22/12/2021
Heiko Karate Club, based at Vault Artist Studios, Belfast was established in 2021.
The club strives to teach karate - a traditional martial art developed primarily from Ryukyuan martial arts under the influence of Chinese martial arts, and focusing predominantly - though not exclusively - on the use of punching, kicking, knee strikes, elbow strikes and open-hand techniques. We aim to teach karate to adults in a pragmatic way for self-protection.
We teach karate in the Shotokan style, popularised in Okinawa and later in Japan by Gichin Funakoshi – referred to as the father of modern karate – thanks to his style becoming the most widely practiced style of karate in the world. Shotokan is typified by deep stances and power generated by hip twist, back-leg drive and expansion/contraction of core muscles to produce high-yield, high-impact techniques.
Heiko translates from Japanese as balance or equilibrium – elements which karate, practiced with genuine intent and spirit, can lend to daily life.
The club was established and is taught by Keith Millar (2nd Dan) who has been training in karate for over 25 years, primarily under Sensei Joe McCullagh (7th Dan), chief instructor of the independent North Shotokan Karate Academy (NSKA) based in NI, and member of Michael Randell Sensei's Shoto organisation. Keith has also had the honour to learn from such diverse and respected instructors as Sensei Aidan Trimble, Sensei Iain Abernethy, Sensei Dave Hazard, Sensei Michael Randall, Sensei Chris Thompson and Sensei Scott Langley amongst others.
We endeavour to draw from a diverse range of authentic dependable sources in order to make our karate as pragmatic, effective and applicable as possible.
