Shotokan karate classes in Christchurch
Tomyris Karatedo teaches traditional Japanese karate to kids and adults at Waimairi School in Strowan. Classes run on Tuesday and Thursday evenings with Sensei Liviu Nicolaie, 3rd Dan (Sandan).

All classes at Waimairi School, 1 Tillman Avenue, Strowan. How to find us
Karate classes for kids and adults
Beginners are welcome in every class. You don't need to be fit or flexible to start, and you don't need a uniform for your first few sessions.
Kids karate
Children
Focus, coordination and confidence, taught step by step in a friendly class. No experience needed.
About this class
Adult beginners
Adults of any age and fitness
Start from the first stance. Two evening classes a week, and you train at your own pace.
About this class
Advanced and grading
Coloured belts to black belt
Kata, kumite and grading preparation to the Japan Karate Association syllabus.
About this class
What happens in a class
Every Shotokan class is built from the same parts, in the same order. It's the structure used in Japan Karate Association dojos around the world.
- 1
Warm-up
Ten minutes of mobility and stretching so joints and muscles are ready to work.
- 2
Kihon
Basics: stances, punches, blocks and kicks, repeated until they are sharp.
- 3
Kata
Set patterns of movement that teach balance, timing and how techniques join up.
- 4
Kumite
Partner work. Beginners start with pre-arranged drills at a controlled distance.
Taught by Sensei Liviu Nicolaie
Liviu Nicolaie holds a 3rd Dan (Sandan) black belt and is a listed instructor with Japan Karate Association New Zealand, the national body for Japan Karate Association karate. Gradings at Tomyris follow the JKA syllabus, so a rank earned here is recognised in JKA dojos worldwide.
- Black belt grade
- 3rd Dan
- Style
- Shotokan
- Affiliated to
- Japan Karate Association New Zealand
Where we train in Christchurch
Classes are held at Waimairi School, 1 Tillman Avenue, Strowan, in north-west Christchurch. It's a short drive from Papanui, Merivale, Bryndwr, Fendalton and St Albans.
Questions before you start
- Do I need any experience?
- No. Most people who join have never trained before.
- What should I wear?
- A T-shirt and track pants. We train barefoot.
Karate articles

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What children get from karate training, what age they can start, how it fits around school and other sport, and what parents should look for in a club.
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What to expect at your first karate class
A step-by-step walk through a first Shotokan karate class, from what to wear and when to arrive to what you will actually do on the floor.
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Starting karate as an adult
You are not too old, too stiff or too unfit. What adult beginners can realistically expect from karate training in the first year.
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Come and try a class
Send us a message on Facebook and tell us who the class is for. We'll reply with what to bring and which night to come.
