Sochin Karate Club - Canterbury

09/10/2026

A Karate Festival will be staged to celebrate the 80th birthday of tSensei Georges Dussart (one of the founding members of Shotokan Connect) in Canterbury on Saturday, 7 November.

Sensei Georges, 6th Dan, is a senior member of the national association Shotokan Connect as well as the Chief Instructor of Sochin Karate Club, Canterbury and has been a Karateka for five decades.

Two martial arts sessions will be staged. Sensei John Parnell 7th Dan will deliver a session on traditional Shotokan Karate which will be followed by Sensei Sam Birch 6th Dan giving a hands-on session using Bo fighting staves.

These will be followed by a reception with food and refreshments, which will be followed by (optional) drinks in a local public house. Attendees can opt to just attend the reception by purchasing a sandwich platter.

Key details
Date: Saturday, 7 November
Venue: EKC Canterbury College, New Dover Road, Canterbury CT1 3AJ
Timetable:
* 2pm to 3.20pm: Shotokan Karate – Sensei John Parnell, 7th Dan
* 3.40pm to 5pm: Bo fighting staves – Sensei Sam Birch, 6th Dan
* 5pm: Reception in college refectory – refreshments – birthday toast to Georges
* 7pm: Move on to a local public house for drinks (optional) just a five minute walk away

To find out more or to book your ticket visit: https://www.sochinkarateclub.co.uk/2026/08/21/canterbury-club-stages-karate-festival/

25/09/2026

Our Sensei Georges is one of the instructors at this fab festival. Open to our members!

Shotokan Connect’s own Sensei John Parnell (7th Dan) and Sensei Georges Dussart (6th Dan) are joining an outstanding lineup of seven top Shotokan karate instructors at this year’s SHOTORAMA! Shotorama

Taking place at the Guildford Spectrum, SHOTORAMA promises a full day of high-quality training, inspiration and the opportunity to learn from some of the leading instructors in the Shotokan karate community.

“SHOTORAMA is absolutely nothing less than a festival of shotokan karate and all its flavours, created and attended by your friends across the karate world. It’s an experience you just can’t get anywhere else.”

To find out more and book, please visit https://shotorama.com/

15/09/2026

Sochin Karate Club is at EKC Canterbury College freshers fair today - if you are on campus come and say hello!

21/08/2026

A Karate Festival will be staged to celebrate the 80th birthday of Sensei Georges Dussart in Canterbury on Saturday, 7 November.

Sensei Georges, 6th Dan, is a senior member of the national association Shotokan Connect as well as the Chief Instructor of Sochin Karate Club, Canterbury and has been a Karateka for five decades.

Two martial arts sessions will be staged. Sensei John Parnell will deliver a session on traditional Shotokan Karate which will be followed by Sensei Sam Birch giving a hands-on session using Bo fighting staves.

These will be followed by a reception with food and refreshments, which will be followed by (optional) drinks in a local public house. Attendees can opt to just attend the reception by purchasing a sandwich platter.

Key details

Date: Saturday, 7 November
Venue: EKC Canterbury College, New Dover Road, Canterbury CT1 3AJ

Timetable:

* 2pm to 3.20pm: Shotokan Karate – Sensei John Parnell, 7th Dan
* 3.40pm to 5pm: Bo fighting staves – Sensei Sam Birch, 6th Dan
* 5pm: Reception in college refectory – refreshments – birthday toast to Georges
* 7pm: Move on to a local public house for drinks (optional) just a five minute walk away

To find out more or to book your ticket visit: https://www.sochinkarateclub.co.uk/2026/08/21/canterbury-club-stages-karate-festival/

Proud to be part of Shotokan Connect.

16/08/2026

August has been a busy month for Sochin Karate Club with two articles appearing in the Canterbury edition of CommunityAd.

Editorials focused on the visit by the Lord Mayor of Canterbury to the club to help promote our campaign encouraging more women to take up the sport of Karate.

And a second page promoting the new Canterbury Community Awards, which is a grassroots initiative to celebrate the champions of the community, workplace and schools in the Canterbury district.

To find out more visit: www.sochinkarateclub.co.uk

To submit a nomination visit: www.canterburycommunityawards.org.uk

To book a free Discover Karate session visit the club's Eventbrite page here:

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/learn-karate-discovery-session-tickets-1231100497729?aff=oddtdtcreator

Sochin Karate Club - proud to be part of Shotokan Connect

21/07/2026

Sochin Karate Club - Canterbury is proud to stage these annual awards at EKC Canterbury College.

