Dear Students, Parents and Caregivers,
As 2025 draws to a close, there’s some exciting news we’d like to share with you whilst also reflecting on what’s been accomplished over the past 12 months as GKR Karate entered its 5th decade as a club.
DECEMBER/JANUARY CLASS TIMETABLES
Whilst our last regular public classes for 2025 will be on Sunday 21st December, there may be a reduced class timetable running in your area over the Christmas/New Year period. Please speak with your Branch Instructor about this Christmas/New Year timetable. If you’re not going away over this period, we encourage you to keep up your karate routine during this time to maintain the training momentum you have built throughout the year. Our regular public class timetables will resume in 2026 from Wednesday 7th January.
MORE GREAT NEWS – FREE Online Academy Access over Christmas!
We’re excited to provide all members with FREE access to the GKR Online Karate and Fitness Academy over the Christmas break!
With live online classes, along with over 300 on-demand training videos from some of GKR’s top Instructors, PLUS 50 home-training Pilates sessions – the Online Academy is the perfect way to stay sharp over the Christmas period.
No payment details are required, and one account can be accessed by the entire family. Enjoy training anywhere, anytime this Christmas!
Click here to claim your free holiday access, available from now until 10 January 2026.
OKINAWA EXPERIENCE
This year, we had our largest attendance yet for the GKR Karate Okinawa Experience. To have 250 GKR Students all training together at the world-renowned Karate Kaikan in Okinawa was a sight to behold. The week-long experience saw new friendships forged and strengthening of existing bonds. I am confident that everyone who attended went home better for the experience and with some additional weapons in their karate toolkit.
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
Our National Champs were held in New Zealand, Australia and the United Kingdom in October and November this year, it was great to see the spirit of Karate-Do alive and well in so many GKR Students. Next year, we are holding the GKR Karate World Cup in the United Kingdom, July 24th – 26th in Telford. Visit the WC 2026 page here and keep an eye out on our social media channels for exciting World Cup 2026 updates.
STOP DOMESTIC & FAMILY VIOLENCE PURPLE BELT CAMPAIGN
It was heartwarming once again to see the GKR Karate Community’s support of our Stop Domestic & Family Violence Purple Belt Campaign. This year, we organised 2 ‘Purple Belt Awareness’ months (February and October), with many dojos running special self-defence seminars and other fundraising activities.
In 2025, with our February and October Purple Belt Campaigns, GKR Karate raised more than $40,000 for ‘RizeUp’ Australia, $8,500 for Shine NZ and £5,000 for Refuge UK.
You can read more about our Purple Belt Campaign and associated charities by clicking here.
TRAINING FEES
Your direct debit training fee rates are based on an annual fee divided by 52 equal weekly payments (or 26 or 12 depending on your payment frequency). As the formal Christmas break period forms part of this 52 week calculation, please note that your normal payments will continue during this time. Again, we encourage students to not only take advantage of our reduced Christmas/New Year ‘in-person’ timetables, but to also use their FREE ACCESS to the GKR Online Karate and Fitness Academy. In addition to this, aim to attend some extra classes during the January school holiday period.
THANK YOU!
I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the Students who have trained consistently in 2025, while also acknowledging the role parents and other family members play in making this possible. To our branch and Senior Instructors, your dedication helps make GKR the great club that it is. The commitment you consistently display towards both the Students and to your own training is inspiring and ensures the continued growth and high standard of karate within GKR.
MERRY CHRISTMAS
On behalf of the entire Senior Instructor group, I’d like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas, and we look forward to seeing you again in the New Year!
Best wishes,
Kancho Robert Sullivan
Founder & Chief Instructor
