereas in past years it was an adult only Martial Art. As recently as the 1970s and 80s most clubs had a minimum age of 16 for all new beginners. This was because the training was harsh, the techniques used were quite dangerous, the risk of injury was high, and the methods of some instructors hadn’t developed to modern standards.

For the most part that has now changed.

Nowadays Karate training is structured in order to help you develop your skills and improve your physical fitness.

At Ronin our instructors are knowledgeable in regards to human anatomy and understand what constitutes safe and effective exercise and they have experienced success at the highest levels.

All great reasons why you should start training!

But is Karate still just for kids?

No, it’s not.

Some Karate clubs maintain high numbers of children in their classes and they focus their sessions around that with the use of games, fun activities and a child centred approach to training.

Whilst this is great for getting kids involved in the sport it is not suitable or appealing for adults.

Our sessions are based around the development of effective techniques, and we regularly include pad work for this end.

We use partner work to practice self-defence scenarios and we aim to gradually develop your fitness as you progress.

We take our training seriously and aim to provide structured training which gradually develops your abilities in order to achieve defined goals.

This approach to training is not suitable for lots of small children, which is why our classes are mostly made up of adults. We usually have a few kids who train with us but our minimum age is eight and we usually only have 2 or 3 children around this age or slightly older.

Why is Karate seen as a Kids activity?

When Karate was imported into Japan from Okinawa a lot of the more dangerous techniques were removed in order to make it child friendly.

The founder of Shotokan Karate, Gichin Funakoshi, wanted to introduce Karate into schools and colleges and you can’t teach kids how to seriously harm one another, so he set about creating a syllabus which met the needs of the authorities within the education system.

This resulted in a child friendly syllabus aimed at improving the physical activity and abilities of children, rather than the original self defence system which originated in Okinawa.

In more recent decades, Karate has moved further into competitive sport rather than focusing exclusively on self-defence.

This is great for those who wish to challenge themselves in a competitive setting and there are competition opportunities for kids all the way through to people in their 50’s.

This move toward sport has meant that many people want their children involved in Karate so they have that sporting outlet from a young age, further moving the perception of Karate toward an activity done by children.

This is not to disparage anyone from competition. At Seaham we do have individuals who compete and our instructors were all high level competitors in the past.

The adult focused nature of our sessions allows us to blend various training styles and goals including, competition, self-defence and the basic training of Kihon and Kata.

There are a variety of reasons to take up training: health, fitness, self-defence, competitive drive or simply enjoyment are all valid.

What to Expect!

You don’t need to be fit to start, your fitness will develop as you continue to attend our sessions. Everyone trains within their own limitations; there is no pressure to push yourself beyond your own comfort zone.

Obviously as you continue your comfort zone will change as your fitness improves and we encourage this natural adaptation.

Our sessions include a mix of basic techniques to help introduce you to the fundamental movements of blocking, kicking and punching.

We use focus pads so we can take these techniques and begin to develop them in a more realistic way i.e. by applying them against a target.

We also do some partner work, either following a set drill or practicing some light controlled sparring (but this is introduced gradually as your skill levels improve).

As you progress the intensity of the sessions can increase, but only if that is what you want!

Most people find that as their fitness and ability improve so does their desire to train harder, it’s a natural reaction to feeling good about yourself!

As you get fitter the speed of your movements will increase as will the power of your techniques when hitting the pads.

Part of our training includes Kata which are set patterns. These increase in difficulty as you progress and your ability improves. We take moves from these Kata and apply them in a practical setting either with a partner or against the pads.

Some of these techniques are not particularly ‘child friendly’ but they’re great for adults to develop the ability to defend themselves.

Kata training on its own is also a great way to build fitness as it requires lots of muscle contraction and relaxation, it develops coordination and balance and helps boost your memory.

As you progress the intensity of the sessions can increase, but only if that is what you want!

Most people find that as their fitness and ability improve so does their desire to train harder, it’s a natural reaction to feeling good about yourself!

As you get fitter the speed of your movements will increase as will the power of your techniques when hitting the pads.

Part of our training includes Kata which are set patterns. These increase in difficulty as you progress and your ability improves. We take moves from these Kata and apply them in a practical setting either with a partner or against the pads.

Some of these techniques are not particularly ‘child friendly’ but they’re great for adults to develop the ability to defend themselves.

Kata training on its own is also a great way to build fitness as it requires lots of muscle contraction and relaxation, it develops coordination and balance and helps boost your memory.

I’m an older adult. What can Karate do for me?

It doesn’t matter how old you are you can still benefit from Karate.

As a beginner you will find that the movements are quite slow and gentle on your body as you learn new techniques.

This gives your body time to adjust and adapt as you become fitter and stronger.

Your heart and lungs will become more efficient, your breathing will improve, your resting heart rate will decrease and your blood pressure will become lower, all great reasons why an exercise regime which includes Karate is beneficial to older adults.

Some people may be put off because they think they are not bendy enough, but being flexible is not a pre-requisite to practicing Karate. You do not need to be able to do the splits or even touch your toes, high kicks can be left to the youngsters.

We do carry out some stretching exercises as part of the warm-up but these can be adapted to suit you and your levels of mobility.

Our Kata training is great for maintaining memory and linking it to your hand eye coordination. Kata can engage the brain as much as the body, especially when you begin to develop your technique and have to really think about what you are doing.

Karate will help improve your balance so if you’re worried about falling or tripping then having better balance could help you reduce that risk.

