Acorn Karate

Directions Website

We teach Shotokan Karate Karate (空手) is a martial art developed in the Ryukyu Islands in what is now Okinawa, Japan.

It was developed from indigenous fighting methods called te (手, literally "hand"; Tii in Okinawan) and Chinese kenpō. Karate is a striking art using punching, kicking, knee and elbow strikes, and open-handed techniques such as knife-hands. Grappling, locks, restraints, throws, and vital point strikes are taught in some styles. A karate practitioner is called a karateka (空手家). Karate was developed in the Ryukyu Kingdom prior to its 19th-century annexation by Japan. It was brought to the Japanese mainland in the early 20th century during a time of cultural exchanges between the Japanese and the Ryukyuans. In 1922 the Japanese Ministry of Education invited Gichin Funakoshi to Tokyo to give a karate demonstration. In 1924 Keio University established the first university karate club in Japan and by 1932, major Japanese universities had karate clubs. In this era of escalating Japanese militarism, the name was changed from 唐手 ("Chinese hand" or "Tang hand" verbatim, as the name of the Tang dynasty was a synonym to China in Okinawa) to 空手 ("empty hand") – both of which are pronounced karate – to indicate that the Japanese wished to develop the combat form in Japanese style. After the Second World War, Okinawa became an important United States military site and karate became popular among servicemen stationed there.

01/11/2026

Well done to our three students who competed at the MSK Karate Competition today; Alfie, Connie & Emily.

We came away with two third places for Emily & Alfie.

30/10/2026

29/10/2026

A reminder to our students who are entering the MSK karate competition on Sunday (1st November).

It’s at the same time & venue (Holmwood School) as last time. So if we meet outside the school for 08:45 on Sunday. Please bring your Gi and licence and have fun showing your kata.

The entry fee can be paid through the store.

19/10/2026

The next competition for us to enter is on Sunday 1st November at the same venue where we were last time.

The entries need to be in by the end of the week. So can all the students who want to enter let me or Chris know at the latest on Thursday.

18/10/2026

Thursday training and a new addition to our club.

30/08/2026

We had a fantastic grading today with a good display of martial arts techniques from Andrew & Audrey. Well done on achieving the standard and passing your grading,

Andrew: 1st Kyu ( Brown two white stripes)
Audrey: 3rd Kyu (Brown)

27/08/2026

We have a grading this Sunday for Andrew & Audrey from 10 - 11:30. Other members of the club are welcome to come along and support the grading, it’s taking place in the activities room.

05/08/2026

Just a reminder to our students that training will not be on for the next two weeks due to holidays.

12/07/2026

We have had a brilliant time at the MSK Karate competition today. Our Acorn team squad performed their kata brilliantly. They are a credit to the club. This was our first competition and we held our own against some really good competitors.

Our results:
Audrey: Gold
Alfie: Gold
Emily: Bronze

Preston, Lincoln & Connie did the best katas we have seen them perform, to a really good standard.

Well done to everyone who attended and to MSK for putting on a great competition.

Go team Acorn. Jason & Chris are so proud of you all and the hard work you have put in.

08/07/2026

Information for our students who are at the competition on Sunday.

Address

Heythrop Drive
Middlesbrough
TS58AN

Opening Hours

7pm - 8:15pm

Website

https://membermojo.co.uk/acorn

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