Guides
Practical guides for parents new to karate — belts, gradings, kit, and what to expect.
How to choose a karate school
Style (Shotokan, Wado-Ryu, Goju-Ryu, Kyokushin), instructor qualifications, class size, and whether the dojo offers age-appropriate groups all matter. Use our directory to compare schools near you by city and style.
What to expect at your first class
Nervous about your child's first karate lesson? Here's what typically happens: a warm bow-in, warm-up games, basic stances and blocks, and plenty of encouragement — no experience or equipment needed for a trial class.
Karate belt colours explained
From white belt through yellow, orange, green, blue, purple, brown and finally black — karate's kyu/dan grading system marks a student's progress. Grading requirements vary slightly between styles like Shotokan, Wado-Ryu, Goju-Ryu and Kyokushin, but the belt ladder is broadly the same.
What age can kids start karate?
Most UK karate schools welcome children from around age 4 in dedicated ‘Little Ninjas’ classes, with structured programmes for juniors (7-11) and teens (12-16) as they grow. Here's what to expect at each stage.