We run karate classes for all ages and levels in Shenley Church End (Sundays) and Shenley Brook End (Thursdays). The club is run by Sam Nelstrop, who has been dedicated to karate for over 30 years. Sam has trained in Kyokushinkai (full contact) and Goju-Ryu karate in Japan and in England and is fourth degree black belt graded by the EGKA/IOGKF.

Our aim is to provide quality training in authentic traditional and practical karate. Training with us is demanding both physically and mentally but the benefits are that you will become a better person with more inner confidence, self esteem, improve your fitness and well-being.

The Goju-Ryu style of karate is both very traditional but extremely practical form of self-defence that is very suitable for men, women and kids of all ages.

We are members of the EGKA which is in turn, part of the IOGKF, one of the largest Goju-Ryu karate associations.

The EGKA senior instructors cascaded their knowledge down to club instructors, like myself through karate seminars held 3 or 4 times per year in the UK. All students are also welcome to join the EGKA karate seminars where they will receive intensive training for 1, 2 or 3 days (optional). I myself attend at least 2 or 3 seminars every year, ever improving my own karate to pass on to my students.

EGKA members are able to attend the EGKA events including tournaments and training seminars. I would highly recommend attending if possible. Entering tournaments is a great chance to try out your karate skill in a safe but competitive environment. The training seminars give you a change to learn from some of the top instructors in the UK and meet and make new friends with lots of other like-minded people that also learn Goju-Ryu karate.

To learn more about Goju-Ryu Karate and the EGKA, please download our student handbook.

We offer several plans and family discount to meet your needs. With any of our plans, you will have the flexibility to train whenever you wish. See the membership page for details.

Karate is way of life, a way to stay healthy in mind and body. I truly believe that the only way to become good at karate is through hard work, repetitive training and the continuous endeavor for perfection that we can never reach.

I have been practicing karate for over 25 years, and 7 years training in Japan. I have studied several styles of karate over the years but my main influences are from Goju karate and Kyokushinkai. I started my karate training in 1994 when I joined a local Kyokushin club in Japan. Since then I have moved around, and have train in several styles.

I discovered Goju karate when the lads from Broseley did a demonstration at a Wado-ryu club I was training at in Shropshire. Since then I haven’t looked back and have now practiced Goju karate for over 10 years. One of the reason I prefer Goju-ryu over other styles is because of its rich cultural history. Goju-ryu comes from Okinawa where karate is a way of life. It’s one of my life ambitions to visit Okinawa and train in one of the famous historical dojos.

Experience and inspirations

2014 – Present established Goju-Ryu Karate Milton Keynes under the EGKA and in 2021 achieved sandan (third degree black belt)​

From 2002 I trained at Broseley Goju Kan under Sensei Max Beddow and achieved nidan (second degree black belt)​

From 2011 to 2013 I trained at Doushikan Nagoya and took my shodan (first degree black belt) under the Japan Karate Federation (JFK). I had already obtained my black belt under sensei Max but the JFK required new member to retake the grading.

From 2001 I moved to Shropshire and trained at Shrewsbury Wadoryu under Sensei Frank Johnson (achieving Wadoryu 4th kyu)​

From 1994, my first adult experience of karate was at Hitachinaka Kyokushinkai where we regularly attended seminars with Sensei Matsui (I achieved Kyokushinkai shodan)​ and fought in many regional tournaments. Kyokushinkai is very focused on kumite and competition. At this time in Japan K1 was hugely popular and and some of the top fighters came from a Kyokushinkai background. Kyokushinkai became a household brand and many clubs experienced a boom in the number of students.

Credentials

2019 NSPCC Child Protection in sport

2019 Basic First Aid

2019 CRB Checked

Others

MSc Technology Management​

Contact​: gojumk@gmail.com

What is Karate?

The Japanese Kara means empty and te means hand. Therefore, karate translates as ‘empty hand’, the art of self defense without a weapon.

Through the IOGKF you will learn a dynamic and powerful martial art. You will learn how, through correct breathing, coordination of your own body and concentration, tremendous power can be achieved. You will gain mastery over your body which will help you in self defence situations in your everyday life.

However, karate is much more than just the physical aspect. It is a complete discipline involving kokoro, the heart or spirit, and karate the physical body. Through the training of the body, we can discipline the mind and temper the spirit. The most important purpose of karate is to develop balance within ourselves so that we may express our true nature and become better human beings.

Goju Ryu

There are many students of karate, all which can trace their origins back to the island of Okinawa, Japan. However, originally there existed only three styles, each of which was named after the city in which is evolved. These are: Tomari-te, Shuri-te and Naha-te. The Tomari-te and Shuri-te styles were unified to form one school known as Shorin Ryu while Naha-te remained to its true form and became known as Goju Ryu.

