From Strength to Strength
SESMA Martial Arts has proudly served the Drayton/Taverham community for an incredible 36 years, since 1989!
Back in the day, we held classes in village halls and community centres. Then, in February 2005, we opened our very own SESMA Studio—a professional facility available five days a week.
Our journey began with our first Black Belt graduates in 1997, and since then we’ve trained over 250 Black Belts, including higher-level 2nd, 3rd, 4th degrees, and even our very first Master grade this year.
Our students have shined on the global stage, competing in National, European, and World Championships, and winning gold medals and world titles.
Even though we’ve faced a few bumps—like the challenges brought by Covid—we’re still here, stronger than ever.
At SESMA, it’s not just about kicks and punches; it’s about building a family. We’re committed to helping you achieve your personal best—whether that means boosting your confidence, getting fit, feeling safe, or simply being part of something great.
Here’s to another 36 years of success and community spirit!
Congratulations
Charlie achieved his Jnr black Belt in Kickboxing.
Daisy & Toby earned their Jnr Black Belt in Karate.
Bethany, Megan & Jackson awarded 1st Dan Black Belt in Karate.
🥋🥋 KATA Friday 4th April 🥋🥋
For students that are Yellow belt and above, you would have started learning your new kata.
5pm Yellow & Orange
6pm Green & 2nd Green
7pm Blue & 2nd Blue
8pm Purple & above
School Holiday Events ay SESMA
Monday 7th April 10am – 12noon Bo Staff Kata Workshop £15 BOOK HERE
Tuesday 8th April 9-1pm – Karate Train & Grading (Yell, Org, Grn, 2Grn, Blue Belts) BOOK HERE
Wednesday 9th April 9-12noon – Kickboxing Train & Grading (Yell, Org, Grn, 2Grn, Blue, 2Blue Belts) BOOK HERE
Thursday 10th April Kata Workshops For Times & Booking See Further in Newsletter
Thursday 15th April 9-1pm – Elite Karate Train & Grading (2nd Blue & Purple) BOOK HERE
Bo Staff Kata Workshop
Monday 7th April 10 – 12noon £15 /student
Learn some of the basic moves and tricks with a Bo Staff and put them in to a Kata.
All equipment provided for the workshop.
The session is will be run by 2 of Norwich’s best freestyle weapon kata performers visiting the SESMA Studio to run a weapons kata workshop.
They are amazing and have represented Great Britain at the WTKA World Championships.
Easter Kata Workshops
Easter Kata Workshops
A great session to learn and improve your grading katas
Thursday 10th April £10 per student
Follow the links to book your place
Limited places
9am Yellow, Orange & Green Belts BOOKING LINK
10am 2nd Green, Blue & 2nd Blue Belts BOOKING LINK
11am Purple, Brown & 2nd Brown Belts BOOKING LINK
Train & Grade Days
Karate & Kickboxing Extra Train and Grade
Karate & Kickboxing yellow, Orange, Green, 2nd Green, Blue Belts
Elite Karate Train & Grading (2nd Blue & Purple)
For those who may not have been ready the previous grading and for those who want to get ahead, we are running a special training and grading days which allow people an extra grading. It involves a 4 hour training session, followed by a free grading.
The training session will be run by min of 2 instructors, and will cover all the things that are on the syllabus for the next grade.
This option is only available for a limited amount of students, so it is basically a first come first served situation.
The price is £75 per person
Please bring a drink, snack & lunch as there will be breaks during the day to keep their energy and concentration up. No fizzy drink or sweets.
Attending the 4 hours training does not guarantee that you will pass the grading.
Train & Grade Dates:
Karate Tues 8th April 9-1pm – Train & Grading
Elite Karate Thurs 15th April 9-1pm
Kickboxing Weds 10th April 9-12pm – Train 12pm Grading
Karate Tues 19th August 9-1pm – Train 1pm Grading
Kickboxing Weds 20th August 9-12pm – Train 12pm Grading
Competition Training
Are you interested in Karate or Kickboxing Competitions?
We are looking to restart the Friday Competition Training (CT Squad) classes in May.
The CT classes will be held on the 3rd Friday of the month at the SESMA Studio and one Saturday a month at BBA Bull Close.
There will be additional sessions at other clubs that we are joining forces with.
Competitions can be a little scary at first and we appreciate that it isn’t for everyone.
SESMA have joined forces with 3 other clubs to provide small interclub competitions for the complete comp novice (0-4 comps experience).
The next step after Interclub is Local Regional competitions and National comps.
Then there is the annual WTKA World Championships in Italy for those that want to represent their country.
These competitions are amateur level events and open all styles, with the emphasis on having fun and building confidence.
