Our Story
At the Shotokan JKA Academy, Our mission is to empower people of all ages to reach their fullest potential through correct instruction in the art of Shotokan JKA Karate.At the same time developing self-defense and life skills, while embodying our spirit of indomitable spirit, generosity, experiential learning, teamwork, community and growth.
Our Mission
Through dedicated karate instruction, we help people of all ages to achieve their full potential. By emphasizing karate self-defense, health, fitness and life skills in a friendly, safe, positive environment, we inspire our students to become more confident, successful, and contributing members of our community.
Transforming lives through karate instruction since 1976
As a child Sham Aktar sensei has had a passion for Karate & martial arts. Currently a 7th Dan Black Belt & trains with Shihan M Kawasoe, 8th Dan, he has been very fortunate to have been trained by some of the highest level original karate masters to have emerged from the JKA, Japan Karate Association. He started Karate teaching in 1976 with a vision to teach karate self defence and life - skills. Incorporating the best Karate skills from his karate masters and adding them to his refined karate curriculum, Sham Aktar sensei has been able to devise an ultimate and comprehensive course of Black Belt Excellence for the students of the Shotokan JKA Karate Academy. By staying true to the founding fundamental karate principles and his karate masters, Sensei Sham Aktar remains a true role model in karate & martial arts education.
At the Shotokan Karate JKA Academy,Mr Aktar has fully applied his valuable experience gained over a course of 48 years of karate under the guidance of the world's leading Karate experts. He has taken great pains to organise an impressive Black Belt Course at the Academy, that presents a sensible approach to acquiring good essential karate skills. By following this course is like receiving instruction directly from his great past karate masters, and over time with careful practice gaining proficiency to the highest level is guaranteed for all, regardless of age.
Meet Our Team
We’re proud of our diverse and experienced team. Our instructors, coaches and staff have years of karate experience, each possessing their own unique style and skills. We strive to create a learning environment that is both fun and challenging for our students. Our team is here to help our students reach their goals and become more confident, successful and contributing members of the community.
Sham Aktar 7th Dan
Founder & Head Coach of Shotokan JKA Academy
Personal Statement :
I love my family. I am passionate about karate & martial arts. There is something great in every true martial art style. I love what it does for people & how it changes them positively.I am excited about karate & martial arts now as I was when I started. My aim is to also bring this excitement to others so they too can enjoy their life more.
Quick Bio :
Over decades of training, including many trips to the far east to China, Malaysia, Singapore, and Japan to train with the world's best masters of Karate & martial arts,Sham Aktar has been training with the world's very best & original Karate masters, for over 45 years.
These masters include : Master Kase 10th Dan, Nishiyama 10th Dan, Asai 9th Dan, Kanazawa 9th Dan,Shirai 8th Dan,Enoeda 8th Dan,Tanaka 8th Dan, Yahara 8th Dan,Kawasoe 8th Dan,and many others. Sham Aktar 7th Dan is still very much active in his Karate training & practice every day, as well as passing on his karate experience to his dedicated & commited karate students. He feels this is his life-time contribution towards the positive human development through learning the art of karate in society. Together with his great coaching team, he tries to simplify all his teachings for his students with much patience, & enthusiasm at every session,in order to make them understand the true concepts & potentials of original karate training. So what took many years of practise by trial, & error, is simplified and taught in a systematised tried & tested manner at professional world-class level at the Shotokan Karate JKA Academy by Sham Aktar sensei to ensure his students' karate journey is the best that it can possibly be. He has thus simplified the typical comprenesive Black Belt Karate Course, for his dedicated students,at his Shotokan JKA Academy, incorporating the very best of the fundamental skills of all the best Shotokan Karate Masters, like a road map for them to achieve their ultimate success,in their karate training.
Sham Aktar's unique teaching point is to be able to take an average dedicated karate student way past his/her potential to the ultimate level of karate technique & mastery of karate skill together with the development of their mind and body by making simple the essential key points of the original JKA Karate masters & pioneers.
You can be guaranteed an improvement in your physical & mental state when karate training with Aktar sensei over a period of time, as he always pushes you beyond your limit to find your true hidden potential in training to your personal best levels. This is his advice to all his members as well as to all dedicated students of karate :
" The impressive, dynamic, techniques, moves and skills of karate cannot be mastered overnight. They can only be acquired through day after day of hard work, effort & training in the basic techniques of karate. Without a physical & mental commitment to self-discipline & training, one cannot hope for improvement. Effective training can only be realised when the guidance and advice offered by qualified instructors & coaches is fathfully carried out both in the dojo and outside the dojo too. Because such advice has been derived from valuable practical experience acquired over a long period of time ".
"Bearing in mind that in our original karate we must be ready to defend & attack in an instant. This is where the correct practise of basic techniques of karate is essential. By forging our basic techniques (Kihon) to the ultimate level through practice and in Kata,we develop our Kihon to the ultimate extreme level. When this is mastered this Kihon becomes an effective Kumite (sparring) Waza (technique). Therefore first and foremost is the importance of mastering Kihon. We should aim to develop good Kihon & Kata, which over a course of time will produce effective Kumite. "
If you are above the age of 6 years then call now for your first FREE trial lessson!. Call: 07956 553417 .
Meet our coaching team
Student Creed :
At the Shotokan Karate JKA Academy, we believe in the power of a strong student creed to remind us of our commitment to growth, respect and discipline. Our Student Creed & Dojo Code are as follows:
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I intend to develop myself in a positive manner and avoid anything that would reduce my mental growth or physical health.
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I intend to develop self-discipline, in order to bring out the best in myself and others.
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I intend to use what I learn in class constructively and defensively, to help myself and others, and never be abusive or offensive.
Dojo Code :
Principles of Black Belt
As a dedicated student of Karate, I will live by the principles of Black Belt:
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Modesty
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Perseverance
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Courtesy
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Courage
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Integrity
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Indomitable Spirit
Dojo rules :
Respect: Treat everyone in the class with respect, especially your sensei, who should be respected both inside and outside the dojo.
Self-Discipline : Work on yourself in class rather then critisizing and/or finding faults in others. Let the coaches do that.
Sickness : If you are sick it is best to stay home until you recover rather than coming to the class and infecting others.
Washrooms: Use the washroom before the class. Don't keep going to the washroom persistently unless there is medical reason.
Be on time: Arriving late to class is disrespectful, and you should do the appropriate number of push-ups,sit - ups & dorsal raises for the minutes you are late, then wait kneeling by the entrance until the sensei allows you to enter.
Be clean: Practice good personal hygiene, wash your hands before and after class, and keep your fingernails and toenails trimmed. You should also avoid wearing strong scents, perfumes, or colognes.
Be tidy: Take responsibility for the cleanliness of the dojo by throwing away your garbage and arranging training equipment and your belongings neatly.Don't keep interrupting the class. Any questions should be asked at the end of the session .
Be aware: Be aware of your surroundings and devise a way to avoid unsavoury situations. No talking in the class is allowed.
Be calm: Refrain from violent behavior and use your karate knowledge for justice.
Be respectful of others' needs: If you are a more experienced karateka, be sensitive to the needs of your partner, especially if they are a beginner.
Remove jewelry: Remove or tape over any jewelry that could cause injury.
Start and end with a bow: Sessions should begin and end with a formal bow of respect.
Anyone found deliberately breaking the above rules may be cautioned,which could mean terminating their membership.