Submit your nominations now: https://www.sochinkarateclub.co.uk/canterbury-community-awards/

Guildcrest Estates, The Sustainable Printworks, CommunityAd.

Canterbury Community Awards It’s time to celebrate local unsung heroes The Canterbury Community Awards will celebrate the individuals, organisations and initiatives that are helping to make life better in the Canterbury, Whitstable, Herne Bay and Faversham area. Who are the individuals reviving o...

20/07/2026

Find your power at join Sochin Karate Club. Sign up for a free Discover Karate session. Training costs an affordable £6 per session with discounts available to women and teenage girls thanks to a grant from Active Kent and Medway to take up the sport. Thanks to the local media for promoting our initiative.

Sign up here:

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/learn-karate-discovery-session-tickets-1231100497729?aff=oddtdtcreator

12/07/2026

Nine Karateka from Sochin Karate Club passed their grading exams in a session officiated by Sensei Sam Birch from Shotokan Connect. Earlier in the session Sensei Sam delivered a Masterclass session focusing on the Kata Wankan.

Sensei Sam, 6th Dan, is the Chief Instructor at the Red Lion Shotokan Karate Club - Eastbourne as well as serving on the Quality Assurance Committee of the national association, Shotokan Connect and instructing at national courses.

Sensei Sam has competed extensively at both regional and national levels, earning multiple gold, silver, and bronze medals in Kata and Kumite. He also spent two years as a member of the KUGB England Kata Squad, representing his country with dedication and skill.

Sochin Karate Club is supported by Active Kent and Medway enabling the club to offer subsidised training sessions to women to encourage more to take up the sport.

To book a Discover Karate session click here:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/learn-karate-discovery-session-tickets-1231100497729?aff=oddtdtcreator

29/06/2026

The Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress of Canterbury, took time out from a hectic schedule to blow off a little steam this week and to help shout about a campaign to encourage women to take up karate.

Cllr Alister Brady and Dr. Magali-Fleur Barnoux, visited Sochin Karate Club, Canterbury to meet club members and learn a few karate moves – including the kiai, which is a shout used in martial arts to release energy and focus the mind before an attack or defence.

The club is running a This Girl Can campaign to shout about the physical and mental health benefits of karate as well as the empowerment and improved confidence it can bring to women, and the Lady Mayoress came to give her backing to the initiative. Women can received subsidised training sessions at the club thanks to a grant from Active Kent & Medway.

The team of black belt instructors at the club include Karen Eastlake, of Wincheap, and Emma Rosen, of Deal.

Dr. Magali-Fleur Barnoux said: “It was great fun training with Sochin Karate Club, learning more about this sport and seeing first hand how it can improve both physical and mental health. I am delighted to support the club’s This Girl Can campaign to encourage more women to take up the sport as it is a great way to encourage confidence and fitness – and with two women black belt instructors on the teaching team this really feels like a safe, welcoming environment for women to train.”

The club trains on Monday and Thursday evenings from 7pm at Canterbury College, New Dover Road, Canterbury. Pop along at 6.45pm on a club night to meet members and find out more or visit www.sochinkarateclub.co.uk or book a free Discover Karate session here: https://rb.gy/ohax8s

Proud to be part of Shotokan Connect


Lord Mayor of Canterbury, Canterbury City Council

23/06/2026

With the rest of the city melting because of the excessive heat, Sochin Karate Club received a Karate Masterclass on Monday night in its wonderfully air conditioned Dojo.

Sensei Neil, 6th Dan, is a senior member of the HDKI GB however now lives and teaches in Trondheim University, Norway. With decades of experience he’s a popular instructor in the UK, Norway and now throughout Europe.

Neil is most known for his style of karate instruction, which encourages exploration of technique beyond basic form. Originally inspired by self-defence, he began training with the KUGB while at university in Manchester.

Sochin Karate Club is based in the dance studio within the main building at Canterbury College, New Dover Road, Canterbury. The Dojo is air conditioned, has a sprung floor, mirror wall and balance beams to assist a variety of training techniques.

Training sessions cost an affordable £6, though discounts are available including subsidised places for women and teenage girls thanks to a grant from Active Kent and Medway to encourage more women to take up the sport.

Book your Discover Karate session through the club Eventbrite page or drop into the club on any Monday or Thursday night just before 7pm:

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/learn-karate-discovery-session-tickets-1231100497729?aff=ebdssbdestsearch