Ikigai Karate

Monday reminder: It's not about how many times you practice—it's about HOW you practice. 🎯

In Shotokan Karate, we say "one technique, ten thousand times" not because repetition alone creates mastery, but because mindful repetition does.

This week's challenge:

🥋 Choose ONE technique (punch, kick, or block)
🥋 Practice it with full focus and intention
🥋 Notice the small improvements each session

Quality over quantity. Precision over speed. Mastery over rushing.
That's the Ikigai way.

Ready to train with purpose? Book your class today! 👉 ikigaikarate.co.uk

At Ikigai Karate, we offer traditional Shotokan Karate for children and adults in London, Cardiff and Caerphilly. Also Kobujutsu (group and private sessions) and Tai-chi (private sessions).

📍How to find us:
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 London (Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays)
Our classes in London 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 are on a Community Hall on Hazel Way, off Dunton Road, London Bermondsey, SE1 5XJ. It is on a residential area and sometimes it can be tricky to find if you don't access Hazel Way from Dunton Road. Download what3words to find our dojo easier. The exact what3words location is: ///looks.quench.agenda

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿Cardiff (Mondays and Wednesdays)
Our classes in Cardiff 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 are at Maes y Coed community centre, Jubilee Gardens, Heath, CF14 4PP. To find us easier, you can download what3words and look for directions to our exact what3words location: ///bugs.marble.lists

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿Caerphilly (private classes only, ask for availability for one-to-one/family only sessions in private dojo (Karate, Tai-Chi, Kobujutsu).

🥋Contact the chief instructor Sensei Jon, for more information: ☎️07763010546
🌍https://ikigaikarate.co.uk/

Hot offer! *Now just £8 for the summer 😃
Available in sizes S, M, L and XL. Get in touch with Sensei Jon to get yours!

*while stocks last, £8 offer until September.

Ooohhh... The club's new t-shirts are in! Get yours now. Good quality, logo embroidered, all sizes, offer just £10 😃🙌🔥💯🥋
I K I G A I K A R A T E
London. Cardiff. Caerphilly

What is Ikigai? 😊
The meaning of Ikigai as explained by the government of Japan:
🙌🇯🇵⛩️🏯🎎❤️

Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Joyful Life | The Government of Japan - JapanGov - The Japanese word ikigai, which has recently gained attention worldwide and enjoys widespread use, refers to a passion that gives value and joy to life. The author who prompted its craze speaks about the word’s appeal and the effects it has on mental and physical health.

Huge congratulations to all our students who successfully passed their grading in Cardiff today. They all did fantastic. Well done to Parsa and Viana for passing their Dan black belt! 👊💥🥋

In Okinawa, Japan, a blue zone with the highest concentration of centenarians in the world, IKIGAI is a common theme.

A Japanese proverb states: “Only staying active will make you want to live a hundred years.”

The 10 rules of ikigai:
🔵Stay active; don’t retire.
Many of the world’s longest-lived people work well into their 80′s and 90′s or don’t retire. Take for instance, Jayne Burns, a 100-year-old woman who works at a craft store in Ohio; Burns jokingly said her only birthday wish after turning 100 was “to keep working.”
🔵Take it slow. It may feel normal to rush through things and be in a hurry, but that can actually have negative effects on the quality of your life. Instead, take your time and see how it adds more meaning to your life.
🔵Don’t fill your stomach. Often, centenarians suggested eating only 80% of what’s on your plate. “The extra side dish, the snack we eat when we know in our hearts we don’t really need it, the apple pie after lunch—all these will give us pleasure in the short term, but not having them will make us happier in the long term.”
🔵Surround yourself with good friends. Having great relationships in your life has been linked to happiness and longevity, according to an 85-year Harvard study. Centenarians in Okinawa, prioritized spending time together at community centers in their village and often competed in friendly sports games.
🔵Get in shape for your next birthday. Exercise is a huge component that contributes to longevity. Even if strenuous exercises aren’t your thing, there are five-minute movements like radio taiso that the oldest residents of Okinawa do daily.
🔵Smile. “It’s good to recognize the things that aren’t so great, but we should never forget what a privilege it is to be in the here and now in a world so full of possibilities".
🔵Reconnect with nature. Find time to breathe in some fresh air and take a walk, even if you live in a city. Spending time in nature can boost your productivity, enhance your mood and improve your memory.
🔵Give thanks. Gratitude is a great way to remind yourself of all of the best things in your life. Take some time to share your appreciation for your loving family, wonderful friends or even yourself.
🔵Live in the moment. “Stop regretting the past and fearing the future. Today is all you have. Make the most of it.
🔵Follow your ikigai. Discover what your passion is and let it drive you. Having an ikigai adds purpose to your life and can lead to more happiness.
☺️🙌🩷

Have you heard about our exciting REFERRAL PROGRAM? 😀
Are you happy with your martial arts learning path/experience with us? Recommend us to your contacts and receive great discounts. For every person that joins, you get great rewards (monthly fee discount, etc) 🥋👊🤗😀. (T&C apply). Ask Chief Instructor Sensei Jon for details 🤗

🤔Did you know?
In traditional Japanese martial arts, you never ask to be graded or argue a failed result. Rank is a reward granted by the Sensei when they determine you are ready. Asking for a test is seen as arrogant; accepting a failed test with reigi (respect) shows the true martial arts spirit.
"Fall down seven times, get up eight". - (Nana korobi ya oki) - 七転び八起き
This famous Japanese proverb highlights that resilience and indomitable spirit matter far more than temporary setbacks like a failed grading."The master has failed more times than the beginner has even tried." This modern martial arts proverb underlines that failure is a necessary stepping stone in mastering the art.

NEWS: We had some great performances from students last weekend at their gradings in London 😃. Congratulations to all of the students who passed.

Tomorrow Saturday 4th July, there will be a ceremony (11.30am -11.30pm approx) where Sensei Jon and other members of the team will be handling out the new belts and certificates to those who passed.
Congratulations! 🥋🎉👊💥🙌✨️🎊