Arena Karate was delighted to welcome Priti Patel MP to our Coggeshall dojo on Thursday 16 July, where she met members of our Team GB squad and learned more about their journey to the 2026 WTKA World Championships in Carrara, Italy.

During her visit, Priti met four of our Team GB athletes – Lloyd, Ben, Lacie and Aiden – who proudly shared their experiences of training, competing and preparing to represent Great Britain on the international stage. She also spent time watching the evening's training session, meeting the rest of the students and learning more about Arena Karate and the opportunities the club provides for children and adults alike.

The visit provided an opportunity to discuss the dedication and commitment required to compete at an international level, as well as the significant costs involved in representing Great Britain. As a self-funded squad, our athletes are working hard both on and off the mats to raise the funds needed to make their journey to Italy possible.

We are incredibly grateful that Priti Patel generously donated £200 towards our Team GB fundraising campaign. Her support will make a real difference as our athletes continue their preparations for the World Championships.

We are also delighted that Priti will be issuing a press release following her visit, helping to raise awareness of our Team GB squad, their achievements and the fundraising campaign supporting their Road to Italy 2026.

On behalf of everyone at Arena Karate, we would like to thank Priti for taking the time to visit us, for her generous contribution and for recognising the hard work and dedication of our athletes. We greatly appreciate her support and look forward to sharing more updates as our Team GB squad continues its journey towards the WTKA World Championships.

If you would like to support our Team GB squad, please visit our Team GB 2026 page to find out more about our journey, fundraising events and sponsorship opportunities.

13/07/2026 - Mayor of Hadleigh Visits Arena Karate to Meet Team GB Squad

Arena Karate was delighted to welcome the Mayor of Hadleigh, Councillor Zunaid Saiyed, to the dojo on Monday evening, where he spent time watching both of our training sessions and meeting members of our Team GB squad.

The visit gave the Mayor the opportunity to see first-hand the dedication and commitment shown by our students, from those taking their first steps in karate to our international athletes preparing to represent Great Britain at the 2026 WTKA World Championships in Carrara, Italy.

During the evening, the Mayor met several members of our Team GB squad and learned more about their journey to international competition. He also heard about the fundraising efforts currently underway to help the athletes meet the costs of representing Great Britain on the world stage.

Everyone at Arena Karate was proud to showcase the hard work, discipline and community spirit that make our club so special. We are incredibly grateful to the Mayor for taking the time to visit, support our athletes and recognise the achievements of our Team GB squad.

With the Road to Italy 2026 well underway, our athletes continue to train hard while raising funds to help make this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity possible. We look forward to sharing more updates as they continue their journey towards the WTKA World Championships.

Thank you, Councillor Zunaid Sailed, for your visit and your encouragement. Your support means a great deal to our athletes, their families and everyone at Arena Karate.

If you would like to support our Team GB squad, please visit our Team GB 2026 page to find out more about our journey, fundraising events and sponsorship opportunities.

05/07/2026 - Arena Karate Enjoys Another Successful Day at the Thurrock Invitational

Fresh from the excitement of our Team GB selections, Arena Karate was back in action at the Thurrock Invitational, producing another fantastic set of results.

Results:

🥇 Gold

Lacie-Mae – Kick Master
Mal – Kumite

🥈 Silver

Oliver – Kick Master
Lily – Kick Master
Elijah – Kick Master
Lacie-Mae – Kumite
Aiden – Kumite
Ben – Kumite

🥉 Bronze

Oliver – Kumite
Esmee – Kick Master
Aiden – Kick Master
Leo – Kumite

A special mention also goes to Lloyd and Shanique, who also competeted today. While they both narrowly missed out on a medal this time, they performed with determination and represented Arena Karate brilliantly throughout the day.

Congratulations to all of our competitors. Every competition provides an opportunity to learn, develop and gain valuable experience, and we're incredibly proud of the effort, sportsmanship and commitment shown by the entire team.

Well done to everyone involved, and thank you to the organisers, officials and supporters for another fantastic competition.

