The E.S.K.K® holds classes almost every day of the week where people of all ages can take part in and benefit from the numerous values found in martial arts, functional fitness, health and well-being.

Both seniors and juniors can join our dedicated traditional karate dojo to learn the very effective Okinawan and Japanese art of self-protection. Those interested in health and fitness can come along to our popular kettlebell workouts or Enduro-Strike™ classes and for the 'hardcore' amonst you - why not sign up to our two-hour 'ultimate workouts' to experience a real challenge!

All of our classes are lead by fully qualified and experienced teachers who not only have the required knowledge, but can also inspire you to achieve your personal goals.  With the E.S.K.K®, you can be assured of the very best quality tuition and development.  

 

Karate-Do means ‘Way of the Empty hand' and is the modern Japanese name given to the martial art derived from ‘Te', the native fighting system of Okinawa. The original translation of ‘karate' meant ‘Chinese hand' (The character ‘kara' meaning both ‘Chinese' and ‘Empty'), which indicates the large historical influence on this art from ancient Southern Chinese fighting systems.

Karate came to Japan from Okinawa in the early part of the 20th Century and quickly became accepted as a Japanese martial way. Karate is a system that covers many aspects of physical, mental and spiritual cultivation. In addition to developing very effective civilian self-protection skills, karate also teaches self-control, builds confidence, enhances general strength, fitness and well-being, develops respect, promotes character and if practised regularly, can propagate positively into almost every aspect of your life.

What makes Karate-Do really special is the effect it has on your overall lifestyle. The art offers you a chance to really look deep within yourself and analyse the elements that make you function as an individual. Many of the principles and concepts learned through the regular practice of Karate-Do can be adapted and used within everyday life to become a better person, to both yourself and others around you.

Under the leadership of Chris Denwood, we provide quality tuition for both seniors and juniors (6 years+) in dedicated and friendly small group environments, where instructors are on hand to guide and support students in every aspect of training. We promote a traditional way of training that aims to develop each student in line with their individual needs, enforcing a strong anti-bullying and harrassment policy.

All our traditional karate classes are semi-closed. New beginners are very welcome to attend, however approval is required after a 4 to 6 week trial period in order to apply for full membership. To enquire about joining our senior or junior dojo, please Contact Us in the first instance. The links below provide some more information about the activities within our dojo.

 

Looking for a complete functional ‘shape changing’ workout?

Often described as 'the gym with a handle', the kettlebell is a very old training tool that in recent years has been making a swift and very sucessfull comeback. Despite it's uncomplicated make-up, it is an amazingly useful functional conditioning tool and in contrast to a dumbbell or barbell where the handle and grip is situated along the centreline of the weight, the kettlebell has the handle located on top. This means that the weight is offset, which challenges the core and stabalisers of the body more in order to control it.

Furthermore, exercises performed with a kettlebell are fundamentally very different from standard 'gym practice'. Movements are more dynamic and rely on the muscles of the body being trained together as a single unit, rather than isolating them, which can cause imbalances and asymmetries across the body. Used extensively by athletes, fitness enthusiasts, martial artists, boxers and sports people of all kinds, they have also been promoted by a number of A-List celebrities around the world. They are portable, challenging and above all, great fun to use.

The sheer versatility of the kettlebell is what makes it stand out from the crowd. You can perform ballistic swinging motions to help develop the powerful posterior chain used in almost all functional movements and then with just a ‘flick of the wrist’, move into more grinding exercises that stimulate numerous muscles groups at the same time. Workout times are almost slashed in half when compared to standard resistance workouts and because kettlebell training stimulates both aerobic and anaerobic pathways together, each session becomes a complete physical challenge.

Regular kettlebell training can create a physique that’s symmetrically toned and firm, by quickly stripping away unwanted body fat and developing powerful/functional strength in the shoulders, chest, arms, legs, back, grip and core. More calories are burned in half the time when compared to simply working out in the gym and it is considered by many fitness professionals as the 'ultimate tool' for fitness, core structure and alignment, joint stability and all-round physical development. In fact, you’d be lucky to find anything a kettlebell can’t do!

We pride ourselves as having the first and longest established kettlebell lifting club in West Cumbria and with our dedicated team of specialised coaches, you can be guaranteed of the very best in tuition for a safe and effective workout experience. We hold dedicated weekly beginner's sessions and group workout classes, plus special one-off 'correction' sessions so that even our regular attendees can hone their technique further.

 

Exisiting Participants...
Recommend a friend onto an induction and claim a FREE workout:
2 friends = 2 FREE workouts, 10 friends = 10 FREE workouts - it's as simple as that!

Email us for more info - terms and conditions apply.

This is the new fierce workout in town! 

Inspired by the functional movements of traditional martial arts and boxing, Enduro-Strike™ specialises in an array of punching, kicking and blocking techniques to powerful music, which will raise the heart rate and then prepare you for an exhilarating workout striking and kicking pads.

Following this, your strength and muscular endurance will be developed in the conditioning phase by systematically working all the major body parts, with extra focus placed on the deep core muscles of the midsection.

This high energy interval training session combines cardio, strength and stabilisation exercises to create the perfect combination between fat burning and functional health & fitness. Not only will you quickly notice results, but you may also pick up a few self-defence moves along the way.

There are no special skills required to attend our Enduro-Strike™ classes - simply book your place, turn up, take a deep breath and enjoy the ride!

Want to know what we get up to?
Click HERE to watch our Enduro-Strike™ Promo Video! 

_ Brand NEW for 2012 - an exercise class to kick start your new fitness regime!

This fun yet simple workout class focuses on using bodyweight exercises and interval training to strengthen tone and increase metabolism.

Our specially chosen exercises are designed to strip fat, tighten up the body and increase overall strength and fitness. The progressive nature of these classes makes them suitable for beginners as well as people of all fitness levels!

Throughout our lives our bodies change and adapt according to our activity levels and lifestyle. Think back to when you were a child and how freely you moved, running around with masses of energy. 

The idea of children doing warm up stretches before playing a game or climbing a tree is quite ludicrous. Children are naturally supple and very rarely pull muscles or strain their backs. It would be great to think that we could keep this suppleness and energy throughout the whole of our lives but unfortunately this does not happen. 

From a young age children are taught to ‘sit still’ whether they are at school or at home. Parents and teachers often praise their children when they are sitting still as they relate it to good behaviour. Before we know it we are sitting still in an office in front of the computer, eight hours a day. Our bodies are no longer needed to perform the activities they once were required to do so it’s no wonder that our muscles tighten and we lose mobility.

Pilates focuses on core strength and stabilisation, it is a great way to help undo these damages we have caused over the years. Practising good movement will naturally help improve posture, mobility, and prevent or improve injuries by strengthening muscles, increasing flexibility and develop range of movement.

Our aptly named 'Ultimate Workouts' deliver exactly what it says on the tin!

A special two-hour functional training frenzy made from a fusion of double kettlebell lifts, combat fitness, padwork, Pilates style conditioning, training drills with and without equipment, plus joint mobility, stretching and even breathing techniques to promote focus and energy. There's everything in there to inspire you further and take you much closer to your fitness goals!

Our special 'ultimate' workouts are held on a selection of days throughout the year and can be attended by anyone who has already completed our kettlebell beginners course.

For those who fancy a real challenge - this one's for you!