Events & Calendar

Gradings · Competitions · Seminars · Socials

★ Featured Event

Sunday Funday 7th June 2026 flyer

Sunday Funday — Summer Fair

📅 Sunday 7th June 2026  |  🕐 12:00 – 4:00 pm  |  🥋 Karate Demonstration 3:00 pm
📍 St Leonard's & St Ives Village Hall, Braeside Road, St Leonard's, BH24 2PH

Come and watch our Karate demonstration at the St Leonard's & St Ives Summer Fair! A fantastic community event with free entry, stalls, live music, hot food, bar, face painting, vintage & classic vehicles, local crafts and children's entertainment.

FREE ENTRY Karate Demo — 3pm Live Music Hot Food & Bar
Confirmed ISMAA Calendar 2026. All competitions are qualifiers for the World Games 2027. Please note some dates may change — the club will notify members directly at training.

What's Coming Up

Upcoming Events 2026

7
Jun 2026

Squad & Advanced Session

📅 7th June 2026  |  🕐 Times 9:30am Squad, 11:30am Advanced/p>

Squad sessions are open to all junior and adult students — you do not need to be a squad member to attend. The Advanced Session is aimed at purple belt and above, focusing on specific advanced grading criteria. All students taking brown belt and above must attend.

Squad Training
28
Jun 2026

National Squad Training — European Championships

📅 28th June 2026  |  🕐 9:30 - 3pm

Mandatory training session for students selected for the European Championships National Squad. You must also attend monthly squad sessions. Contact your instructor for venue details.

National Squad
5
Jul 2026

London Open — Competition

https://smoothcomp.com/event/31046

📅 5th July 2026  |  📍 London  |  🕐 All Day

Open kata and kumite competition — a qualifier for the World Games 2027. A great opportunity to test your skills and represent the club. Speak to your instructor to enter and arrange travel.

Competition
11
Jul 2026

Kyu Grading — Summer 2026

📅 11th July 2026  |  🕐 TBC

Kyu belt grading for Little Ninjas, Juniors and Adult students. Students will be invited by their instructor when they are ready to grade. Bring your current ISMAA licence book, gi and current belt.

GradingAll Grades
12
Jul 2026

Advanced / Black Belt Grading & Squad Session

📅 12th July 2026  |  🕐 TBC

Advanced and Black Belt grading for senior students, plus the monthly Squad & Advanced Session. Grading is invitation only — students will be contacted by their instructor. All purple belt and above should attend the advanced session.

GradingAdvanced
26
Jul 2026

European Games 2026

📅 26th July – 3rd August 2026

The European Games — a major qualifier for the World Games 2027. Contact your instructor for details on participation and selection criteria.

CompetitionEuropean Championship
13
Sep 2026

Squad & Advanced Session

📅 13th September 2026  |  🕐 TBC

Monthly squad and advanced session. Open to all students for the squad element; the advanced session is for purple belt and above. All students taking brown belt and above must attend.

Squad Training
19
Sep 2026

Kyu Grading — Autumn 2026

📅 19th September 2026  |  🕐 TBC

Kyu belt grading for Little Ninjas, Juniors and Adult students. Students will be invited by their instructor when they are ready to grade. Bring your current ISMAA licence book, gi and current belt.

GradingAll Grades
26
Sep 2026

Welsh Open — Competition

📅 26th & 27th September 2026  |  📍 Wales  |  🕐 All Day

Open kata and kumite competition — a qualifier for the World Games 2027. Speak to your instructor to enter and arrange travel to Wales.

Competition
11
Oct 2026

Squad & Advanced Session

📅 11th October 2026  |  🕐 TBC

Monthly squad and advanced session. Open to all students for the squad element; the advanced session is for purple belt and above. All students taking brown belt and above must attend.

Squad Training
1
Nov 2026

Squad & Advanced Session

📅 1st November 2026  |  🕐 TBC

Monthly squad and advanced session. Open to all students for the squad element; the advanced session is for purple belt and above. All students taking brown belt and above must attend.

Squad Training
15
Nov 2026

ISMAA Championships

📅 15th November 2026  |  📍 Venue TBC  |  🕐 All Day

The ISMAA Championships — a qualifier for the World Games 2027. Open kata and kumite for all affiliated clubs and grades. A flagship event in the ISMAA calendar. Speak to your instructor to enter.

CompetitionISMAA
22
Nov 2026

Northern Open — Competition

📅 22nd November 2026  |  🕐 All Day

Open kata and kumite competition — a qualifier for the World Games 2027. Speak to your instructor to enter and arrange travel.

