Karate is a system of self-defence and physical culture originally developed and refined in Okinawa and Japan. The word is formed from the Japanese words Kara (empty) and Te (hand), symbolising that its practitioners - Karateka - are unarmed, but use their hands and feet for blocking and striking. Training is conducted within an environment and code based on Japanese cultural practices, which are explained in more detail further on.

There are various styles of Karate and Shotokan is the most widely practiced style in the world. The originator of Shotokan was Gichin Funakoshi, an Okinawan school teacher, who first demonstrated his style of Karate in Japan in 1921. The following year he moved to Japan to teach and was elected honorary Head of the Japan Karate Association (JKA) when it was formed in 1949.

You can find more information on our classes here 

However, for ease, we have three classes per week. 

Our Saturday class for beginners of all ages (4+) is 09:00-10:00. 

Our Monday and Friday classes are for students, of all experience levels and are from 20:30-21:45 on Mondays and 20:00-21:30 on Fridays.

We have a number of payment structures to accommodate different peoples situations:

Pay as you go: £9.50

Monthly standing order (one class per week): £30.00

Monthly standing order (two classes per week): £45.00

Monthly standing order (three classes per week): £55.00.

You also, for insurance purposes, would need to purchase an annual license for £25 per annum. 

Joining is really easy. 

You can book your first class via the online booking form, or if you'd prefer you can call, message or email us. 

No. We welcome everyone from all backgrounds. Instruction is always tailored for the individual. 

Following advice from the Government, Seishin has implemented several safety precautions. Your safety, current and new students, is at the centre of what we do because without you the club would not be what it is today. Therefore, we have set out some precautionary measures of what to expect when coming to the Dojo:

• If you are feeling unwell, you must not attend training
• All members are encouraged to perform a lateral flow test prior to training

Seishin will continue to strive for excellence, with your safety being a top priority.

In 1609 Japan invaded Okinawa, and further to the ban on weaponry, placed a ban upon anyone doing martial arts, and so martial arts training became shrouded in secrecy. Over 300 years two styles evolved, Shorin-ryu which developed from Shuri and Tomari and Shorei-ryu which came from Naha.

Gichin Funakoshi was born in 1868 and began studying martial arts at a very young age, under Anko Itosu and Yasutsune Azato. The ban on martial arts still stood, and so Funakoshi would often have lessons with his instructors at night time, so not to be discovered. Tode, the martial arts of Okinawa could also be pronounced 'kara' and Funakoshi gave this the alternative meaning of 'empty' and so his training became known as Karate.

The ban on martial arts was finally lifted in 1902 when Shintaro Ogawa, the Commissioner of Education recommended that martial arts should be included in physical education in the first middle school of Okinawa. This meant that Funakoshi could continue his training in without fear of discovery, and he could now spread the word of his karate.

Funakoshi was invited to Japan in 1922 to give a demonstration of Karate at the First National Athletic Exhibition in Tokyo, after which he decided to remain in Japan to spread the word. It is thanks to his efforts that Karate became part of the school curriculum in Japan.

The style name Shotokan was given to Funakoshi's karate by his students. Shoto was Funakoshi's pen name as a writer, meaning 'pine waves' and Kan means 'school' so those who trained at Funakoshi's 'school' became known as the Shotokan. In 1948 Funakoshi established the Japan Karate Association and he remained the head of the JKA until his death in 1957.

Nakayama was a senior student of the JKA and took over the role of head of the Association. Nakayama began studying Shotokan under Funakoshi Sensei, at Takushoku University in 1932. Now Nakayama is held responsible for the worldwide development of Shotokan Karate. Nakayama developed a way of logically teaching karate. He decided that it was best to devise a way of teaching different abilities easily. He developed the instructor programme and karate's first ever match system.

It is thanks to Nakayama Sensei that karate is as successful a martial art as it is today. Nakayama Sensei passed away in 1987, at the age of 74.

We have two venues. 

Saturdays are at: 

Marina Studios

Brighton Marina

Brighton

BN2 5WA

Monday's and Friday's are at:

Falmer Sports Centre

University of Brighton

Village Way

Brighton

BN1 9PX

Joining is really easy. 

You can book your first class via the online booking form, or if you'd prefer you can call, message or email us. 

Yes. You can learn more about our pricing here

We take students from 5 years and upwards. 

For children aged 5-8 years we request that their parent or guardian remain to either join in the class or watch (watching for a trial period). 

You can learn more about our classes here.

You can find more about our classes here. 

Our classes are an even balance of fitness, basic technique (khion), patterns (kata), sparring and self defence (kumite).