Welcome to Cranleigh Wadoryu Karate Club.
A proud & dedicated member of British Wadokai!
Cranleigh Hakutsuru
Cranleigh Karate Club. The Hakutsuru of British Wadokai. Established in 1976 - Cranleigh's Oldest Karate Club!
The Cranleigh Karate Club started life in a small church hall (St Nicholas Church Rooms) in 1976. It was one of the first karate clubs to be established in the area and it's creator, Gary Swift 8th Dan, has done much over the years to promote martial arts and self-defence techniques.
The Club has been 'home' to many students who have progressed from beginner through to black belt grades.
Our longest serving student, Ian Hunter, has been with us over 40 years and is now our chief training instructor!
Beginners are always welcome and are treated with respect and care. Safety in training is intrinsic throughout all our activities and a priority of all our instructors. Your progress and the development of your abilities will be at a pace designed to safely bring out the best in you.
For the more experienced martial artist, we offer advanced application techniques. We specialise in free fighting training with use of punch bags and specialist pad work.
Self Defence is another core element in our training programme. This includes basic escape techniques, defence against armed assailants and much more.
As we offer a comprehensive programme we do have a mimimum training age of 9. Parents are welcome to come along and watch a training session and direct any of their questions to our experienced instructors.
Wado-Ryu
We teach Wado-Ryu which is a style of Karate favouring the principle of speed and evasion. As such it is a style which is suitable for most people. More emphasis is placed on avoiding a strong attack with a simultaneous counter defence than other styles of Karate.
The Club has been 'home' to many students who have progressed from beginner through to black belt grades.
Our longest serving student, Ian Hunter, has been with us over 40 years and is now our chief training instructor!
Beginners are always welcome and are treated with respect and care. Safety in training is intrinsic throughout all our activities and a priority of all our instructors. Your progress and the development of your abilities will be at a pace designed to safely bring out the best in you.
For the more experienced martial artist, we offer advanced application techniques. We specialise in free fighting training with use of punch bags and specialist pad work.
Self Defence is another core element in our training programme. This includes basic escape techniques, defence against armed assailants and much more.
As we offer a comprehensive programme we do have a mimimum training age of 9. Parents are welcome to come along and watch a training session and direct any of their questions to our experienced instructors.
Wado-Ryu
We teach Wado-Ryu which is a style of Karate favouring the principle of speed and evasion. As such it is a style which is suitable for most people. More emphasis is placed on avoiding a strong attack with a simultaneous counter defence than other styles of Karate.
The 'first' Cranleigh Karate Club UKKW. Established 1976.
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St Nicholas Church Rooms (1976-1982)
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Cranleigh Karate Club (circa 1985). The Black-belts at the Cranleigh Karate Club at the 2nd venue, Cranleigh School, Horseshoe Lane, Cranleigh, Surrey. The Club first opened in 1976 at the St Nicholas Church Rooms. Cranleigh Karate Club (Cranleigh School), ran from 1982 to 1990.
Cranleigh Karate Club 3rd Venue (Circa 1990)
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Cranleigh Karate Club, Snoxhall, Cranleigh, Surrey.
After three venue changes the Cranleigh Karate Club (Hakutsuru) has been operating at the Cranleigh Youth Centre since about 1990. The Cranleigh Karate Club has been operating since 1976.
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The longest running karate club within British Wadokai
Meet all the Sensei!
Sensei Ian Hunter 8th Dan
Sensei Ian Hunter Renshi (8th Dan).
Sensei Ian Hunter was awarded 8th Dan on the 19th December 2018. He began Wado Ryu under the direction of Sensei Gary Swift and Sensei Mick Rapley at twelve years of age. Sensei Ian has applied much of his background knowledge of health and safety issues to help make training in martial arts safer for all involved. He has spent many years researching numerous scientific studies, some of which have been found to have practical benefits for martial arts students. These are often made the theme of his training sessions. 
Sensei Ian Hunter (8th Dan) Renshi
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Sensei Jim Taylor 6th Dan
Jim Taylor 6th Dan. Jim started training in July 1992 at the age of 37 as the result of seeing his kids enjoying karate and thought 'why not give it a go?' Jim went on to attain his 1st Dan in September 1997, 2nd Dan in September 1999, his 3rd Dan in September 2002, 4th Dan on the 30th March 2008, his 5th Dan on the 31st March 2013 and his 6th Dan on the 9th of December 2018.
Sensei Liz Bulley 2nd Dan
Sensei Liz Bulley (2nd Dan).
