Sońkei Shotokan Karate Club TKA

03/04/2026

Yesterday evening saw a very emotional training session for Sensei Noreen. After 12 years of teaching in Gateshead, she is now moving to pastures new. We marked this occasion by surprising her with a group of the original students from when she restarted Sonkei in 2014. Noreen had previously ran a club in Gateshead under the name Sonkei many years previously. She restarted the club and gained a large following almost immediately, originally based in Heworth Grange school. We have had a number of dojo's since then, Leam Lane, Eighton Banks and Birtley.

The Covid pandemic was challenging for Sonkei, we lost our Leam Lane venue but through determination gained a new dojo in a gym at Birtley. The club was rebuilt and re-established, attracting many more new and returning members. A change of management at the gym forced another change of dojo, this time to a village hall, still within Birtley.

Noreen has trained countless students over the years, from new beginners to adults returning to karate. The club has always been open to everyone, regardless. In 2016 a new team behind the scenes launched a website and started comprehensive social media coverage. This allowed the club to attract members, retain them and show people what Sonkei was about.

From a personal point of view I would like to thank Noreen for her dedication with my own son, and for her continued friendship. The 'kids' may have now become adults, life takes over and jobs etc become the new priority. One thing that will always remain are the friendships built. I would also like to say a big thank you to everyone who worked behind the scenes, as parent helpers. Without that help the club would not have been what it was. We have had 12 fantastic years of training with some of the best instructors in the country, running our very own competition and even featuring in a movie!

Sonkei will continue, this time at Morpeth where Sensei Noreen has started a new club. Sonkei's legacy will also continue, Sensei Chris Hulse is taking the reigns at Birtley with his new club, Hokori karate, still under the supervision of Sensei Gordon Mathie and the TKA - Takushoku Karate Association.

This sadly will be the final post on this page before it is retired. However, please continue to follow TKA and Hokori karate. Sensei Noreen will still be a very big part of the karate world and she will be back for some guest teaching at Hokori karate as well as being a part of TKA.

With many thanks Noreen Small ❤️❤️

18/12/2025

Fun was had by all in attendance for our final session of 2025. All that is left to do is wish all our students, friends of the club, and their families a very merry Christmas and a happy new year. We look forward to what 2026 will bring.

06/11/2025

At tonights class our 3 returning international competitors displayed their medals from the recent WUKF European Championships in Riga.

Kenny - Bronze, Vets Sanbon kumite 75kg+

Christopher - Gold and new European champion, Vets Ippon Kumite.
Bronze - Kobudo, short weapons.

Kirsty - Bronze, Seniors Sanbon kumite.

🇪🇺🥋🥉🇪🇺🥋🥉🇪🇺🥋🥉🇪🇺🥋🥇

A fantastic European debut for Kenny, and promising return to international competition after a 6 year absence for Kirsty. Incredibly proud that our small club has excelled on the International stage. For each competitor to reach the podium is testament to the commitment shown, and the consistent effort applied in the dojo. Well done all, and thanks as always to Sensei Noreen Small and Sensei Gordon Mathie for their guidance, support and encouragement.

17/06/2025

Kyu Grading 17.6.25.

Congratulations to Kenny and Bailey on their grading success tonight.

👊 Kenny - 3rd Kyu
👊 Bailey - 1st Kyu

Well deserved reward for both. They've shown its not just the hours of training, but the attitude, consistency, and intensity during those hours that matters. 👏👏👏

05/06/2025

At the weekend 2 members of the Sonkei team headed north to the WUKF Scottish National Championships.

Kenny and Sarah, both part of the TKA National team, tested their skills at one of the UK's biggest competitions. Between them they brought back a fantastic 5 medals, excelling against a high level of opposition.

Kenny:
🥈Ippon Kumite, Sanbon Kumite
🥉Kata

Sarah:
🥉Kata, Team Rotation Kumite

Well done to both, pictured here with a very proud Sensei Noreen Small 6th dan. Eager to push on, they're both straight back to the dojo to keep working towards Malmo and the World Championships in July 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿👊🥋🇸🇪

02/06/2025

Sonkei are incredibly grateful to have today received a second grant from the Moto Foundation.

Since our first grant in January 2024, we have seen students reach many significant milestones, grown the number of students attending UK competitions, and increased our number of representatives on the International stage.

The grant will assist in subsidising rising costs, and enable us to offer variety in training to maximise engagement.

We are very appreciative of the foundation, their ongoing support and incredible generosity.

15/03/2025

This morning some of our students had the pleasure of taking the very short trip to Gateshead Kaizen Karate Club to train under visiting guest instructors, Sensei's Stuart Amos and Tony Chin. There was plenty of detail covered to enhance our understanding of specific techniques, the body mechanics involved, and their application. A great lesson to be a part of.

20/02/2025

18/01/2025

A great training session to start off a busy 2025 👊🥋👏

13/11/2024

Shelagh and June will be doing a Christmas raffle all proceeds to go to karate . These are some of the prizes.We will be dropping raffle tickets off tomorrow night and collecting the tickets bk at end of november . The raffle will be drawn at the beginning of December at the karate .

15/07/2024

Hi everyone,
Just to inform you that tomorrow night's class (16/7/24) has been cancelled due to an appointment I need to attend.
Wednesday and Thursdays classes will run as normal.

Thank you for your understanding n see yous in class.

OSS.