welcome to jks clyde the home of karate in Argyll and bute
Explore the Leading Karate Club in Helensburgh & Lomond
Why should I start karate with jks clyde?
At JKS Clyde we teach and train in Traditional Japanese Shotokan and Sports Karate. We believe that everyone should have Karate in their life. Regardless of your age, gender, or current level of fitness, Karate is a truly enjoyable activity with countless benefits:
The skill sets that students develop at JKS Clyde will prepare them for any obstacle life puts in their way.
Karate isn’t just kicks, punches, blocks, sweeps and throws. The mentality developed through our Karate training is a formula for success.
A black belt is just a white belt who never gave up, are you ready for the challenge?
learn self-defence
improve physical & mental health
develop confidence & imProve social skills
improve focus & concentration
develop good behaviours & learn respect
learn to set and achiEve short & long-term goals
introduction to the club
WHAT SEPARATES us from other clubs
BEGINNERS
No one was born a Karate expert! Developing your skills takes time and effort. JKS Clyde is always happy to welcome new members all year round. Everyone has to start somewhere and here at our super friendly club we’ll make you feel right at home.
active schools
Here at JKS Clyde, we believe that everyone deserves the chance to take part in sporting activities regardless of their social circumstances. We regularly volunteer at schools within the local community to provide children free access to Karate and create a pathway to our club.
japanese connection
Through our JKS Scotland membership, we maintain a close relationship with the JKS Japan Headquarters. We are privileged to regularly host world-class Japanese instructors at our club. We pride ourselves in teaching authentic Japanese Karate. Images from Watanabe & Toyama Sensei Seminars at JKS Clyde 2024.
Interclub competitions
We believe having some competitive fun and rivalry at the club with our peers is important to help push each other on. There is no better motivation to improve your Karate than competing with and against your friends in a fun environment. Our development competitions help provide a pathway to competing at larger-scale events.
actively competing club
We love to see our students put their skills to the test and achieve success. Not everyone likes to compete, but if you want to get involved we will support you all the way. Our JKS Scotland membership gives us access to a multitude of development competitions. We are affiliated with Karate Scotland, the British Karate & World Karate Federations giving us access to premier competitions nationally and internationally.
Our karate community
Being JKS Scotland members all clubs share the benefits of such a fantastic association. We regularly host top-tier guest instructors, but we also have the freedom to train across clubs and are regularly invited to their seminars and competitions. You can compete for JKS Clyde, but you can always attend JKS Scotland National Team training and work towards squad selection for more prestigious events. This is a direct pathway to the Scottish National Team.
experienced competitor & coach
With 17 years of experience at just 26 years of age, instructor Callum Cairns knows his way around the Dojo, and exactly what it takes to succeed in every aspect of Karate. Callum Sensei practices what he preaches and is active on the competition circuit. He is a JKS Scotland National Karate Team member and part of the coaching staff. JKS Clyde students benefit greatly from his past and current experience.
school holiday camps
We know that when the schools are off, it can be hard to find things to keep your children occupied. That’s why we have come up with fantastic holiday camp programs to help break up the school holidays. These programs are designed to be fun, keep your children fit, and keep them learning and progressing. Is there a better time than a school holiday to squeeze in some valuable extra practice to reach that next level?
classes we offer
Our classes are carefully thought out to cover all elements of Karate in depth to ensure our students excel!
Wee warriors for age 5 – 6 year olds
These classes are designed to give younger students a taste of Karate in a fun and stimulating environment. The classes will involve learning basic Japanese, such as numbers and colours, and playing fun games that help build coordination, agility, reflexes, strength, and fitness. They will also include fun challenges to help build the students’ confidence in a small, warm, and welcoming group of students. Students will be taught to be respectful to one another and the instructor and will develop an understanding of the discipline required to succeed in martial arts. These classes will mold the students into a perfect fit for the main class upon their graduation at the age of 7.
