Reading Karate: increasing confidence, improving fitness since 1997

Your local Reading Karate club

Seishinkai Shotokan Karate International (SSKI)

Welcome to Reading Karate. We are a friendly karate club based in Reading and we are open to people of all ages (children from 8 upwards) and abilities.

Reading karate club has been training since 1997 and is affiliated to Seishinkai Shotokan Karate International (SSKI), whose Chief Instructor is Malcolm Phipps Sensei (9th Dan).

Many local children and adults have learnt karate in this friendly, safe, disciplined environment, and some have gone on to advanced Black belt and won Bronze Medals in European and World championships.

Karate is great for building confidence and improving concentration, especially with children, and is also good for stress relief.

The club is run by Nick Forgham, a 5th Dan Black belt, who has run the club since 1997. Nick is fully insured, CRB checked and trained in First Aid. The club meets on Monday and Thursday evenings at The Warehouse at Cemetery Junction in east Reading.

For Training Times and Location please see our Facebook page.

Dojo Etiquette

  • Karateka must always bow on entering and leaving the dojo
  • No drinking or eating in the dojo
  • No footwear to be worn in the dojo
  • Gi (uniform) must be clean, white and in good repair
  • Association badge is compulsory on your gi
  • Long hair must be tied back
  • No Jewellery, pins, metal or plastic hair grips
  • Finger and toenails should be clean and short
  • Respect must be shown at all times

The SSKI website is at www.sski.org

Profile of the Instructor

Nick Forgham (5th Dan)

Nick Forgham (5th Dan) started Karate in Walthamstow in London in 1987, at the age of 25, with the Croyland Karate Association. After passing his first three coloured belts he then moved to Flitwick in Bedfordshire, where he trained two to four times a week with sensei John Van Weenan of the Traditional Association of Shotokan Karate (TASK).

Being more interested in training than in gradings or competitions, he left the club five years later still as a Kyu grade (Brown belt) and moved to Thatcham in Berkshire. With the birth of his first child he ceased training for two years.

In 1994 he resumed training with sensei Malcolm Phipps at Reading University, and in 1996 passed his First Dan Black Belt. It was a bit overdue!

In 1997 he took over the Reading club, which was by now based at the Forest School in Winnersh, and in 2001 passed his Second Dan Black Belt, and passed his Third Dan Black Belt in 2007.

His book, Black Belt Thinking, how to think like and have the winning mindset of a Black Belt, is available on Amazon.

Dojo Kun

The following are the morals of the dojo. The dojo kun is said to have been created by Master Gichin Funakoshi (father of modern karate), and it may have been created by Sakugawa in the 18th century in Okinawa. 

One! To strive for the perfection of character!
Hitotsu! Jinkaku kansei ni tsutomuru koto! 

One! To defend the paths of truth!
Hitotsu! Makoto no michi o mamoru koto! 

One! To foster the spirit of effort!
Hitotsu! Doryoku no seishin o yashinau koto!! 

One! To honour the principles of etiquette!
Hitotsu! Reigi o omonzuru koto! 

One! To guard against impetuous courage!
Hitotsu! Kekki no yu o imashimuru koto!

Contact

If you would like to know more, come along and meet us, or have a free lesson, please contact Nick Forgham:-

Mob: 0777 625 8366 
Email: nick@nickforgham.com