Vision

School & Academy Vision

Sei Shin Kan School of Karate and Reading Taijiquan Academy offer Karate and Taiji classes for all ages of children and adults in the local Reading community. Establishing the habit of regular cardio vascular exercise is fundamental to physical health and well-being as a child and later as an adult. Exercising regularly with other children and adults is also great for mental health and well-being. Sei Shin Kan School of Karate and Reading Taijiquan Academy run weekly karate classes in West Reading both at St Georges Church Hall and in local schools. Special weekend training sessions are arranged which focus on a specific aspect of Karate and Taiji practice and allow the student to concentrate on deeper levels of training or to learn a new skill or set of techniques. Sei Shin Kan School of Karate and Reading Taijiquan Academy also host regular advanced seminars, inviting leading UK and international martial arts exponents to teach their skills, share their knowledge and inspire all students of the martial arts.

Physical & Mental Benefits

The physical aspects of Karate and Taiji promote fitness, health, well being, character and sportsmanship. The mental aspects of Karate and Taiji challenge the mind to focus on the core values of character, respect, discipline, honesty & integrity while building the attributes of team spirit, leadership and mentorship. Through dedicated practice, martial arts students can develop into valued members of society accountable for their own development, decisions and actions. The skills learned and polished in the training environment can be translated into life skill that can be implemented in the spheres of education, work and everyday life.

Traditional Martial Arts Training Programme

Sei Shin Kan School of Karate introduces the traditional Wado Ryu (Way of Peace) system of karate, directly from Japan. The Reading Taijiquan Academy offers the Chen Family original style of Taijiquan directly from Chenjiagou Village in China. The learning programmes includes fitness, self-defence, mental awareness, body awareness, confidence, self-control and self- discipline. The physical aspects of Karate and Taiji are critical, and the development of good character through karate practice is fundamental. Without attention to the mental aspect, Karate and Taiji practice is empty. These deeper values form the true spirit of genuine martial arts practice, in Japan this is called ‘Budo’.

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Instructors

Victoria Lloyd – Lead Instructor Sei Shin School of Karate and the Black Mountains & Reading Taijiquan Academy

Victoria Lloyd has trained for over 30 years in the traditional Japanese martial art of Wado-Ryu Karate. She is a 4th Dan black belt, all her grading examinations have been conducted by Japanese instructors and her qualifications are recognised and registered in Japan.

She is a member of the Wado Aiwakai Karate-Do Federation and the English Karate Federation. Viki has travelled to Japan for advanced karate training, spent time training in some of the leading Japanese karate dojos and is a former British and European Karate champion.

Viki is well known in the UK and across Europe as a senior student of the late legendary Grandmaster Tatsuo Suzuki 8th Dan Hanshi (1928 – 2011) who originally introduced the style of Wado Ryu to the UK in the early 1960’s. Viki continues to train regularly and seek advanced instruction in the UK with renowned karate instructor Sensei Kuniaki Sakagami 8th Dan. She has learned from and been advised by many of the leading Japanese and European karate instructors during her many years of training.

Viki has worked as a nursery assistant, in a residential unit for young people with severe learning difficulties and as a lecturer at the University of Reading. She has taught lessons in primary schools and secondary schools, spent eight years as a primary School Governor; eight years as Governor then Chair of Governors at a leading Early Years Centre in Reading. She is first aid and fire warden qualified. Has been CRB and DBS checked. Viki has attended Safeguarding Children Training, Disability Awareness Training and Equality Awareness Training with Reading Borough Council. Sei Shin Kan School of Karate is a member of Reading Children’s and Voluntary Youth Services.

PETE EVANS – Instructor – Sei Shin School of Karate

Pete Evans has been involved in martial arts training and practice for most of his life, learning judo as a youngster, then Taekwondo with Sensei Michael Miller in Didcot. When he moved to Reading he joined the Northern All Styles Sport Karate Club based in Carey Street and graded under Pat Scantlebury and Clayton Murraine, achieving a 1st Kyu brown belt and travelling the across the UK as a keen tournament competitor.

In 2000 he began his training in traditional Wado Ryu karate to help his children who had started to learn. Pete is a 1st Dan Black Belt and has trained under many recognised experts including Grandmaster Tatsuo Suzuki Hanshi 8th Dan, Sensei Kuniaki Sakagami 8th Dan, Sensei Jon Wicks 8th Dan, Sensei Dave Allsop 7th Dan, Sensei Kazutaka Ohtsuka 6th Dan, Sensei Arthur Meek 7th Dan and Sensei Peter May 6th Dan.