Competition
6
Dec 2026

Advanced Session

📅 6th December 2026  |  🕐 TBC

Advanced session for purple belt and above — focused on advanced grading criteria. All students taking brown belt and above must attend.

Advanced
12
Dec 2026

Kyu Grading — Winter 2026

📅 12th December 2026  |  🕐 TBC

Kyu belt grading for Little Ninjas, Juniors and Adult students. Students will be invited by their instructor when they are ready to grade. Bring your current ISMAA licence book, gi and current belt.

GradingAll Grades
13
Dec 2026

Advanced / Black Belt Grading

📅 13th December 2026  |  🕐 TBC

Advanced and Black Belt grading for senior students. Invitation only — students will be contacted by their instructor when they are ready to take the next step.

GradingAdvanced

Earlier This Year

Past Events 2026

25
Jan 2026

Thomas Klemz Kata Course

📅 25th January 2026  |  🕐 9:30am – 12:30pm

A special kata course with Thomas Klemz — one of the top Kata Karateka in the world. Booking was required online in advance.

Special Course
31
Jan 2026

European Championships — National Squad Selections

📅 31st January 2026  |  🕐 TBC

National squad selection event for the European Championships. Invitations were sent via WMAGC to eligible students.

National Squad
7
Feb 2026

Ladies Self-Defence Course

📅 7th February 2026  |  🕐 1:00pm – 2:30pm

Ladies self-defence course open to everyone including parents and family members over 12. Run by ISMAA CIC Sensei Victoria Shurey 3rd Dan & Sempai Clare Gray 1st Dan. £5 per person.

Special Course
15
Feb 2026

Squad & Advanced Session

📅 15th February 2026  |  🕐 TBC

Monthly squad and advanced session open to all juniors, adults and purple belt and above students.

Squad Training
22
Feb 2026

National Squad Training — European Championships

📅 22nd February 2026  |  🕐 TBC

Mandatory training for students selected for the European Championships National Squad.

National Squad
8
Mar 2026

Squad & Advanced Session

📅 8th March 2026  |  🕐 TBC

Monthly squad and advanced session open to all juniors, adults and purple belt and above students.

Squad Training
22
Mar 2026

Eastern Open — Competition

📅 22nd March 2026  |  🕐 All Day

Open kata and kumite competition — a qualifier for the World Games 2027.

Competition
11
Apr 2026

Kyu Grading — Spring 2026

📅 11th April 2026  |  🕐 TBC

Kyu belt grading for Little Ninjas, Juniors and Adult students.

GradingAll Grades
12
Apr 2026

Squad & Advanced Session

📅 12th April 2026  |  🕐 TBC

Monthly squad and advanced session open to all juniors, adults and purple belt and above students.

Squad Training
26
Apr 2026

National Squad Training — European Championships

📅 26th April 2026  |  🕐 TBC

Mandatory training for students selected for the European Championships National Squad.

National Squad
3
May 2026

ISMAA Championships

📅 3rd May 2026  |  📍 Venue TBC  |  🕐 All Day

The ISMAA Championships — a qualifier for the World Games 2027. Open kata and kumite for all affiliated clubs and grades.

CompetitionISMAA
17
May 2026

Squad & Advanced Session

📅 17th May 2026  |  🕐 TBC

Monthly squad and advanced session open to all juniors, adults and purple belt and above students.

Squad Training
24
May 2026

Midlands Open — Competition

📅 24th May 2026  |  🕐 All Day

Open kata and kumite competition — a qualifier for the World Games 2027.

Competition

Can't make it to an event? Let us know in advance so we can make alternative arrangements.

Contact the Club

Belt Gradings

What Happens at a Grading?

A grading (or examination) is a formal assessment where students demonstrate their karate skills to an ISMAA examiner. It is an exciting milestone in every student's journey — the moment where months of training come together.

Gradings typically include:

  • ▶ Kihon (basic techniques) — stances, blocks, punches, kicks
  • ▶ Kata (forms) — the required kata for your current grade
  • ▶ Kumite (sparring) — for intermediate and senior grades
  • ▶ General knowledge — terminology, dojo etiquette

Students are only put forward by their instructor when they are genuinely ready. There is never any pressure to grade before you are prepared. A pass means you advance to the next belt; students who need more time are simply encouraged and supported.

Grading Day Checklist

  • Clean, pressed karate gi (suit)
  • Current ISMAA licence book
  • Current belt (worn on the gi)
  • Grading fee (cash or as directed)
  • Water bottle
  • Arrive early — usually 15 minutes before start
  • Calm, focused mindset — you know this!