04/07/2026 - Seven Arena Karate Athletes Selected to Represent Great Britain

Arena Karate is incredibly proud to announce that seven of our athletes have been officially selected to represent Great Britain at both the WTKA European Championships and the WTKA Unified World Championships later this year.

Congratulations to:

🥋 Aiden
🥋 Ben
🥋 Esmee
🥋 Lacie-Mae
🥋 Lily
🥋 Lloyd
🥋 Oliver

Selection to represent Great Britain is a tremendous achievement and reflects the dedication, commitment and perseverance each athlete has shown throughout their training and competition journey.

The WTKA European Championships will take place in Barnsley this October, followed by the WTKA Unified World Championships in Carrara, Italy, where our athletes will proudly wear the GB badge on the international stage.

Everyone at Arena Karate is immensely proud of what these students have achieved. Their selection is a testament to the countless hours of training, determination and resilience they have demonstrated both inside and outside the dojo.

This is a proud moment not only for the athletes and their families, but for the entire Arena Karate community. We wish each of them every success as they continue their preparations for what promises to be an unforgettable experience representing Great Britain.

Congratulations once again to all seven athletes! We are proud to stand behind you as you begin your Team GB journey. 🇬🇧

28/06/2026 - Little Dragons Coming to Arena Karate This September!

Arena Karate is delighted to announce the launch of Little Dragons, an exciting new class designed especially for children aged 3 years and over.

Starting on Monday 8th September 2026, Little Dragons will provide younger children with a fun, engaging and supportive introduction to martial arts. Through exciting games, movement and beginner karate techniques, children will develop confidence, coordination, balance, respect and listening skills, all while making new friends and having lots of fun.

CLASS DETAILS

📅 Starts: Monday 8th September 2026
🕡 Time: Every Monday, 6:15pm – 6:45pm
📍 Venue: The Ansell Centre, Hadleigh

One of the unique features of our Little Dragons programme is that it will be led by Arena Karate's Junior Leaders, Lacie and Oliver, under the guidance of Head Instructor Stefanie Barnes (5th Dan) and the Arena Karate coaching team.

Our aim is to create a positive, encouraging environment where children can build confidence, develop new skills and take their very first steps on an exciting martial arts journey.

To ensure every Little Dragon receives the very best start, class sizes will be kept intentionally small. This allows our coaching team to give each child the individual encouragement and support they deserve.

We recommend registering your interest as early as possible. Once the class reaches capacity, all new enquiries will be added to our priority waiting list.

Click here to register your interest.

NEED MORE INFORMATION?

If you have any questions or would like to find out more about Little Dragons, we'd love to hear from you.

🥋 Head Instructor: Stefanie Barnes, 5th Dan
📞 Telephone: 07742 380881
📧 Email: arenakarate1@gmail.com

We look forward to welcoming our very first Little Dragons on Monday 8th September and helping them begin an exciting journey with Arena Karate.

Every champion starts as a Little Dragon! 🐉🥋

28/06/2026 - Summer Grading 2026

Today saw a smaller than usual grading at Arena Karate, with students stepping onto the mats to demonstrate the hard work, dedication and perseverance they have shown in training.

Gradings are about far more than learning new techniques. They test attitude, discipline, spirit, determination and the ability to perform under pressure. Every student who took part should be incredibly proud of the commitment they showed in preparing for today's examination.

A huge congratulations to everyone who successfully achieved their next belt grade. Each new belt represents countless hours of training, determination and personal growth, and today was another important milestone on your karate journey.

A special thank you also goes to our instructors, assistants and families whose continued support helps our students achieve their goals.

We look forward to seeing everyone wearing their new belts in class and continuing to build on today's success. Remember, earning a new belt is not the end of the journey. It is the beginning of the next challenge.

Well done, everyone. Keep training hard and keep striving to be your best!