Pete is CRB and DBS checked, has been First Aid trained and Health and Safety trained. Married to a midwife, Pete has volunteered with Reading Scouts, helped at the Reading Half Marathon and volunteers at work in his lunch break to assist young children with their reading skills in an Inner London Primary School.

Away from martial arts, Pete is a skilled musician, playing guitar for a well known local blues band and a keen motorcyclist. He is the proud owner of a Harley Davidson.

DAVID CULLUM – Instructor – Reading Taijiquan Academy

Dave’s introduction to the martial arts began in 1988 following a skiing accident that prevented him from long distance running which at the time was his favourite sport. His brother in law, who had just got his 1st Dan black belt in karate, suggested training at his dojo and try a bit of “light exercise” until his leg recovered. The rest as they say is history, there followed 30 years of training in Okinawan Goju Ryu karate eventually achieving a 3rd Dan grade. Dave have trained with various Okinawan, Japanese and English masters in particular with Sensei Higaonna 10th Dan, Sensei George Andrews 8th Dan and regularly with his brother in law Sensei Rick Mortlock who is now a 5th Dan.

When Dave reached the age of 60 he decided he needed to consider the possibility of a less strenuous form of martial art for the time when he could no longer do hundreds of push ups and sit ups. Dave had heard a lot about Taijiquan from a fellow karateka who trained in both styles and decided to give it a go.

Dave has been training Taijiquan now for over 12 years and in 2018 received the award of a 2nd Duan level by Master Chen Ziqiang. Dave has trained with many visiting Chinese masters notably Chen Xiaowang, Chen Ziqiang and Chen Yingjun, also with David Gaffney & Davidine Siaw-Voon Sim. In 2016 Dave spent 10 days training in Chen Village in China at the school of Grandmaster Chen Xiaoxing. He has trained with Victoria Lloyd since she opened her school in Reading.

Prior to martial arts Dave spent 20 years teaching ballroom dancing and competing in Latin American dance competitions. He has been CRB and DBS checked and has been First Aid trained.

JOHN GOUK – Instructor – Reading Taijiquan Academy

John started training Taijiquan with Victoria Lloyd about 8 years ago after his wife finally agreed to let him accompany her, having waxed eloquent about the art and its benefits but initially refused to allow him to crowd in on her personal experience! Since then, he has trained extensively with Grandmaster Chen Xiaoxing in both Chen village in China and in European seminars, Master Chen YingJun, son of Grandmaster Chen Xiaowang, and with Master Chen Ziqiang, who awarded him 1st Duan level in 2018.

For John the attraction of Taijiquan is the combination of mental calmness and physical connectedness, which, for those who choose to engage with it, eventually permeates and enriches everyday life. An enthusiastic cyclist, windsurfer and motorcycle tourist, John has practised Taijiquan whilst on trips in many exotic and less-than-exotic locations, one such being in the rain on the roof of a pub in Wigan, with a notable view of the local cemetery!

Karate & Taijiquan Classes and Examinations

Karate classes are targeted at different age groups and ability levels and are goal based through the traditional grading examination system which takes students from white belt to black belt in a gradual staged progression of competence and skill. Children, young people and adults learn the fundamental training methods of Wado Ryu Karate through a study and practice of basic techniques, punches and kicks, kata (Form), partnerwork drills, and semi-contact kumite (fighting practice) and zazen meditation. The challenges in the dojo are reflected in the grading procedures which are demanding yet achievable and rewarding. This encourages the students to set and realise their own personal goals and achieve their full potential.

Taijiquan classes are targeted at different age groups and ability levels, are goal based and through the traditional syllabus which takes students from beginner to advanced in a gradual staged progression of competence and skill. Adults can choose to prepare for Duan Gradings under the Chinese Wushu organisation. Children and young people follow the traditional 'Chenjiagou Taijiquan School Training Syllabus' as taught and practiced in the oldest Taijiquan School in China.All students learn the fundamental training methods of Chen Taijiquan through a study and practice of basic foundation techniques, Empty Hand Forms, Weapons Forms, Partnerwork drills (including Push Hands), and Standing Meditation (Zhan Zhuang). The challenges in the dojo (training location) are reflected in the grading procedures which are demanding yet achievable and rewarding. This encourages the students to set and realise their own personal goals and achieve their full potential

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Policies & Documents

School & Academy Policies (click to view and download)

Child Protection Policy

Risk Assessment Policy

Data Privacy Policy

School & Academy Policies (click to view and download)

Karate Membership Form

Taijiquan Membership Form

Karate Licence/Insurance Application Form

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