You may also find that your day to day movements become easier as you train.

All of these benefits are the reason why so many people continue to practice Karate into their later years.

Karate has something for everyone and our members include those in their 20’s and 30’s all the way through to those in their 60’s 70’s and 80’s (we do have several members in this upper age bracket).

Who trains with us?

The testimonials below are from some of our adult members.

Claire has been training with us for several years now. As you can see from her words below she has been involved in exercise and fitness for a long time and, even though she went through knee surgery a few years ago, continues to train with us. Claire had this to say about her Karate training:

“I began my karate journey approximately 2 years after my son began his, I was 47 years old. At the time my purpose was to maintain my son’s interest and engagement (and it worked as he has just achieved his black belt – 1st Dan).

Exercise and fitness have always played an important part in my life, generally gym work rather than team sports. I find my Karate sessions complement my training perfectly. They help me maintain focus and concentration, improve my co-ordination and increase my flexibility. Karate also improves my balance and posture which, particularly as we get older, can help reduce the risk of injuries.

Every time I leave the Dojo I always feel I have at least learnt one new thing and my mind feels cleared of any unnecessary weight.”

Andrew practiced Karate as a youngster and returned to training just over a year ago. Even though he has ongoing back and hip problems (including a touch of Sciatica) his reason for training is described below:

“I was thirteen when I first stepped into a Dojo, back in 1984. My older brother had joined Sendai Karate Club a few months earlier, training in Crowtree Leisure Centre in Sunderland. Like younger brothers do, I tagged along and trained twice a week. I kept going until I was seventeen, then life got in the way, and I was taken on as an apprentice welder that took me all over the country. With nights in digs and weeks away from home Karate faded into the background. At first, I’d train whenever I was home, but over time it became once in a blue moon. I did manage to grade for my 1st Dan under the legendary Sensei Enoeda… and I failed it! That failure felt like a full stop on my Karate.

Fast-forward thirty-six years and my eight-year-old son announced he wanted to try Karate. My brother Paul (yes the same one) had long since opened his own club, Ronin Karate in Seaham, and gave me a nudge “You might as well join in rather than just watch. You might enjoy it!” I was a bit nervous when I walked back into the Dojo for the first time in decades. I felt like an imposter in my trackie bottoms and T-shirt but I was made to feel welcome, and it didn’t take long before it all came flooding back. I could remember a couple of the sequences and one or two Katas and I just needed a little nudge here and there before remembering more and more. What I hadn’t bargained for was just how unfit fifty-something me had become.

The first few weeks were hard because of my lack of fitness. After the warm-up and going through the basics I’d be dripping in sweat and on more than one occasion had to bow out to sit on the side gasping like a fish. This wasn’t because the instructor was overly zealous, or the training was extreme, it was a true reflection on my poor fitness levels.

Fourteen months later and I can feel a massive difference in my fitness. I’ve successfully graded a few times and have set myself a goal of overturning that 1st Dan failure from years ago. I can feel my fitness is coming back week by week, and while every session is still a complete sweat-fest for me, I can finally make it to the end without begging for mercy, although my 54-year-old hips won’t allow me to kick as high as I used to!

I’m grateful to my son for dragging me there in the first place, and to my brother, Paul, for convincing me to join in rather than watch from the sidelines and for refusing to let thirsty-six years of rust keep me away.”

The final testimonial is from Sharon who, like the previous members, started alongside her young son.

I never imagined I’d be training for my black belt at the age of 51 — yet here I am! When I first joined Ronin Seaham just over three and a half years ago, it was only because my then-8-year-old son had started attending. I thought I’d train for a few weeks until he settled in and gained some confidence. But something unexpected happened: I found I loved it! And now, years later, I’m still here, still training, and still enjoying every moment.

Ronin Seaham is a fantastic place to learn. There are no big egos, no intimidating attitudes — just friendly, supportive people. We are all at different stages of our karate journeys, which creates a truly welcoming and encouraging atmosphere. Training here has given me a real confidence boost. It’s proof that you’re never too old to start something new, and it has helped me maintain a level of fitness that can be difficult to hold onto as the years go by.

Karate also gives me structure and purpose: the routine of attending regular classes and the clear progression of working toward each new belt. There’s something incredibly satisfying about stepping up for a grading, giving it your all, and then earning that next coloured belt. The sense of achievement is hard to put into words — it’s motivating, empowering, and very rewarding.

I particularly enjoy learning new techniques and new kata. They keep my mind sharp and my body active, and I love the challenge of memorising and refining each sequence.

Kumite (sparring) wasn’t something I ever felt naturally comfortable with — I’ve never considered myself a fighter! But thanks to the controlled environment and the patient instruction, I’ve grown far more confident. There’s no pressure, nobody trying to catch you out or cause harm. It’s about learning, improving, and supporting one another.

To anyone who has ever thought about giving karate a try, my advice is simple: do it. Don’t talk yourself out of it because of age, fitness level, or self-doubt. Karate truly is for all abilities and all ages. You might surprise yourself — just as I did. And who knows? In a few years’ time, you might find yourself training for your black belt too.

If you are interested in joining our sessions please note there are no age limits for adults, we have members of all ages ranging from their teens, 20s, 30s, 40s and even into the 50+ age categories!

We are not profit driven, nor are we obsessed with tournament success in order to promote our classes.

We just provide a safe, enjoyable and friendly place for people to practice and become better.

So if you want to come along and train with a group of friendly, like-minded grown-ups, give us a try!