21/06/2026 - Arena Karate's Mabel Raises over £500 for Race for Life

Arena Karate Hadleigh is delighted to celebrate the fantastic achievement of one of our youngest students, Mabel Pearson, who recently completed the Race for Life 5K Mud Run.

Taking place on Sunday 21st June, the event challenged participants to tackle a muddy 5-kilometre course while raising money for Cancer Research UK. At just 7 years old, Mabel approached the challenge with determination and enthusiasm, successfully completing the course and raising over an impressive amount of £500 for the charity.

As if completing a 5K mud run wasn't enough, Mabel was back training with her fellow students at Arena Karate the very next day. Although understandably tired after her efforts, she still attended class on Monday evening and trained hard throughout the session, demonstrating the commitment and perseverance that we value so highly in karate.

Mabel's achievement both on and off the course is a wonderful example of the qualities we encourage in our students: courage, resilience, dedication and a willingness to challenge themselves.

Everyone at Arena Karate would like to congratulate Mabel on her success and thank all those who have supported her fundraising efforts.

Anyone wishing to support Mabel's fundraising can still make a donation via her Race for Life fundraising page:

https://fundraise.cancerresearchuk.org/page/mabel-pearsons-race-for-life

Well done, Mabel – a truly inspiring achievement and one that the entire Arena Karate family is proud to celebrate.

14/06/2026 - Arena Karate Students Attend WTKA Squad Training and Selections 🇮🇹

On Sunday, eight Arena Karate students attended the WTKA Squad Training and Selection Day, an important step in the selection process for the WTKA World Championships, which will take place in Carrara, Italy, from 21st to 25th October 2026.

Representing Arena Karate were Lloyd, Ben, Honey, Lacie-Mae, Lily, Aiden, Oliver and Esmee.

Throughout the day, the students completed a range of assessments designed to evaluate both their technical ability and physical fitness. These included kata 🥋, kumite 👊, a bleep test 🏃, sit-ups, press-ups, 50 reverse punches in one minute, and 25 round kicks in 30 seconds. Athletes were assessed on their performance, fitness, discipline and overall readiness for international competition.

The selection day provided competitors with the opportunity to showcase the skills they have developed through their training and demonstrate their commitment to representing their country at the highest level. 🌍

All eight students approached the day with determination, focus and professionalism, representing Arena Karate with pride. Their willingness to challenge themselves and perform under pressure is a credit to both them and their families. 💪

A huge thank you also goes to the coaches, parents and supporters whose encouragement and dedication help make opportunities like this possible. 🙏

We now await the selection results and wish our students every success in their bid to earn a place on the team travelling to Italy this October. 🇮🇹🍀

No matter the outcome, we are incredibly proud of every student who stepped onto the tatami and gave their all. 🥋

07/06/2026 - 27 Medals and Countless Reasons to Be Proud

Arena Karate students enjoyed a fantastic day of competition, bringing home an incredible 27 medals.

🥇 10 Gold

🥈 10 Silver

🥉 7 Bronze

A huge well done to everyone who competed and represented the club so brilliantly.

Gold Medals

🥇 Mal (Kata, Kumite)

🥇 Lily (Kata)

🥇 Lacie-Mae (Kata, Slam Man)

🥇 Lloyd (Kata)

🥇 Leo (Slam Man)

🥇 Aiden (Kumite)

🥇 Esmee (Kumite)

🥇 Oliver C (Light Continuous Kickboxing)

Silver Medals

🥈 Ben (Kata, Kumite)

🥈 Kyle (Creative Weapons, Light Continuous Kickboxing)

🥈 Mabel (Slam Man)

🥈 Aiden (Slam Man)

🥈 Oliver (Slam Man, Kumite)

🥈 Junior (Light Continuous Kickboxing)

🥈 Honey (Light Continuous Kickboxing)

Bronze Medals

🥉 Elijah (Kata, Kumite)

🥉 Esmee (Kata)

🥉 Kiki (Slam Man)

🥉 Lloyd (Kumite)

🥉 Taliyah (Light Continuous Kickboxing)

We are incredibly proud of all our competitors for their hard work, determination and sportsmanship throughout the day. Congratulations everyone!

