Barry Kyokushin Karate Club

Barry Kyokushin Karate Club is the Vale of Glamorgan’s longest running karate club. Operating in Barry since 1978 this club is coming up on its 4th Decade of operations.
Barry Kyokushin was started by local legend Sensei Richard (Dicko) Males. Kyokushin Karate has a reputation of being one of the toughest styles of karate to learn, it is regimented and highly disciplined. This shows in the fact that over Barry Kyokushin’s almost 4 decades, only 12 individuals have ever achieved a black belt, with the last student achieving black belt in 2008, and the next student attempting it in 2018. The Kyokushin Black belt is one of the most prestigious belts in the Martial arts world.
The Barry club had a huge amount of success in competitions both at home and overseas under the guidance of Sensei Richard until February of 2012, where he stood down as Chief Instructor giving way to a then Senpai Phill Sedgmond, 1st Dan. Since taking the reins, Barry Kyokushin has continued to go on and achieve. Since 2012 the club has gone on to achieve over 40 National titles, and the club had grown exponentially in students. Senpai Phill went on to achieve further grades by taking the test to Nidan (2nd Dan) in 2013 and then in 2017 flew to Japan to take the test to Sandan (3rd Dan) at the Mitsumine Shrine making him Sensei Phill Sedgmond, emulating his mentor Sensei Richard Males. The club have continued to produce a number of exceptional international competitors. Students have been to Japan to competed in the World Championships, travelled to France and Bulgaria to compete in the European Championships, and flown to the USA to compete and attend international seminars.
The club is very active within the community by holding regular charity events for local causes. We hold summer camps locally for our students, national tournaments to promote our martial art and give children an opportunity to test themselves without the expense of travelling around the UK and abroad. During the summer you can usually find Barry Kyokushin Karate Club holding outdoor sessions, making use of the beautiful surrounding that Barry has, such as: PorthKerry Park, Whitmore bay and The Knap.
The club has a very long and prestigious history and has a very bright and prosperous future and are looking forward to a further 4 decades of operating in Barry.