About Sensei
France Harington, owner and chief instructor of Kiryoku Dojo, has been training in karate since 2003. She has a 5th Dan in Karate and a 3rd Dan in Kobudo.
She is a fitness instructor owning an Aquafitness Gym since 1995 and an Infant swim-school owner and swimming coach since 1999.
“I am a teacher at heart! I love nothing more than to empower my students to find their inner strength to achieve in whatever it is they are striving for. In the case of the Karate Dojo I encourage each student to grow as an individual in their karate and in life!”
“I believe that every achievement is a success... One small step at a time!”
My journey started in 2002, when I took part in a self-defence course with my daughter at a local karate school – which was by far one of my best decisions ever – as it opened up a new world for me. It did not take me long to sign up for a lifetime of karate training!
I joined the Shorin-Ryu Shorinkan karate family under the guidance of my sensei’s Kyoshi’s Karl van der Marwitz and Steve Johnson (7th Dans) and continue to train and learn in their dojo when I am not teaching.
In 2015 after I graded to 4th Dan in Karate and 2nd Dan in Kobudo (weapons), I felt that the only way to GROW at this level in my personal karate was to teach. With a strong belief that to teach is to learn, Kiryoku Dojo was opened for Adults and as mentioned previously it wasn’t long before Kiryoku Kids opened.
Karate in my daily life!
ALL activities I partake in – work hand in hand to improve the other! I have incorporated most of my karate training into my Aquarobics classes and everyday interaction with all the woman I encounter. “Power in our sixth sense and believing in our abilities and rights to be strong”. I teach not only the physical aspects but above all the mental awareness that the training brings. After all we live in an unstable society and being on guard is for everyone. If I can impart some of that knowledge, I am doing my job. My mental awareness and that of my daughters has also been honed, that is directly of a result of my training.
I have had the opportunity to compete Nationally and locally on many occasions winning numerous awards. However, my greatest joy has been competing alongside my own Kiryoku Dojo students and sharing their successes and growth.
Renshi France Harington
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2007as a 1st Dan I had the privilege to join an International tour to America to train and learn with Kyoshi Pat Haley 8th Dan.
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2013I had the honour and opportunity to travel to Okinawa, Japan to train and grade to 1st Dan in Kobudo under Hanshi Minoru Nakazato 10th Dan. This experience and visiting Shuri Castle for the first time being an undoubted highlight in my personal karate journey.
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2017after struggling to find quality weapons needed to teach my students Kobudo I embarked on learning to turn and craft my own. This brings me great satisfaction and even though Kobudo weapons are more readily available now I will continue to make for my students where possible.
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2019I yet again had the opportunity to travel to Okinawa, Japan this time to grade to my 3rd Dan in Kobudo under Hanshi Minoru Nakazato. On this occasion I also had the pleasure of being presented with my International 5th Dan Karate certification.
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2019I had the immense pleasure to co-host a Womens Self Defence Awareness programme for a large group of strong women. Kiryoku Dojo will be hosting this on a regular basis.
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2020Running very successful Zoom training classes throughout the Covid-19 Lockdown. The students showed great enthusiasm and spirit during this time.
