22 Years of Excellence

50+ Black Belt Graduates

Tiger Tots is a tailored program of basic Shotokan Karate instruction and developmental games designed by Sensei Donna Ring, MSc, specifically for children aged 4–6 years.

Established in 2004, Tiger Tots is proudly celebrating its 22nd successive year!

Tiger Tots offers specialized instruction in traditional Shotokan Karate for young children. Through age-appropriate training, children develop balance, coordination, confidence, self-discipline, and independence in a structured and nurturing environment.

Classes run for 45 minutes, with varying formats each week to maintain children’s interest and support their development.

The Tiger Tots Club syllabus aligns with regular Shotokan Karate Ryu (SKR) junior classes, allowing students to progress directly to these classes as they advance.

Monday

TIGER TOTS

Thorley Community Centre

4:00-4:45pm

 

Thursday

TIGER TOTS

Havers Community Centre

4:15-5pm 

Sunday

TIGER TOTS

Thorley Community Centre

9:45-10:30am

Tiger Tots Karate Builds and Improves

Self-Discipline

Balance

Confidence

Social Skills

Independence

Co-ordination

%

60% of the Junior Black Belt passes within the club started in Tiger Tots, with 50 Shodan (1st Dan Black Belt) graduates to date from the programme and 6 successful Tiger Tots who have subsequently attained Nidan (2nd Dan Black Belt).

More Than Just Karate: SKR’s Hall of Fun Event Creates Lasting Memories

More Than Just Karate: SKR's Hall of Fun Event Creates Lasting MemoriesThe Shotokan Karate Ryu came together for another spectacular social event - our annual Hall of Fun party! This year's celebration, held at the Mountfitchet Romeera Leisure Centre, brought together...

SKR’s Success Story: Young Karate Students Earn Prestigious Shotokan Black Belts

SHOTOKAN KARATE RYU'S SUCCESS STORY  // Young Karate Students Earn Prestigious Black Belts //On Sunday 6th April 2025, Karate-ka from the Shotokan Karate Ryu gathered for a Dan Grade (Black Belt) examination at St John's Church Hall in Stansted Mountfitchet under the...

Tiger Tots to Black Belts – A Remarkable Journey

Tiger Tots to Black Belts //A Remarkable Journey //On a sunny Sunday in June, the Shotokan Karate Ryu club celebrated a remarkable achievement - the 150th black belt pass. This milestone was made even more special as three of the successful candidates, Noah Mason,...

Thing 1 & Thing 2: The Dynamic Karate Twins’ Farewell to School

Thing 1 & Thing 2: The Dynamic Karate Twins' Farewell to SchoolIdentical twins Jack and Ryan have long been a dynamic duo, renowned for their unique spirit and shared passions. One of these shared passions is Shotokan Karate, a discipline they've been studying...

Creativity Meets Karate: Elton’s Amazing Lego Dojo

Creativity Meets Karate: Elton's Amazing Lego DojoIt's not every day that you see a four-year-old with such creativity and attention to detail. Our little karate student, Elton, surprised everyone, including Sensei Donna, when he came to the class with a Lego Karate...

A Roaring Success: The Hall of Fun Party Celebrating Tiger Tot’s 20th Anniversary

A Roaring Success: The Hall of Fun Party Celebrating Tiger Tot’s 20th AnniversaryThe Shotokan Karate Ryu community recently came together to celebrate an outstanding milestone - the 20th anniversary of the Tiger Tot’s programme. Originally brought to life by Sensei...

A Remarkable 99% Pass Rate: SKR’s Kyu Grading Success

A Remarkable 99% Pass Rate:SKR's Kyu Grading Success“The dedication and passion of our students never cease to amaze me. Their performance today was outstanding, and it fills me with pride to see the students grow and develop in their Karate journey.”As featured in...

Bringing Our Mascot to Life: Tiger Tots Christmas Surprise

Bringing Our Mascot to Life: Tiger Tots Christmas Surprise  This festive season, we aimed to make Christmas a little more special for our young students. We know how much they love our mascot, the Tiger, so we decided to bring him right to their screens this...