If you are interested in coming along to the Competition Training Classes, then please send me an email to info@sesma.co.uk with Subject: Competition Training
SESMA Achieves Awards
Congratulations to SESMA for being awarded the Duty of Care badge by UK Coaching and the Three Best Rated for Martial Arts Certificate (4th year running)
Duty or Care – SESMA had to show that they had knowledge & Understanding in 6 set areas: Diversity – Inclusion – Mental Health & Well-being – Physical Well-being – Safeguarding – Safe to Practice.
Three Best Rated – SESMA are put through a rigorous 50 point check from instructors to premises to gain the certificate.
Not Restricted To A Day
Change of circumstances? Child is unwell?
Double booked an appointment?
If you cant make your usual class for any reason, then just come along to a different day or make up the class the following week.
You are not restricted to a set day, and you don’t have to let us know either. Swop and change as much as you like.
Its the advantage of being a member of SESMA and learning at a dedicated full time martial arts studio.
Closed Easter Weekend
The SESMA Studio will be closed Good Friday through to Easter Monday (18th/19th/20th/21st April)
If any of these are your training days, you are welcome to train on another day or make them up over the following weeks.
Parent Offer - 1/2 price membership
Many of you sit and watch your child learn & have fun in the karate classes.
Why not join them on the mat and have fun too.
Many parents have taken that scary first step and have enjoyed so much that they wished they did it sooner.
Martial arts is a great way to bond with your child, learning and having fun together and the bonding doesn’t stop on the mat, it continues at home to.
Plus the added benefit is that your body gets fitter, your mind gets sharper and you are learning to defend yourself.
If you would like to join your child on the mats, speak to reception and we will size you up for a suit and 1/2 price membership, it’s as easy as that.
The hard bit is taking that 1st step.
Taverham Fayre Demo
We have been asked to provide a demo at the Taverham Fayre on Saturday 28th June Time to be confirmed.
If you would like to be part of the demo please let your instructor know.
We would love as many students as possible so that we have an impact.
The demo will be like a large lesson with emphasis on FUN.
We will also be looking for key students to perform in small groups to demonstrate katas or self defence.
NEXT White & Red belt grading
We will be giving out invites to White & Red Belts in May to attend their grading on:
Saturday 31st May 1pm Kickboxing Karate 2pm
On the day of your grading, could you please:
Wear full martial arts outfit inc belt
£25 payment for your White to Red Belt Grading (pay on the day)
£30 for Red to Yellow Belt Grading (pay on the day)
Your grading invite
Refer A Friend
The New “Refer A Friend” T-shirt.
The new design t-shirts are only available to those that refer a friend to SESMA*
These t-shirts can be worn in class, and are a great way to show to all your love of SESMA.
Refer 2 friends and get a Hoodie*
Refer 3 friends and get a 1-2-1 45min lesson.
Share the below link to a friend and we will contact them to book a free lesson.
https://sesma.co.uk/refer-a-friend/
T&C’s below
*Refer a friend t-shirt will be presented to the referrer when the friend has attended a free intro class and then gone on to pay and completed an intro course.
A Refer a Friend Hoodie will be presented when 2 referred friends have attended a free intro class and then gone on to pay and completed an intro course.
Your Family members are not part of the Refer A Friend Offer.
White-Red & Red-Yellow Belt Grading Dates:
31st May, 26th July, 27th Sept, 29th Nov.
Coloured Belt Grading:
Kickboxing: 21st June & 13th December
Karate: 29th June & 14th December
Black Belt Grading Dates:
26th July: Kickboxing 3pm Karate 5pm
6th December: Kickboxing 3pm Karate 5pm
Taverham Fayre & Demo
Saturday 28th June TBC
Paddle Boarding:
3rd August 12-3pm21st
Kata Workshops:
£10/student
9-10am Yellow, Orange & Green
10-11am 2nd Green, Blue & 2nd Blue
11-12pm Purple & Brown
12-1pm 2nd Brown
10th April TBC
28th August TBC
28th October TBC
Comp Training at BBA
Saturday 12th April
Saturday 3rd May
Saturday 7th June
Saturday 5th July
Saturday 2nd August
Saturday 6th September
Saturday 4th October
All sessions take place from 12pm – 2pm.
Kata Fridays:
No Kata Friday in January
4th April, 2nd May, 6th June, 4th July, 1st Aug, 5th Sept, 3rd Oct, 7th Nov, 5th Dec.
WKTA World Championships
30th October – 2nd Nov
Closure Dates 2025:
Easter 18-21 April
May Bank Holidays 5th & 26th May
August Bank Holiday 22nd-25th August
Last Lesson: 20th December