Shigakukan Karate Dojo

Shigakukan Karate Dojo Over 40 years of training and teaching. A husband and wife team preserving and teaching traditional Shotokan Karate as it was intended. Enquiries welcome.

Structured, disciplined training for children, teenagers, and adults. Aberdeen & Peterhead

19/06/2026

Last night’s Black Belt class focused on expansion and contraction through Kihon, linked to correct breathing as taught by Soke.

Many people think a black belt is someone who knows more techniques. In reality, the biggest difference is often the quality of their basics. A colour belt practises Kihon. A black belt spends a lifetime trying to perfect it. ゚

One of the things that has fascinated me over the years watching Kancho Nobuaki Kanazawa is trying to understand what ma...
18/06/2026

One of the things that has fascinated me over the years watching Kancho Nobuaki Kanazawa is trying to understand what makes his karate feel different.

Many people look at high-level karate and simply say, “He’s fast.” However, I don’t believe speed of hand or foot is the real answer.

The more I have watched and analysed, the more I believe the difference lies in the speed at which the entire body can organise itself behind a technique.

Everything switches on and off in an instant.

The foot, legs, hips, trunk, shoulder, arm, breath and focus all seem to arrive together at precisely the right moment before immediately relaxing again.

Most karateka, even good ones, have tiny delays within that sequence. The hip moves and the shoulder catches up. The shoulder moves and the arm catches up. The breath arrives slightly late. Tension appears slightly early. We are only talking about hundredths of a second, but those delays accumulate and the technique loses its unity.

The result is often a technique that looks powerful but feels disconnected.

What I see in Kancho’s karate is the absence of those delays.

The body does not appear to be working harder than anyone else. In fact, quite the opposite. There is very little visible effort. The difference is that every component of the technique is recruited at exactly the right time and for exactly the right duration.

This is why I believe many people misunderstand kime.

Kime is not simply muscular contraction at the end of a movement. It is the ability to coordinate the entire body into a single purpose at a precise instant and then release it immediately afterwards.

Many karateka spend years trying to become faster. What I have come to appreciate is that mastery is often found elsewhere. Not in adding more movement, more strength or more tension, but in removing inefficiency, removing unnecessary effort and removing the delays between one part of the body and another.

The hand may not move significantly faster than anyone else’s. The foot may not move significantly faster than anyone else’s. Yet the technique arrives differently because the whole body arrives together.

More than forty years into my own karate journey, these are still the details that interest me most. The deeper I look, the more I realise that true mastery is often a process of distillation rather than accumulation.

14/06/2026

This month’s Yudansha session focused heavily on understanding what happens to technique under pressure.

We began by working on the final few inches of gyaku zuki into our partner’s stomach, concentrating on structure, bone alignment, body connection, and correct transfer of force. The goal was not power through tension, but efficient alignment through the target.

From there we moved into timing drills, with partners driving forward aggressively. Students had to learn how to time the gyaku zuki correctly against movement rather than simply striking a stationary target. This highlighted very quickly who was reading distance and intent properly, and who was still relying on prearranged timing.

The third section involved tameshiwari using breaking boards. This was not treated as a display of strength, but as a study of precision, commitment, trajectory, and mental clarity. The boards give immediate honest feedback. Structure and timing either exist or they do not.

We then introduced emotional and physical pressure. One student wore body armour while facing a line of yudansha advancing forward with intent. The challenge was simple: stop the person’s forward pressure with correct gyaku zuki. Under this type of pressure many students discovered that old habits immediately try to return.

We finished with Jiyu Ippon Kumite, where all of the previous lessons had to come together naturally through distancing, timing, composure, and application.

One of the important lessons from the session was this:

People can often perform technique correctly while calm and controlled. However, once pressure, emotion, speed, resistance, or uncertainty are introduced, many regress back towards older habits and mechanical movement patterns.

Pressure exposes truth.

This is why traditional training must gradually move from mechanics, to timing, to precision, to emotional pressure, and finally towards application.

Osu.

Mark & Libby Donaghy
Shi-Gaku-Kan Karate Dojos ゚ Libby Donaghy Mark Donaghy SKIF

“Extending operational youthfulness indefinitely.”That phrase made me smile because it explains exactly how we now view ...
11/06/2026

“Extending operational youthfulness indefinitely.”

That phrase made me smile because it explains exactly how we now view training and life.

Not pretending age does not exist.
Not chasing youth.
Not trying to be 25 again.

Simply refusing unnecessary decline.

For us this means:

* moving well,
* staying curious,
* remaining physically capable,
* protecting recovery,
* continuing to learn,
* laughing often,
* and staying useful to the people around me.

As a karate instructors we have realised something important over the years:

Punishing yourself is not the same as improving yourself.

The goal is not exhaustion.
The goal is sustainability.

Westill want to be able to demonstrate with sharpness, teach with energy, hike, train, move well and enjoy life many years from now.

