KEBBA junior karate club says a fond farewell after nearly 30 years!

 

Last week marked the end of an era at the community centre as KEBBA, our long‑running junior karate club led by Kate Jones, held its final training session. It was a poignant and emotional evening as the students bowed out for the last time, and there were understandably plenty of sad faces as a wonderful chapter came to a close. However, looking past the bittersweet final class, the community remains incredibly proud of everything the club and its young martial artists have achieved on their remarkable journey. While training may have come to an end, the story isn't quite over yet - plans are already underway for a special legacy party early next year to properly celebrate KEBBA's incredible impact.

 

KEBBA began life at Downend School in the late 1990s with just a small group of enthusiastic juniors. Through weekly training, annual summer camps at Lancaster University, and memorable Christmas shows, the club steadily grew to more than 170 children taking part. Standout moments included a major demonstration in front of Japanese masters in 2010, and participation in an international junior karate event in Portugal in 2013.

 

Over almost three decades, more than 1,000 children have experienced karate through KEBBA - including second‑generation members whose parents once trained with the club themselves. Many of today’s Zenshin senior grades first discovered karate because their children were part of KEBBA, creating a true family connection across both groups.

 

Kate’s decision to close the club was not an easy one, but with four young teenagers at home she felt it was the right time to focus more on family life. Her dedication has shaped countless young people, and the impact of KEBBA will be felt for many years to come.

 

Several of the older KEBBA members will now be moving up into the Zenshin adult classes, held at our Community Centre on Tuesday, Wednesday and Sunday evenings. So, if you’ve ever wondered what a karate class is like, this is a great time to come along and see for yourself. Contact Rob at Zenshin (details are on our Groups page).

We wish all of our KEBBA children the very best with their new endeavours - and extend a heartfelt thank you to Kate for her leadership, energy and commitment over so many years. KEBBA has inspired a love of karate in hundreds of local children, and we are very grateful for everything Kate has given to our community.