Family friednly for 7+ & Adults
If you want to learn Karate, our ‘Basics Classes’ are perfect for students who want to progress through the grades
In these classes, we focus on the three K’s of Karate:
Kihon: basics/fundamentals/techniques
Kata: patterns/forms
Kumite: fighting/sparring
We practice Bunkai: the practical application of techniques in kata and we also learn basic self-defence techniques and principles
These classes are the perfect one-stop shop for all things Karate!
kumite for age 7+ & adults
“grappling with hands” or “sparring”
JKS Clyde’s Kumite classes are for those who want to:
Learn how to fight at WKF-style Kumite events
Unlock their competitive potential
Get fit by sparing their peers
Condition their bodies by practicing Kumite drills
Kata for age 7+ & Adults
“Patterns” or “forms” – a kata is a choreographed fighting routine which can be practiced in a group or alone. each move has a pracical application
JKS Clyde’s Kata classes are for those who want to:
Learn how to perform Kata at WKF-style Kata events
Unlock their competitive potential
Perfect their Kata’s under the guidance of their instructor and with the support of their peers
Perfect their technique and timing to excel at gradings
To gain a deeper understanding of the Kata and its practical application (Bunkai)
Finding the right class for you
Use Our Simple Contact Form To book Your Free Trial
Information requested in our contact form is used by JKS Clyde to communicate with you directly and will not be passed on to any third parties. We do not use any AI, just good old-fashioned customer service.
MEET THE INSTRUCTOR
Age: 26
Karate Experience:
Rank, Nidan. Started Karate at age 9.
Coaching Qualifications: SKGB Coaching license, CWPS Certificate, UKAD Coach Clean Certificate, Karate Specific First Aid Training (SKGB Accredited), Full Disclosure Scotland Checks, PVG, and Insurance.
Current Roles: Chief Instructor & Founder of JKS Clyde, JKS Scotland Instructor & National Team Coach.
Previous Roles: Emergency Services.
Special Karate Achievements:
Representing JKS Scotland at; the JKS World Championships in Tokyo (2013), JKS European Championships in Copenhagen (2014), JKS World Championships in Glasgow (2016), WKF Polish Open in Bielsko-Biala (2024).
Karate Ambition: To share my Karate journey with others and help them achieve their goals. To develop top-level Karateka who can compete at the highest level of competition. To continuously improve myself and attain higher levels of proficiency in Karate. To provide a Karate service to the community I grew up in so that children and adults can have these experiences for themselves.
My commitment to Training: I train at the JKS Scotland Honbu Dojo every weekend to maintain my own Karate skills, and enhance my abilities as an instructor. Additionally, I participate in monthly JKS Scotland Squad Training and train with other local clubs in my free time.
Exciting Upcoming jks clyde events
MAKITA Takuya sensei seminar
JKS Deputy Secretary General
6th Dan
Place of birth: Nagano
Education: Teikyo University
Date 30/04/2025
KANAYAMA Kosho Sensei seminar
JKS General Manager
7th Dan
Place of birth: Osaka
Education: Teikyo University
Date 16/06/2025
YAMAGUCHI Takashi sensei seminar
JKS Chief of International Department
7th Dan
Place of birth: Ibaraki
Education: Teikyo University
Date 24/10/2025
SCHOOL HOLIDAY KARATE CAMPS
JKS Clyde Easter Karate Camp
Centre 81 Garelochhead
Tuesday 15/04/2025
9am – 1pm
Kumite, Kata, Fun, Fitness & Games
JKS Clyde Summer Holiday Camp
Centre 81 Garelochhead
Monday 04/08/2025 – Thursday 07/08/2025
9am – 1pm each day
Kumite, Kata, Fun, Fitness, Games & Mini Competition to crown summer camp champ of 2025
JKS Clyde October Holiday Camp
Centre 81 Garelochhead
Tuesday 14/10/2025
9am – 1pm
Kumite, Kata, Fun, Fitness & Games