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Cranleigh Wado-ryu Karate Club
by Gary Swift

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The Cranleigh Wado-ryu Karate Club is the longest established Martial-Arts club in Cranleigh, and probably, one of the longest established Karate clubs in the South of England. It is situated at the Snoxhall Centre, Snoxhall Fields, Knowle Lane, Cranleigh, Surrey.

The Club was first opened in April 1976 and has produced over 150 Yudansha (Black-Belts) in its time. The style of Karate being practised is known as Wado-ryu (Way of Peace School), and is one of the most popular, and fastest, styles of traditional Karate practised today.

The Chief Instructor is Sensei Gary E Swift (6^th Dan) Kyoshi. The Club is registered with the Alliance of International Wado-ryu (AIWA), Japanese Karate Federation (JKF-Wadokai) and the National & International Black-Belt Foundation (NIBF). Other affiliations include Wado-kai Englnd, British Karate Association, World Budo-kai, and the Federation of International Martial Arts.

Our Black-Belts and Instructors are all registered with the Federation of Martial-Arts Black-Belts (FMB) as well as being listed on the World Black-belt Register. Instructors are also registered with the various ‘National Coaching Programs’ run by the National Coaching Foundation (NCF) etc. These programs include the NBF’s NCQ & NCVQ program.

AIWA organise many Courses throughout the year, including weapons and specialist training sessions. There are Kyu (student) grade assessments every three months, normally the last Friday in every third month, and Yudan (black-belt) grade assessments every 6 months.

AIWA have clubs in England, France, Canada, Portugal, India, and Madeira. Communications between these clubs are encouraged and visits to these countries are popular. A student may even become a ‘pen-friend’ with a member from one of these countries, with the possibility of meeting them at their Karate class etc., many students have already done this. Some have enjoyed the experience so much that they have returned for a second visit.

Upon acceptance to the Club, the student is issued with his Karate Licence, which must be applied for as soon as possible. The licence is the student’s Karate 'Passport', Record-book, Insurance (£1,000,000.00 liability cover), and training history record throughout his Karate career.

Training sessions are for two hours and fees are £3.00 Juniors (9 – 13 years), and £4.00 for seniors (14 & over). Beginners Karate-Gi (suit) start at £13.95 each, a white-belt and Club Mon (badge) is supplied free of charge.

If you would like further information, you may contact the Chief Instructor on (home) 01483-272309, (mobile) 07719-773898, (e-mail) aiwashihan@hotmail.com

You may like to visit the club's website www.dkk1.tripod.com or the Association's website on www.nibf.co.uk/aiwa/

Or just come along to the club; Friday nights 7 - 9pm.

Cranleigh Wado-ryu Karate Club, Cranleigh Youth Club, Snoxhall, Knowle Lane, Cranleigh, Surrey.Gary Swift Kyoshi (6^th Dan). Friday Nights; 7 - 9pm.

AIWA-Honbu, Youth Centre, Snoxhall, Knowle Lane, Cranleigh, Surrey. Gary Swift (6^th Dan) Kyoshi. AIWA Members of 4^th Kyu & above. Sunday Morning Courses; 10am - 12noon. 01483-272309.

Gillingham Wado-ryu Karate Club, Foresters Hall, Sturdee Ave, Gillingham, Kent. Barry Archer (3^rd Dan) Sensei. Monday nights; 5 - 6pm. Graded Juniors only (Kata training). 01634-572860.

Chatham Wado-ryu Karate Club, Settington & Downsview Community Centre, Stone Cross Lea, Chatham, Kent. Barry Archer (3^rd Dan) Sensei. Assistant Instructors; Karen Murphy (1st Dan), Adrian Grover (1^st Dan), Stuart Bruce-Jones (1^st Dan), Kevin Campbell (1^st Dan), Steven Brown (1^st Dan).Tuesday nights; 6.15 - 7.15pm Juniors.  7.30 - 9pm Seniors 01634 572860.

Shinwa Yudansha Karate Club, Warden Park School, Cuckfield, Sussex. Karen Fletcher (3^rd Dan) Tashi. Tuesday Nights; 7 - 8.30pm. 01444-241175.

Dunsfold Karate Club, Winn Hall, Dunsfold, Surrey. Ian Hunter (5^th Dan) Renshi. Tuesday Nights; 7.30-9pm. (01428) 685093. Adults session.

Gillingham Wado-ryu Karate Club, Foresters Hall Sturdee Ave, Gillingham, Kent. Barry Archer (3^rd Dan) Sensei. Wednesday nights; 5 - 6pm Juniors. 01634-572860.

Gillingham Kyushin-ryu Kendo-kai, St Mary Magdalene Church, Ingram Rd, Gillingham, Kent. Duncan Richardson (2^nd Dan, Iaido) Sensei. Assistant Instructor Jim Axon (1^st Kyu) Sempai. Wednesday nights; 8 - 9.30pm Iaido & Kendo. 01634-572860.

Horsham Wado-ryu Karate Club, Chesworth Junior School, Kings Road, Horsham, Sussex. Gordon Hoare (4^th Dan) Tashi. Wednesday Nights; 7.30 - 9pm.

Gillingham Wado-ryu Karate Club, Gillingham Methodist Church Hall, Third Avenue, Kent. Barry Archer (3^rd Dan) Sensei. Assistant Instructors Karen Murphy (1^st Dan) Sempai, Adrian Grover (1st Dan) Sempai, Stuart Bruce-Jones (1^st Dan) Sempai, Kevin Campbell (1^st Dan) Sempai. Thursday nights 8 - 9.30 pm Seniors & Juniors. 01634-572860.

Shinwa Karate Club, Manor Field School, Burgess Hill, Sussex. David Limb (2^nd Dan) Sensei. Thursday Nights; 7 - 9pm. 0144-241175.

Alliance of International Wado-ryu
http://www.nibf.co.uk/aiwa/
 
 AIWA-Honbu
http://dkk1.tripod.com/
 
 National & International Black-belt Foundation
http://www.nibf.co.uk
 
 Cranleigh Wado-ryu Karate Club
http://uk.clubs.yahoo.com/clubs/cranleighwadoryukarateclub
 

World Black-belt Foundation
http://clubs.yahoo.com/clubs/worldblackbeltfoundation