🥋 Kyoto Shotokan Karate Dojo Celebrates 30th Anniversary with Regional Seminar in Bristol
Saturday 21st February 2026 – Bristol (BS11)
Kyoto Shotokan Karate Dojo marked its 30th Anniversary with a special karate seminar held at Oasis Academy Brightstowe in Shirehampton, Bristol. The event brought together 47 students from across the region, creating a fantastic day of traditional Shotokan karate training, learning, and community.
📍 Seminar Details
- Event: Kyoto Shotokan Karate Dojo 30th Anniversary Seminar
- Date: Saturday 21st February 2026
- Venue: Oasis Academy Brightstowe, Penpole Lane, Shirehampton, Bristol, BS11 0EB
- Times: 12:30–13:30 & 14:00–15:00
Students attended from across the South West, including representatives from:
- SKIF Devon
- SKIF Wales
- Westridge Shotokan Karate Club
- Motokkun Karate Dojo
- Weston-super-Mare Karate Club
👊 Guest Instructors
The seminar featured two highly respected senior instructors:
🥋 Steve Carless (6th Dan JKS / 5th Dan SKIF)
🥋 Pasqualino Mura (7th Dan SKIF)
Sensei Pasqualino Mura is a senior instructor within SKIF and serves as SKIF-GB National Coach. With extensive experience in both competition and coaching at national and international level (3x SKIF World Champion in both Kata and Kumite), he brings a deep understanding of kata and kumite, alongside a strong emphasis on traditional Shotokan principles.
Together, their combined experience and credentials provided students with a unique opportunity to train at a high level while gaining insight from different perspectives within traditional Shotokan karate.
🥋 Seminar Structure & Training
The seminar consisted of two one-hour sessions, with students divided into:
- Brown & Black belts
- Kyu grades
In the first session:
- Sensei Steve Carless instructed the higher grades
- Sensei Pasqualino Mura led the kyu grades
The instructors then swapped groups for the second session, ensuring all students benefited from both teaching styles.
🔥 Advanced Training Highlights
🥋 Sensei Steve Carless (Higher Grades)
Sensei Steve’s session focused on:
- Partner work
- Kata bunkai
- Practical self-defence applications
Students were also introduced to the kata Kashu, a lesser-known form chosen specifically to avoid confusion between differing kata variations across SKIF, JKS, and JKA syllabuses.
🥋 Sensei Pasqualino Mura (Higher Grades)
Sensei Pasqualino’s session included:
- Kihon (fundamental techniques)
- Progressive partner work
Training developed from:
- Single partner combinations
- To group work combining multiple techniques
The session concluded with Kata Nijushiho, including detailed explanation of its bunkai and application.
🌍 Bringing the Karate Community Together
Events like this play an important role in:
- Developing technical understanding
- Strengthening connections between clubs
- Maintaining high standards in traditional karate
🍻 Social & Celebration
Later in the evening, Kyoto members attended a meal at Zaza Bazaar on Bristol’s harbourside, joined by Sensei Pasqualino, marking the occasion in true Kyoto and "Apres SKI" style.
🙏 Thank You to All Attendees
Kyoto Shotokan Karate Dojo would like to extend sincere thanks to all students and clubs who attended—especially those who travelled from across the region to be part of this special event.
Your support helped make the 30th Anniversary seminar a memorable and successful occasion.
👉 Train with Kyoto Shotokan Karate Dojo
We offer traditional Shotokan karate classes for children and adults across Bristol (BS11), with a focus on confidence, discipline, and long-term development.
👉 Book your free trial today Phone/Text/WhatsApp Us