The Meaning of Goju Ryu

According to oriental philosophy, to achieve harmony and order in the world, everything must express a balanced nature. So there is night and day, fire and water and so on.

The founder of our style, Grandmaster Chojun Miyagi chose the name Goju Ryu based on precepts from the Chinese martial arts. Go means hard or resilient; Ju means soft or yielding. Therefore Goju Ryu translates as the hard-soft school. This refers specifically to both the technical characteristics of our style and to its underlying philosophy.

For the kids

Karate teaches us strength, courage and self-control.

We become strong by training both our minds and our bodies. If we are respectful to our parents and pay attention to our teachers, our minds will grow and become strong.

We become courageous by being kind to other people and respecting one another’s differences. We can also become more courageous by admitting our mistakes – even when we are afraid to do so.

True warriors or ‘karate-ka’ never allow themselves to be provoked into violence. We must always try our very best to walk away from a fight. By keeping our karate training for ourselves, we learn self-control.

What is the IOGKF?

The International Okinawan Goju Ryu Karate-Do Federation (IOGKF) was established in July 1979 by Morio Higaonna Sensei. The IOGKF was established for the purpose of protecting and preserving traditional Okinawan Goju Ryu Karate-Do as an intangible cultural treasure in its original form as passed on by Goju Ryu founder Chojun Miyagi, and spreading this art throughout the nations of the world. Most importantly, the IOGKF was being formed with the support and backing of Ken Miyagi (fourth son of Goju Ryu founder Chojun Miyagi), An’ichi Miyagi (successor to Chojun Miyagi) and senior students of the late Chojun Miyagi: Seiko Kina, Seijin Nakamoto, Kiei Tomoyose, Shunshin Furugen, Jitsuei Yogi, and Shuichi Aragaki.

Since its formation, the teachings of Morio Higaonna Sensei have been spread around the world, and the IOGKF now has more than 50 affiliated countries worldwide. Every year gasshuku (training seminars) are held in various countries to ensure the transmission of correct techniques and to promote friendship and exchange between members.

The IOGKF is one of the few karate organizations that the Japanese Government recognizes as a true Japanese traditional martial arts organization. The IOGKF is a proud member of the Nihon Kobudo Kyokai (Japan Traditional Martial Arts Association).

In September 2007, Higaonna Sensei received 10th dan (the highest rank in karate) as well as a special certificate signed by Miyagi An’ichi Sensei (successor of Goju Ryu) and Aragaki Shuichi Sensei, both of whom are direct students of Chojun Miyagi Sensei. This recognizes him as a successor in the direct line descended from Miyagi Chojun Sensei.

Today the IOGKF is as dedicated to its original purpose as it was in 1979. The IOGKF represents the philosophy of Goju Ryu founder “Bushi” Chojun Miyagi, and with this in mind, Higaonna Sensei reminds us that it is important to dedicate ourselves to the further improvement and development of Goju Ryu karate through diligent training, so that we may come to understand the very essence of our art.

Higaonna Sensei is the Supreme Master of IOGKF. Tetsuji Nakamura Sensei is the Chief Instructor for IOGKF International. Bakkies Laubscher Sensei and Kazuo Terauchi Sensei are the Technical Advisors. The IOGKF Executive Committee consists of Sensei Ernie Molyneux, Sensei Henrik Larsen and Nakamura Sensei.

The IOGKF Administrative Honbu (Headquarters) is in Oakville, Ontario, Canada. The Technical Honbu for the IOGKF is in Naha, Okinawa, Japan where Higaonna Sensei currently teaches.

Goju-ryu karate differs from sports karate in its practicality as a self-defence system. These aspects of karate are often overlooked but Goju-ryu karate, referred to as the “original MMA”, is an all-encompassing system from elements of ancient Chinese, Japanese martial arts to more modern jyu-kumite (freestyle fighting), grappling, locks and escape techniques.

A common misconception is that karate is more sport oriented and not as effective as MMA or Krav Maga as a self-defense system. Goju-ryu karate teaches not only kata (form) and ipon-kumite (sport sparring) but also practical applications. Many of which will feel familiar to security personnel, military forces and law enforcement.

Karate doesn’t teach violence, on the contrary, it teaches us to be a better person, to develop an inner confidence and avoid violence. Violent people often prey on the vulnerable. The inner confidence that karate gives you will instinctively deter violent people. And if in the worst case, you are attacked, Goju-ryu karate teaches you “real-world” simple and effective self-defence applications.