Kyu Grading at Shotokan Karate Ryu: A Day of Achievement and Progress

Kyu Grading at SKR:A Day of Achievement & Progress“The grading served as a testament to the commitment and diligence of SKR students in their training. The quality of Karate showcased was commendable, and I look forward to witnessing students' progression as they...

Successful Black Belt Grading: A Test of Skill and Determination

October 2023 DAN GRADING //3 successful Shodan passes //On Wednesday 18th October 2023 three Karate-ka from the Shotokan Karate Ryu faced a rigorous black belt grading under the watchful eyes of senior examiners Sensei Michael Ring, Sensei Donna Ring and Sensei John...

Sensei Donna is approachable. She is conversant to the students so they will learn the core values of SKR. Child learned the value of focus and descipline.

W Flaviano

★★★★★

We couldn’t be prouder of Sev who passed his Karate black belt grading. Six years of dedication and training have all paid off.

Alex Fleet

★★★★★

My daughter loves her karate classes at SKR. They have also really supported her through the gradings and competitions – all the teachers are incredibly kind and have really boosted her confidence. Would highly recommend.

Emma

★★★★★

My sons love karate and Sensei Donna is wonderful with them. Karate has helped with building self esteem and confidence, especially for one of my boys. I think this ability to express himself physically has also helped with emotional health and communication skills.

Liz Medcraft

★★★★★

I have trained on and off for many years with different clubs never really advancing. Both of you have inspired and encouraged me to pursue my black belt, and the boys getting theirs on the same night was the icing on the cake.

Chris Seal

★★★★★

I have trained on and off for many years with different clubs never really advancing. Both of you have inspired and encouraged me to pursue my black belt, and the boys getting theirs on the same night was the icing on the cake.

Chris Seal

★★★★★

Fantastic club! My boy and girl started in Tiger Tots and are now brown and orange belt. They love going every week – it is their favourite club! Thank you SKR!

Amela

★★★★★

My son has been attending classes from a young age (now 9). He really enjoys the classes and obtaining the belts. Classes are run extremely well, I would recommend any parent looking for a class to attend

Jo

★★★★★

Sensei Donna is a fantastic teacher. My daughter loves karate and has progressed well. The classes are great for fitness and discipline. I totally recommend SKR.

L Storey

★★★★★

My son Henry has been doing karate with Sensei Donna since he was 4. Tiger Tots was brilliant for his confidence and Sensei Donna is so great with the children. He loves being a Junior now and is always so proud of his achievements at Gradings! SKR is a supportive and well run karate school which builds skills and confidence.

Philippa Mills

★★★★★

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a waiting list?

The class size for Tiger tots is limited, and quite often we operate a waiting list. If you are interested in your child attending this program, please visit the Tiger Tots page to put your child’s name down on the waiting list.

How long are the lessons?

Tiger Tot classes are 45 minutes in duration.

How often are the gradings?

Gradings are held quarterly in March, June September and December.

Where will I find the syllabus?

Tiger Tots are taught the same syllabus as an adult or junior. A red belt in the Tiger Tots syllabus is equivalent to a red belt in the junior or adult syllabus.

How are the lessons structured?

The Tiger Tots syllabus incorporates basic Karate tuition and development games, specifically targeted at this particular age group. The  lessons and activities are varied on a weekly basis. 

Do you teach 3 year olds?

The minimum age for learning a Martial Art in the UK is 4 years. 

Is there a maximum or minimum age?

The minimum age for Tiger Tots is four  years. If your child is younger than this, please get in touch to put their name down on the waiting list. 

We are flexible with our Tiger Tots on their transition to the junior lesson. Whilst some children have the confidence to move to the next level from their fifth birthday, others are more comfortable with the transition closer to their seventh birthday.

What should I wear for my first lesson?

For your first lesson you should wear loose comfortable clothing.  We train in barefoot. Please take into consideration the ambient temperature for the time of year, and ensure your child is dressed accordingly.  We recommend that your child brings a water bottle.