The History of Kyle Karate Club

Way back in March of 1968, Hugh Hastings who is the club's chief instructor started to practice
Shotokai Karate with a group of friends in Prestwick, which is a town approximately 40 miles south
of Glasgow on the west coast of Scotland. For the want of a better name for the club they called it
"Kyle" after the district rather than the town, and it has remained Kyle Karate Club ever since.

Over the years since that first session, we have practised in many venues throughout the area but have
always insisted that Kyle would be a non-profit making organisation and that we would always practice
Shotokai Karate.

Until 1988 we practised with the Karate Do Shotokai organisation, and until recently were associated
with the Shotokai Foundation.

During our practice sessions emphasis is put on encouraging students to use their imagination and
visualise their full potential.

In traditional karate (which is what we practice), initial training puts emphasis on body movement and
evading an attack. In this manner, it is possible to practice real attacks and defences  where all attacks
are real and not "held back" in a safe and productive manner.  Kata is generally practised more to allow
practitioners to "imagine" all manner of defences without actually being under the pressure of someone
attacking them, and find out if they would work.

Ippon (one step) and Sanbon (three step) kimite are then used to try these techniques and ideas out with
a partner whilst having to adjust to someone else's timing and movement.

Students are also taught to stay relaxed during practice and lower their centre of gravity to improve speed,
movement and increase their stability and balance.

Gradings are generally based on club instructors continual assessments which are backed up by a "snapshot"
of the student's abilities at weekend courses with other high grade instructors. There is no "fighting for your
next belt" here - it's all down to your abilities over a period of time.

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