My 3 children all attend the Dojo in Rochdale. They are 13, 11, and 5. My 5 year old boy joined when he was 3 years old in the Tiger Tots class, and thoroughly enjoyed the class, which was really well catered for the very young while still teaching respect, manners, and some great karate. All the kids seemed to love these classes, and the parents too. He has now progressed well to the bigger classes and is well equipped to cope, with key skills of listening, concentrating, and doing his best, which is not a bad achievement for a 5 year old. The professionalism of the teaching, and the friendliness of each sensei make this enjoyable - as a parent who tries his best to teach his children respect, discipline, and manners, I’m always pleased to see any poor behaviour called out, so no-one is allowed to undermine the class, and even the most unruly child soon realises the benefit of respect and hard work. My 2 older girls used to be very successful in competitive swimming, so they already had discipline, knew how to listen, and keep trying, no matter how difficult something may seem to be at first. The coaching staff are meticulous when it comes to correct technique, but more than that, they are also taught the history of the sport, and hear about some particularly interesting life lessons from Sensei Irfan. No matter how talented a child may be, they will not achieve their potential without hard work and perseverance, a theme which is drilled into them throughout their classes. I’m pleased I discovered the Dojo, I’ve no experience myself of karate, but I’ve learned a lot already about the sport, and the importance of being able to defend yourself responsibly. I would recommend the Dojo to any parent who is considering getting their child involved in a competitive sport, and although they are not required to compete, they learn a lot about themselves when they do. The teaching is top quality, and in terms of value for money, it couldn’t be better.
JOHN CUSICK - Parent of 3 Kids