31/05/2026 - Arena Karate Brings Home 18 Medals at Urban Combat's Summer Showdown

Arena Karate students enjoyed an outstanding day of competition at Urban Combat's Summer Showdown, returning home with an incredible haul of 18 medals, including 8 Gold 🥇, 6 Silver 🥈 and 4 Bronze 🥉 across the Kumite, Kata and Kickmaster events.

The team travelled to the competition with a mixture of experienced competitors and students relatively new to the competition scene. Throughout the day, every student demonstrated the hard work, discipline and determination that they bring to training each week, while also displaying excellent respect and sportsmanship both on and off the mats.

Results

🥇🥇 Oliver – Gold in Kumite, Gold in Kata

🥇 Ben – Gold in Kumite

🥈🥈 Mal – Silver in Kumite, Silver in Kata

🥉🥉 Aiden – Bronze in Kumite, Bronze in Kickmaster

🥈 Octavia – Silver in Kickmaster

🥇🥇🥇 Lacie-Mae – Gold in Kumite, Gold in Kata, Gold in Kickmaster

🥇🥇🥇 Lily – Gold in Kumite, Gold in Kata, Gold in Kickmaster

🥈🥉🥉 Elijah – Silver in Kumite, Bronze in Kata, Bronze in Kickmaster

🥈 Leo – Silver in Kickmaster

Particular congratulations go to Lacie-Mae and Lily, who each achieved a clean sweep of Gold medals in all three of their events. Every competitor represented Arena Karate brilliantly and should be extremely proud of their achievements.

While the medals are a fantastic reward for all the hard work put in during training, competitions are also about developing confidence, resilience and character. The determination and sportsmanship shown by all of our students throughout the day was a credit to themselves, their families and the club.

A huge thank you to Urban Combat for hosting a fantastic event, and to all the parents, families and supporters whose encouragement helped make the day such a success.

Congratulations to the entire Arena Karate team on an incredible performance and a memorable day of competition!

17/05/2026 - Arena Karate Attend EKKA Kata & Technical Course

Whilst Ben and Oliver were competing in Sheffield at the English Karate Federation Open Championships, a small group from Arena Karate attended the EKKA Kata & Technical Course, hosted by Mick Blackwell.

The course focused on technical development and a deeper understanding of movement, application and performance, providing a valuable opportunity to further develop knowledge and refine technique.

Training opportunities such as these are an important part of a student’s karate journey, helping to build understanding beyond regular weekly classes and exposing students to high-level technical instruction.

Those attending represented Arena Karate extremely well throughout the course, showing focus, discipline and a willingness to learn.

A big thank you to Mick Blackwell and the EKKA for hosting another excellent and informative training event. 🥋

📅 The next EKKA Kata & Technical Course will take place on Sunday 15th November 2026, from 1:30–3:30pm. More details will follow closer to the time.

17/05/2026 - Major Success at the English Karate Federation Open Championships

Today, Arena Karate students Oliver and Ben travelled to Sheffield to compete at the English Karate Federation Open Karate Championships, one of the country’s major competition events, attracting a very high standard of competitors from across England.

Representing Arena Karate on a large stage, both students entered two Kumite categories and produced outstanding performances throughout the day, showing composure, determination and excellent technical ability under pressure.

🏅 Oliver achieved an outstanding result in the two 10–11 years categories, winning both Gold and Silver.

🏅 Ben also performed exceptionally well in the two Veteran categories, securing both Gold and Bronze.

To achieve these results at such a significant competition is a huge accomplishment and reflects the hard work, discipline and dedication both students continue to show in their training. Competing at this level provides invaluable experience and exposure against some of the strongest competitors in the country.

Both Oliver and Ben represented Arena Karate with professionalism, resilience and great spirit throughout the event, and the club could not be prouder of their achievements.

