Why USKF Ireland?
Personal growth
Supporting you
Driving standards
Driving standards.
The USKFI is committed to continually developing the standard of Shotokan karate in Ireland.
All USKFI instructors are First Aid trained and have completed Sport Ireland Safeguarding training and Garda vetting. Aswell as a National safeguarding officer each USKFI club has their own children’s safeguarding officer with Safeguarding I and II certification.
Our instructors receive standardisation courses to ensure best coaching practice and consistency in the coaching of their students. Upon qualification they all train regularly with Senior instructors from both Ireland, the UK and beyond to continually enhance the high level of instruction which is available to all our students.
We are fortunate to have a number of International standard referees that adjudicate in elite competitions around the world. The USKFI Referees and Judging committee also play a key role on training and certifying all our judges and referees.
We are fully affiliated with Onakai, the KUGB, ESKA and WSKA and in addition to our Nationals and Shotokan Cup, compete regularly in their competition circuit throughout the UK and internationally. All USKFI instructors are Garda vetted and 1st aid trained.
Supporting you
Our goal is to ensure all our students are supported to enable them to fulfil their personal goals and be the very best they can be.
Training - All licensed students can train in any of our Dojos. The USKFI also runs regular paid (and free) courses and seminars with instructors from home and abroad.
Gradings - Kyu Gradings are every 3 - 4 months and give structure and focus for students to test their development. Dan Grading (1st Dan - 3rd Dan) are twice a year in Dublin with senior instructors from the KUGB while senior Dan gradings (4th and above) are available to eligible USKFI members in the special KUBG Dan courses in the UK.
Competitions - Are held through out the year to allow students test their skill and karate development. In addition, the international squad trains, competes and has been successful in numerous International competitions through the calendar year. The USKFI squad trips abroad are also funded by USKFI.
Personal growth
Karate as a discipline can help children and adults get to know themselves better and in turn build self-confidence in many ways.
Goal orientated - It develops a mindset of working hard towards a goal. Whether that goal is a grading or a competition it provides a sense of achievement that requires a Karateka to dig deep to succeed. Experiencing either success or setback your Karate journey will continually identify areas requiring development towards the next goal.
Focus - Karate training by its nature helps develop your mind and focus which is becoming increasingly difficult with the advent of smartphones and devices. This is in addition to the fact physical exercise develops strength and flexibility, both of which are also known to aid combatting stress.
Exercise - The physical exercise of karate develops your fitness, strength, flexibility and agility at any age. This positive mindset of working to strengthen mind and body gives confidence to adults in daily life but also for children in defending themselves from bullying and aggressive behaviour.