- Your journey from white to black starts with GRAY
- Your journey from white to black starts with GRAY
The Karate Dojo is a fully professional dojo (a place to practise karate) that is leading the way in the modern coaching of a traditional art. We provide award-winning coaching from grassroots through to elite level in an outstanding purpose built venue at Jion Studios in Ripon, North Yorkshire.
Our classes are designed for everyone, from children aged 4 to adults of all ages, offering beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels. We also support elite karate practitioners, as evidenced by the England national team choosing Ripon Karate Dojo for their Commonwealth pre-training sessions.
Sensei Ady Gray serves as the Director of Karate at the dojo, bringing with him an impressive background as the former Head Coach of the England national team. He has been recognised as the UK Coaching Children’s Sports Coach of the Year and is UK Coaching ambassador, boasting over 30 years of teaching experience.
Ady’s Major Achievements
2024 – TUKKA – Outstanding National Contribution Award
2022 – Coached the most successful England team in the history of the Commonwealth Championships.
2021 – Became a UK Coaching ambassador.
2019 – Appointed the England Head Coach.
2018 – Winner of the UK’s Children’s Sports Coach of the Year.
2017 – Finalist in the UK Coaching, Children’s Coach of the Year.
2010 – Appointed Assistant National Kata.
2004 – Sports Coach of the Year for North Yorkshire.
1995 – Opened the Karate Dojo in Ripon.
Read more about Sensei Ady and our coaching team HERE
At the Karate Dojo we have created an environment for members to enjoy the unique benefits of this traditional martial art on the mind and body, with the core training emphasis on personal development.
Yes, of course we learn self defence, but at the Karate Dojo we pride ourselves on developing good people whilst nurturing life skills such as respect, positive mental attitude, perseverance and confidence, as well as encouraging the individual personalities.
Join us as we empower ourselves and our communities with karate.
We were delighted to welcome Sensei John Gardiner in to the Dojo
John is the founder and chief instructor of JKG Karate, he is the former EKF England assistant national coach, won the FSKA World Shotokan Championships in 2018 and won a bronze medal in the WSF World championships in 2018 in Istanbul. He is a former British Champion and England team member from 2007 in the under 21 England team through to 2019 as a Senior receiving many England call ups during his competitive career.
Having started his training at the age of 12 he achieved his 1st Dan black belt in 2004 under an examination conducted by Sensei Masao Kawasoe from Japan.
In September 2021 John undertook and passed an examination for his 4th Dan under Sensei Ady Gray 6th Dan Chief Instructor of BSKA and Sensei Colin Smith BSKA Dan grade assessor.
John documented the visit for his YouTube channel and it’s definitely worth a watch!
Sensei Ady Gray is not only an award-winning children’s coach, he is also Head Coach for the England Karate Team
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