A massive congratulations to them both on an outstanding day of competition! 💪🥋

16/05/2026 - Arena Karate Invited to Teach at Combat Karate & Kickboxing Club Seminar

On Saturday 16th May, Arena Karate attended a special seminar hosted by Combat Karate & Kickboxing Club in Thetford, where Stefanie Barnes was invited to teach.

The seminar brought together students and instructors for an excellent day of training, development and knowledge sharing, covering a range of technical elements and practical applications.

It was a fantastic opportunity not only to work with students from another club, but also to continue strengthening the positive relationships within the wider martial arts community.

We would like to thank Combat Karate & Kickboxing Club for the invitation, hospitality and warm welcome throughout the day.

Events like these are incredibly valuable for both instructors and students, providing opportunities to learn from different approaches, exchange ideas and continue developing skills outside of regular club training.

A great day of training and another proud moment for Arena Karate. 💪🥋

10/05/2026 - Arena Karate Drill & Grill – Save the Date!

We are excited to announce a brand-new Arena Karate community event coming this summer…

🥋🔥 DRILL & GRILL 🔥🥋

📅 Saturday 22nd August 2026

📍 Coggeshall

The Arena Karate Drill & Grill will be a full day of karate training, drills, teamwork and social fun, finishing with a club BBQ for students and families to enjoy together.

This is a FREE event for all Arena Karate students is designed to bring together the Arena Karate community both on and off the mats, with sessions suitable for all levels and ages.

The day will include:

Karate training sessions
Kata and kumite drills
Team-building activities
Fun challenges and games
Afternoon BBQ and social

Whether you are a beginner or advanced student, this will be a fantastic opportunity to train together, improve skills, and spend time with fellow Arena Karate students and invited clubs.

More information, timings and booking details will be released soon — but for now, save the date!

👊 Train hard. Eat well. Make memories.

03/05/2026 - KDF Open – Small Team, Strong Results

Arena Karate returned from the KDF Open Championships in Dagenham with an impressive performance from a small but determined team of three competitors: Ben, Lily and Oliver.

All three students competed in Kumite, stepping onto the mat with confidence and demonstrating strong technique, composure and determination throughout the day. Each competitor showed a clear commitment to their training, representing the club with focus and respect in a competitive environment.

🥇 Lily – Gold

🥈 Ben – Silver

Lily delivered an outstanding performance to take Gold, showing excellent control, timing and confidence throughout her category. Ben also performed strongly to secure Silver, demonstrating determination and solid technique against tough opposition.

Oliver competed in a challenging category and produced a strong performance, showing good skill, resilience and fighting spirit throughout his bouts. While he did not medal on this occasion, his performance reflected clear progress and a high standard of Kumite.

Performances like these highlight the importance of competition as part of a student’s development, providing valuable experience under pressure and helping to build confidence and resilience on the mat.

This was a fantastic showing from a small team, proving that commitment, consistency and hard work continue to produce strong results. We’re incredibly proud of all three students and how they represented Arena Karate.

26/04/2026 - Arena Karate at the Meopham Open Championships

Arena Karate took a squad of 7 students to the Meopham Open Championships, and it proved to be a challenging and rewarding day for everyone involved.

Competing across multiple categories, our students showed resilience, determination, and great spirit — coming away with a well-earned set of medals:

Lily – 🥈 Silver (Kata), 🥉 Bronze (Kickmaster), 🥉 Bronze (Kumite)
Lacie-Mae – 🥉 Bronze (Kata), 🥉 Bronze (Kumite)
Esmee – 🥉 Bronze (Kickmaster), 🥉 Bronze (Kumite)
Ben – 🥈 Silver (Kumite)

A big well done also to Aiden, Leonard, and Oliver, who competed strongly in tough divisions. While they didn’t medal on this occasion, their performances showed great effort and progress, and valuable experience was gained throughout the day.

Days like this are all part of the journey — testing skills, building confidence, and learning under pressure. Every student represented Arena Karate with pride, and there is plenty to take forward into future competitions.

Well done to the whole team! 💪🥋

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