Karate Berlin: English Schedule

How to arrange a free trial class

You are welcome to arrange a free trial training session. Please use our email contact only.For insurance reasons, only one to a maximum of two trial training sessions are possible.

For the classes in Mitte please read about registration with the building’s security here:
registration with security

Please arrange your first visit in advance with our office by email:
E-Mail: info@shotokan-berlin.de

What is the cost of training

You can find out everything about the monthly membership fees in the cost overview: cost per month.

All courses are held in English?

Please note: Many of our Instructors speak English.
We are a karate club in Berlin, so the main language in the karate classes is of course German and all karate terms in Japanese.

Most of the explanations in Mitte are also in English.

In Berlin Mitte we have many foreign guests and friends from all over the world who visit us and also members who understand little or no German in our classes.

Unfortunately, we had a participant who gave us a bad Google rating because a training (a free trial training) in Pankow was not in English that he could attend without paying for it. Please take note: In Pankow the training classes are only sometimes in English.

How to become a member after the trial?

After the trial training, you can fill out the membership form and hand it in to the instructor. This is how you become a member of the club (there is a membership fee): Membership form and cost.

Note: membership in a sports club is subject to the rules of the club, which you can find here: rules of the club. (according to German law, in German language, please use Google or other translator) Here you can also read about the cancellation periods and deadlines.

You can also get a membership directly from the Japan Karate Association. The club pays for membership in the German Karate Association for you. You can read everything else about membership in associations here or ask the instructor or ask via email to our office.

All important information about membership can be found here: Membership Fees and Membership

How to cancel a membership?

The membership in a sports club is subject to the rules of the club, which you can find here: rules of the club. (according to German law, in German language, please use Google or other translator) Here you can also read about the cancellation periods and deadlines. 
Membership terminations require a formal notice of termination.
An informal email is sufficient.

Simply not attending training and not paying is not an option. Simply not paying membership fees violates German law. Chargebacks from debiting your bank account will result in additional fees from the bank, which you are legally obligated to pay.

If something is wrong with your account or you want to cancel, send us an email and we’ll find a solution or initiate a proper cancellation.

There were problems with my bank account. My membership fee was not paid.

If something is wrong with your account or you want to cancel your membership, send us an email and we’ll find a solution or initiate a proper cancellation.

Which group can I participate in?

Please note that the performance level and age groups must be strictly adhered to. Beginners cannot train in advanced groups, and children cannot train in adult groups.

Can I train in Mitte and Pankow?

The training in Berlin Mitte and Pankow districts are organized by two separate clubs. The training location will indicate which club is based there. You must choose one location and one club. The clubs maintain a friendly exchange and share some of their coaches.

Mitte: Shotokan Kyokai Berlin
Pankow: Pro Sport Berlin 24, Shotokan

What clothes should I wear?

For the trial training session and during the initial period, you can wear jogging pants and a t-shirt or sweatshirt. Please, do not wear shorts. Later, you can purchase a karate uniform yourself from various online retailers. (In our karate style, the karate uniform is only worn in white)

We do not lend out sportswear or karate uniforms for hygiene reasons.

What about partner exercises?

JKA Karate must be practiced with partner exercises. Karate can only be properly learned through Kihon (basics), Kata (forms), and Kumite (sparring). We practice traditional karate, where all three pillars of karate are practiced equally. Karate, in its origins, is self-defense (with partner exercises) and physical fitness.

Traditional karate emphasizes controlled execution of techniques in partner exercises. Uncontrolled contact is prohibited. However, students learn to effectively block attacks.

Before your first visit, be sure to read the explanations about our karate style and how to practice it on our website.

Does training take place on public holidays or during school holidays?

There will be no training for any group on public holidays.

There is no training for children and youth on public holidays or during school holidays.

Winter break

There is a winter break between Christmas and New Year’s. The last training session of the year and the first training session of the new year are always announced on the website under „News“.

Summer Break

During the summer holidays, there will be a short summer break for all groups, which will be announced on the website under „News“. This is usually when the international summer training camps (check the calendar on our website) take place, which many members and especially the coaches attend.

How to take exams?

Examinations can only be taken in accordance with the examination and procedural regulations of the JKA Shokukai. These can be found on the websites of the German Karate Federation (GKF / DKV) and the JKA Shokukai. The examination regulations can be found on our website.

All examinations are regularly announced on the website. Participation is not mandatory and is not automatically granted through club membership. Why? The examinations are not administered by the club. The club appoints examiners from the association, and the examinations are conducted through the umbrella organizations DKV and JKA. Examination fees are the responsibility of the individual and are not included in the membership fee. The club currently has three examiners; additional examiners may be requested from the association.

Kyu Examinations:

A waiting period of at least 4 months (adults, youth) with a regular training schedule of at least two sessions per week is mandatory. The waiting time is longer for kids. Participation requires the approval of the instructor. The club usually holds two to three Kyu examinations per year.

Dan Examinations:

JKA Dan examinations are held approximately once a year. There are additional dates also available abroad. Participation requires the approval of the instructor, the state association Berlin, and the national style representative (Chairman JKA Shokukai), in accordance with the procedural regulations of the style and association. The examinations are conducted by official JKA examiners and recorded at the JKA Headquarters in Tokyo and with the German Karate Association. Registration is always done directly through the instructors to the state style director, who then forwards the information to the national style director.

To participate in JKA Dan examinations, you must be a member of the JKA. Our club handles the registration in Japan for our members.

Direct communication with the association, especially the JKA Headquarters, regarding participation is to be avoided. The JKA HQ explicitly requests no individual communication and refers all inquiries to the national contact persons. The associations have established fixed communication channels and designated contact persons.

My Tsuki or Keri isn’t working properly. What should I do?

Stay calm.Try again. If in doubt, simply ask your instructor for help.

Tip: Practice more. A technique becomes effective after approximately 10,000 repetitions (with the correct execution).