Strength matters.
Mobility matters.
Mindset matters.
Purpose matters.

So these days our training is less about ego and more about longevity and quality.

Not living forever.

Just extending operational youthfulness indefinitely. 😎

— Mark and Libby

At Shi-Gaku-Kan Karate Dojos, when we ask students to take the warm-up, it is never because the instructors are being la...
10/06/2026

At Shi-Gaku-Kan Karate Dojos, when we ask students to take the warm-up, it is never because the instructors are being lazy or avoiding teaching.

There is a deeper purpose behind it.

For many students, especially children, teenagers, and those with social anxiety, standing in front of a class and speaking loudly enough to lead 40 or 50 people can feel every bit as difficult as facing a strong opponent.

Why the Atmosphere Changes on Formal Dojo DaysSome students and parents may notice that during pre-gradings, gradings, c...
07/06/2026

Why the Atmosphere Changes on Formal Dojo Days

Some students and parents may notice that during pre-gradings, gradings, courses, and other formal dojo occasions, the atmosphere at Shi-Gaku-Kan changes quite a bit.

The dojo becomes quieter, instructions become sharper, etiquette becomes stricter, and both Sensei Mark and Sensei Libby become much more formal in the way we speak and conduct the class.

This is intentional and an important part of traditional karate training.

In normal weekly classes we want students to feel relaxed, supported, encouraged, and part of the dojo family. We enjoy seeing our students grow in confidence and ability, and we always try to create a positive atmosphere for learning.

However, formal dojo days are different.

On these occasions we are no longer simply running a class. We are acting as guardians of the standards, etiquette, discipline, and spirit of the dojo.

Traditional karate is not only about physical technique. It is also about learning how to:

* focus properly,
* conduct yourself respectfully,
* control nerves and emotions,
* listen carefully,
* show discipline,
* and give your best effort under pressure.

That is why we expect a higher level of behaviour and attention on formal days.

Simple things such as:

* lining up properly before entering the dojo floor,
* waiting to be invited onto the floor,
* answering correctly when spoken to,
* standing properly,
* listening carefully,
* and showing good etiquette,

all help students switch into the correct mindset for serious training and assessment.

These traditions are not there to intimidate students or make the dojo feel unfriendly.

They exist because structure, discipline, and etiquette help students develop focus, self-control, confidence, and respect for the occasion.

Many students actually perform better in a formal atmosphere because they understand that the day carries importance.

As instructors, it is our responsibility to know when to be warm and encouraging, and when to become more formal in order to protect the quality, standards, and traditions of Shi-Gaku-Kan Karate Dojos.

Strong standards and kindness should always exist together.

OSS

Mark and Libby Donaghy

07/06/2026

A small glimpse into Friday night’s children’s class at Shi-Gaku-Kan Karate Dojos.

For children this young, standing in line, listening, focusing, bowing correctly, and trying their best are already huge achievements.

At this stage, it is not about perfection.
It does not matter if the occasional stance is on the wrong leg or a technique is not perfect yet.

Children learn through repetition, observation, and experience. Over time, good habits begin to develop naturally through consistent practice and positive instruction.

Traditional karate is about far more than punching and kicking.

It helps children develop:

• Focus
• Confidence
• Balance and coordination
• Respect and self-control
• Listening skills
• Social confidence
• Resilience

Most importantly, they are learning in a structured, positive environment while still enjoying themselves.

We were very proud of the effort and behaviour shown by all the children on Friday night.

OSS

Mark & Libby Donaghy Libby Donaghy Mark Donaghy SKIF

Wish the students good luck today on the pre-grading assessment 🥋 👏
06/06/2026

Wish the students good luck today on the pre-grading assessment 🥋 👏

頑張ってGanbatte — Do your best
06/06/2026

頑張って

Ganbatte — Do your best

“Strong and kind in equal measure.”That is something Libby and I genuinely try to live by every day — not just in karate...
05/06/2026

“Strong and kind in equal measure.”

That is something Libby and I genuinely try to live by every day — not just in karate, but in life.

We believe true strength is not about intimidation, aggression, or needing to prove yourself.
It is about being calm, patient, protective, and capable when it matters most.

Most people see the smiling side of us first.
The friendly conversations, the encouragement, the laughter with the children, the support for families and students.

So occasionally, when we have had to make a firm decision to protect standards, safety, fairness, or the culture of our dojo, people can sometimes be surprised by the strength behind it.

But kindness without strength becomes weakness.
And strength without kindness becomes something far less valuable.

We believe the goal is both.

Strong enough to stand firm when necessary.
Kind enough to care about people while doing it.

That balance is something we continue to work on every single day.

Mark & Libby
Shi-Gaku-Kan Karate Dojos

Address

Peterhead
AB421EP

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
6pm - 10pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
6pm - 10pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
6pm - 10pm
Friday 9am - 5pm
6pm - 10pm
Saturday 9am - 2am

Telephone

+441779477737

Website

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