Torashin Shotokan Karate Club

name is “Spirit of the Tiger”. The Tiger has always been used to symbolise the strength, courage and determination in students of Karate from as far back as the 13th Century, and these are the qualities we try to develop within the club. The club was founded by Ian MacLaren and Josie Wynn in 1997. Ian is a 6th Dan and Josie is a 4th Dan, qualifications awarded by the prestigious Japan Karate Association. Ian is also one of the country's foremost teachers of Kobudo, the study of traditional Karate weaponry, and Josie is his senior student in this study. He is also recognised as a prominent Karate historian, and regularly teaches and lectures throughout the country. They are both qualified KUGB Instructors and Assessors, both qualifications are recognised by Karate England. Ian and Josie are assisted in running the club by Lucy Rooke (2nd Dan) and Silvia Gennari (1st Dan), who are also KUGB qualified instructors. As a karate club affiliated with the Karate Union of Great Britain (www.kugb.org) our students have access to numerous training courses and competitions at both a regional and national level. These courses provide our members with the chance to train with some of the world's best instructors and are either provded for free or are very inexpensive. The KUGB is a founder member of the national governing body recognised by Sport England. Torashin is a not-for-profit club. We charge only what we need to in order to cover our costs and our instructors teach on a voluntary basis. The Karate Union of Great Britain is also not for profit.