Kids Fitness Karate Club
Sensei Darlene Koskinen 3rd Dan
Sensei Jouko Koskinen 7th Dan - Finnish & world champ
Style Name
Shukokai (K.S.I - Kimura Shukokai International)
A little about the style...
The founder of our style, Sensei Kimura created this style of karate and we continue to follow his technique and teaching methods today. The style incorporates the learning of kata, kumite, and self-defense. Only controlled contact is acceptable and body armor is worn. Sensei George Pursianen who is the chief instructor of Shukokai here in Finland, Sensei Jouko, and many others Shukokai instructors were fortunate to have trained with Sensei Kimura resulting in Finland being a strong contender at International Championships. More can be read about the history of Shukokai at this link.
Karate Championships
Two national children's championships are held annually, a team and individual championships. Children can be selected to the national karate squad once they are 12 years of age. A World Championship is held every two years and a European Championship once a year. Finnish Shukokai teams attend both events. Participants are 12 years and above.
Aaro Salonen - Kids Fitness Karate Club
Gold medal kata winner at K.S.I. European Championships 2016
Silver medal kata winner at K.S.I. World Championships 2016
Important Information
Club Karate is for children ages 7 and a half and above. Adults also train karate at this club.
Club Badge
All new children to club karate will be given the Kids Fitness Karate Club badge for their gi a few weeks into the first season. This badge has to be sewn on the left side of the Gi jacket. If your child has come from The Kung Fu Panda Karate system, the new club badge can replace the Kung Fu Panda badge
Karate Passports
All children who grade to yellow belt (8th Kyu) are given a "Karate passport". The passport is for keeping a record of all gradings, gashuku's (training sessions) attended and tournaments your child participates in. Every time your child participates in one of these three events it should be written up and signed in the passport. A passport photo of your child must be placed in the front cover once the passport is received.
Beginners Course
We do not have a beginners class for club karate this season due to there being no spaces available in the classes.
Autumn Season 2018: Starts Week 33
No Classes: Autumn Holiday: Monday 15th – Sunday 21st October
Saturday 22nd September - No karate - Järvenpää Gashuku
Saturday 27th October - No Karate - Kotka Gashuku/Kids champs
Please see the timetable page for days and times of all club classes
Cost of tuition:
Beginners Course: 285€ once a week / 430€ twice a week / includes karate go and belt
285€ Junior yellow belts/color belts for attendance once a week
410€ Club children - train twice a week
470€ Club children - train three times a week
530€ Club children - train four times a week
180€ Body weight class (If attending karate 4 times a week - bodyweight free)
The fees below are included in the tuition payments
Association joining fee: 20€ (New yellow belts only)
Seasonal Affiliation fee: 30€ (All club karate students)
Instructions are given in both Finnish and English.
Once your child is in club karate, the number of hours they train is important. The grading system is strict and the required amount of training hours is required in order for your child to grade. it is recommended that your child attends training twice a week. If your child is only able to attend once a week, advanced grades will be given between colour belts.
Children should come to karate wearing a cleanly pressed gi. No watches or jewellery of any kind should be worn while training or competing. Children with long hair should have it tied up and hair clipped back out of the face.
If your child prefers to wear a t.shirt under their gi, the t.shirt must be white.
Once in club karate, your child will automatically be reenrolled each season unless parents notify otherwise. I do my best to keep training sessions on the same day and time for the full school year but this is not always possible.
Please check the calendar for all upcoming events and tournaments.
All the Sensei’s have a lot of experience
The facilities are Excellent. Dojo has a lot of space, also the accessories such as gloves, training bags and protectors are for everyone to borrow during practise. Also the 'coffee room' provides a place for parents to wait for their children and it is a nice place to meet other parents and socialize while havin' a coffee.
Johanna and Mikko Merenlahti
Johanna and Mikko Merenlahti
Been a happy customer for over 7 years
Karate family of 5
Karate family of 5
Shukuokai Karate Federation
Every karate student has to be affiliated to the Shukokai Karate Federation. As a Shukokai member, your child is entitled to compete in all tournaments, and attend Gashuku's. A gashuku is a national or regional training camp where karate sessions are instructed by Shihan Yrjö Pursianen who is the chief instructor for Finland.
Karate Grading
A grading is when the children get tested on all they have learned and have the opportunity to grade to the next level. Yellow to green belts usually are graded at the end of each season, but only if the required training hours, level and age are reached. The higher belts require more training hours and the level of difficulty increases so from green advanced upwards, the time between gradings increases.
Grading Fees
Every time your child attends a grading a grading fee has to be paid. This fee is payable in advance or on the day of the grading.
Grading Hours Required for Color Belts
9th to 8th Kyu, Junior yellow belt to yellow belt - 15 hours
8th to 7th Kyu, Yellow to orange belt - 30 hours
7th to 6th Kyu, Orange to green belt - 40 hours
6th to 5th Kyu, Green to blue belt - 40 hours
5th to 4th Kyu, Blue to purple - 50 hours
4th to 3rd Kyu, Purple to brown - 100 hours
3rd to 2nd Kyu, 3rd Brown to 2nd Brown - 100 hours
2nd to 1st Kyu, 2nd Brown to 1st Brown
1st Kyu to 1 Dan, 1st Brown to 1st Dan black belt - 100 hours
Karate Tournaments
Club and national karate tournaments will be held every season. The children are encouraged to participate but they are not forced to. Both kata and kumite are done in tournaments and your child can choose to do one or the other or both.
Karate Gi's and Body Protection
Karate Gi's and all body protection needed for participating in tournaments or for training purposes can be purchased from the karate shop at the dojo. These items can be purchased before or after training.
Kids Fitness members of the Finnish Shukokai Karate Team
Micke Tamminiemi, Asla Salonen and Aaro Salonen
How to Tie a Karate Belt
It is very important that once in club karate, the children learn how to tie their karate belt themselves correctly.
This video will help your child to achieve this.
Registration Links
