Northern Free-Style Karate Association

Just wanted to post this, its an image of the four founder members of Northern Freestyle Karate which formed in 1988. After we all had trained with Masters Bilcliff and Alnwick for 5 years. In the decades we trained together we developed according to the AMA the largest Karate Association in England by membership. Mainly we were mature enough to pull together agree to disagree and always tried to do things correctly. So Left to right. Master Young, Master Harper-Coulson, Master Tiplady and Master Farrell all of our clubs were huge, like teaching a seminar every class and still friends today.

The results from our recent senior grading and presentation from the 31st May 2026

Special Award in Lifetime achievement in Karate-Do
Rob Beaton – award for his outstanding integrity, respect and indominable spirit, assisting in NFKA Killingworth, under Mr Watson 5th Dan and Allen Child 4th Dan for many years. An honest and dedicated martial artist recognised by NFKA for his lifetime in Karate. The NFKA wanted to demonstrate its respect for him as a person of integrity who deserves recognition at the end of his Martial Arts Journey

Junior Black Belt Star Grading
Toby Purves
Callan Lund
Summer Kennedy
Indie Bamrah

Brown and White Belt
Frankie Wilson
Delilah Piriz
Adam Colley

Junior Black Belt First Dan
Fearne Piriz
Maela Bamrah
Lexi Zak

Senior Black Belt First Dan
Stephanie Maguire
Callum Allen
Hugo Piriz

Senior Black Belt Third Dan
Jon Toward

Senior Blackbelt Fifth Dan
Robert Marr

At our established Karate Association, all students exceeded the international standards for fulfilling the minimum timescales for grade, all students undertook a project, a written exam and a complex physical grading, also providing evidence what they have given back to the NFKA over their years of training. No one was awarded a grade based on just time served or not training holding a grade.

Master Marr to gain his Master grade also undertook a complex physically demanding grading. He had to provide evidence of the many students he has trained to Second Dan whilst rebuilding the Bedlington Class over the last 7 years, due to the club shrinking in fact being close to closing under the guidance of a previous instructor, following the earlier brilliant club developed by Master Young.

There were many more students who have to wait to take their grading if they are ready in 6 months, all were given advice and guidance on how to achieve their next grade.

Unfortunately, some students on the day were unsuccessful, nerves, passion to do their best and the complexity of the grading were some of the reasons, remember if you did your best and nerves got in the way, don’t worry you will be less nervous next time.
If you are going to get a high karate belt, you want to earn it not be given it because you turn up for lessons, paid your fees, or served a timescale. You are awarded because it because you met the standard and did brilliantly. If you have the slightest doubt, it ruins your achievement because in your heart you will know you don’t deserve your grade.

So, we at the NFKA are proud of everyone who took their grading, you are the 1 in 100, successful or not everyone is very proud of you and keep working hard as you know how demanding the gradings at this level are now. The day you are awarded your NFKA Black Belt, you know it’s worth so much more than the cost of the belt, and the feeling stays with you for life.

Thank you Beaconhill NFKA, for 35 years of joy, success, humour, great times and some sad times
Thank you to everyone who came along to train and say hello. Everyone of you made me so happy and honoured that you managed to come share stories and memories. Thank you for your cards, presents and good wishes. You have all given me so much pride and joy over the years, there was no need seeing your face was more than enough to make me realise how lucky I have been. Remember we have students yet to find out if they have been successful in their grading, and they will find out at the seminar on Sunday. Please try to attend 1-3pm Sunday at Walbottle Academy.

Thank you to everyone who came along to say hello and goodbye tonight. I was and am very humbled to hear your kind words, messages and memories of decades of doing karate together. You really made my heart sing watching you all train again, you have lost nothing. Thank you for the gifts, cards and well wishes.

Northern Freestyle Karate has been identified as one of the top karate clubs in the North East and if you could would you please vote for the NFKA using the link below https://mylocalawards.co.uk/business/northern-freestyle-karate-association/

Karate class at Cramlington on as always, usual times, but wear something cool and don't forget to bring some water. Also don't forget your seminar forms.

It's our seminar on Sunday 31st May from 1-3 pm, at Walbottle Academy. This includes presentations for junior Dan grades Star Grading, brown and white belts, and Black Belts who took physical gradings up to 5th Dan. Make sure you attend the seminar as the coloured belt grading is in late June, so make sure you are ready to grade by taking part in the whole association seminar. It's great to see senior grades with integrity taking physical gradings.

After 41 years of training in Karate and running a club for 39 years, my health has reached a stage where I can no longer teach Karate to the standard my integrity demands. It’s time to hand the club over to a fantastic instructor, Rob Marr, who recently took his physical 5th Dan. I have no doubt he will continue to take the club forward.
I have loved Karate for so long and have met some incredible people along the way. It would be wonderful to see some of you again, either on the 26th of May at the Sporting Club or on the 28th of May at Beaconhill, to celebrate my new role in the NFKA—leading the association, maintaining standards, bringing my experience to the grading panels, supporting instructors in their learning and being an assistant to Rob Marr when required
Without the support of my brilliant assistant instructors—so many over the years—the club would never have reached such heights. So, a huge thank you to Bill C, Allen C, Alan G, Brian B, Darren W, Billy W, Jan W, Stuart, H Graeme A, John C, Joe H, Marion H, Rob M, Zak N Indie, Paige, Ed M, Vicky H, Claire H, Sue S, John S, Jane T, and Rachel Y. Sorry if I have missed anyone, not lack of respect but memory and medication.

Well done to all the NFKA students taking their Brown and White and Dan grades yesterday. Great to see such effort from Students from Brown and White to Fourth Dan taking their physical gradings. Great to see such dedication to our art. Thank you