UNIVERSITY OF BRISTOL
KARATE AND KICKBOXING
The club is the oldest, most established martial arts club at the University, having been founded in 1975. The club originally started as a karate club and now has an exceptionally well formed sister kickboxing club.
Members who attend regularly and
have progressed sufficiently are given the opportunity to grade at the end
of each term. Those of you who are interested in the more competitive
nature of the sport are welcome to join us in the many competitions we
attend each year.
Karate has always been regarded the most comprehensive martial art, incorporating all the effective elements of other combat sports. We teach the use of punches, strikes, kicks, throws, locks and defence against weapons. Karate is effective as self-defence, beautiful to watch and offers a challenge to both the body and mind.
The honed precision of a martial art that has evolved over hundreds of years unites perfectly with the competitive sport of kickboxing. Much of what is learnt in one is applicable to the other, and students who train in both disciplines progress most rapidly.
A Wadoryu style of karate is
taught with emphasis on traditional training of forms and techniques.
As students advance they will elarn progressively harder katas (fixed
patterns of moves designed to simulate a fight), the basics of competition
sparring and practical self-defence.
Kickboxing is the application of the fighting techniques that are common to many combat sports including all styles of karate, boxing and Taekwondo. Our style of kickboxing involves the application of techniques learned in karate classes. Kickboxing is a competitive martial art, though self-defence applications are evident.
Kickboxing
has become very fashionable due to its benefits to fitness and flexibility,
and is a superb way to keep in shape. Kickboxing classes with UBKC are
synonymous with fitness classes and involve training of aerobic fitness and
flexibility as much as fighting technique.
Every year the club attends a variety of competitions for both kickboxing and karate. These include friendly competitions with other universities as well as the University Kickboxing Nationals and the Karate Nationals, which are organised by BUSA (British Universities Sports Association).
The club also hosts its own karate
competition every year inviting a selection of clubs from around the South
West. It is a great event where you will get the chance to get
feedback on your performance from some of the countries top referees!