Sensei Liz Bulley has been training since November 1992. She attained her 1st Dan in September 1997 and her 2nd Dan in September 1999. Liz has two daughters who are both brown belts. |
Training and Contact Information
General Information.
Friday Nights: 7.00-9.00pm.
British Wadokai. Cranleigh Karate Club Hakutsuru Dojo (Est. 1976).
Cranleigh Youth Centre, Snoxhall Fields, off Knowle Lane, Cranleigh, Surrey, GU6
8JW.
Contacts.
Ian Hunter 8th Dan: ianhunter01@live.co.uk
James Taylor 6th Dan: Email; jimtaylor_cranleigh@hotmail.com
Liz Bulley 2nd Dan: Email; elizabethjbulley@hotmail.com
Contact Ian Hunter 7th Dan: Telephone; 01428-685093.
Friday Nights: 7.00-9.00pm.
British Wadokai. Cranleigh Karate Club Hakutsuru Dojo (Est. 1976).
Cranleigh Youth Centre, Snoxhall Fields, off Knowle Lane, Cranleigh, Surrey, GU6
8JW.
Contacts.
Ian Hunter 8th Dan: ianhunter01@live.co.uk
James Taylor 6th Dan: Email; jimtaylor_cranleigh@hotmail.com
Liz Bulley 2nd Dan: Email; elizabethjbulley@hotmail.com
Contact Ian Hunter 7th Dan: Telephone; 01428-685093.
Location.
Click on image above to be taken direct to Google Maps. |
Certain cultures and religions may restrict participation in traditional Wadoryu Karate, due to the traditional respectful Japanese bowing etiquettes and ceremonies required.
All participants are required to bow, please consider this before training within a British Wadokai Karate Dojo. For further information, please click on 'Bowing in the Dojo'.
All participants are required to bow, please consider this before training within a British Wadokai Karate Dojo. For further information, please click on 'Bowing in the Dojo'.
The History of Cranleigh
Cranleigh's History.
When standing in the High Street today with its bustling people and almost constant stream of traffic, it is hard to believe that what is now claimed to be the largest village in England was once a very rural and isolated community which civilisation almost passed by.
Geologists tell us that Cranleigh was, in prehistoric times, the bed of an inland fresh-water lake. Under the Cranleigh Cricket Ground, there is a bed of fossilised winkle shells commonly called Sussex Marble, and during trenching operations in the neighbourhood quantities of this marble have been excavated.
Little is known of the history of Cranleigh before the year 1085, when the Domesday Book was compiled. However, during the Roman occupation, the hamlet of Cranley must have had an awakening from its centuries of native slumber as several Roman roads have since been traced. After the Romans left the country, these roads fell into decay, and the thickly wooded district, under the rule of the Saxons, became a sort of ‘No Man’s Land’ and a refuge for outlaws.
After the Norman Conquest, the district seems to have been a centre for hawking and hunting, and became noted for the craneries at Baynards and Vachery, when the hamlet derived the name of Cranelegh or Cranely. The word leigh or ‘legh’ is an old Saxon word for a clearing in the forest. The commonly held belief that cranes were bred on these farms and served up as delicacies for Kings is unsupported by evidence or reason, but has still led to the crane becoming the symbol of the village and currently adorns a number of monuments in the village.
Source: www.cranleighvillage.net/visitor.asp
When standing in the High Street today with its bustling people and almost constant stream of traffic, it is hard to believe that what is now claimed to be the largest village in England was once a very rural and isolated community which civilisation almost passed by.
Geologists tell us that Cranleigh was, in prehistoric times, the bed of an inland fresh-water lake. Under the Cranleigh Cricket Ground, there is a bed of fossilised winkle shells commonly called Sussex Marble, and during trenching operations in the neighbourhood quantities of this marble have been excavated.
Little is known of the history of Cranleigh before the year 1085, when the Domesday Book was compiled. However, during the Roman occupation, the hamlet of Cranley must have had an awakening from its centuries of native slumber as several Roman roads have since been traced. After the Romans left the country, these roads fell into decay, and the thickly wooded district, under the rule of the Saxons, became a sort of ‘No Man’s Land’ and a refuge for outlaws.
After the Norman Conquest, the district seems to have been a centre for hawking and hunting, and became noted for the craneries at Baynards and Vachery, when the hamlet derived the name of Cranelegh or Cranely. The word leigh or ‘legh’ is an old Saxon word for a clearing in the forest. The commonly held belief that cranes were bred on these farms and served up as delicacies for Kings is unsupported by evidence or reason, but has still led to the crane becoming the symbol of the village and currently adorns a number of monuments in the village.
Source: www.cranleighvillage.net/visitor.asp
