Adult Martial Arts Classes in Basingstoke
Beginner-friendly training to help you get fitter, feel stronger and learn practical skills
Adult Martial Arts for Beginners in Basingstoke
Get Fitter. Feel stronger. Learn something extraordinary.
Whether you want to improve your fitness, reduce stress after work, learn practical self-defence or finally achieve your Black Belt, our adult Martial Arts classes provide a welcoming environment where complete beginners and experienced Martial Artists thrive.
✓ Beginners welcome
✓ Train at your own pace
✓ Professional coaching
You do not need to be fit, flexible or experienced before beginning. Our coaches will help you start at an appropriate level and develop your fitness, confidence and Martial Arts skills progressively.
Choose from our hybrid Karate, Kung Fu and Judo syllabus, Muay Thai, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Ladies-Only Kickboxing or Tai Chi. If you are unsure which programme best suits your goals, we will help you choose the right first class.
Why Adults join our beginners Martial Arts classes in Basingstoke
Adults join Shin Gi Tai for many different reasons. Some want a more interesting way to improve their fitness, while others are looking for practical skills, greater confidence, new friendships or a positive break from the pressures of work and everyday life.
Our full-time Daneshill academy welcomes adults from across Basingstoke and Deane, including Chineham, Popley, Old Basing, Lychpit, Rooksdown, Hatch Warren, Beggarwood, Oakley, Sherborne St John and Tadley.
Many of our adult members join us to:
✓ Get fitter without relying on repetitive gym routines
✓ Learn practical self-defence skills
✓ Reduce stress and improve their wellbeing
✓ Develop greater physical confidence
✓ Meet friendly people with similar interests
✓ Return to Martial Arts after training when they were younger
✓ Work towards recognised grades and Black Belt goals
✓ Take on a rewarding new challenge
✓ Prove that it’s never too late to start something extraordinary
Ready to See if Shin Gi Tai Is Right for you?
Come and experience the confidence building benefits of Martial Arts in a safe, welcoming and beginner friendly environment. There’s absolutely no obligation to join, it’s simply an opportunity to discover whether we’re the right fit for you.
Find the Right Martial Arts Class for You
Every programme offers a different training experience. Whether your goal is fitness, self-defence, confidence, relaxation or working towards Black Belt, we will help you find the right place to begin.
KARATE · KUNG FU · JUDO
Adult Martial Arts
Our hybrid syllabus combines the striking and traditional forms of Karate and Kung Fu with Judo throws, grappling, partner work and practical self-defence.
Try Adult Martial Arts
STRIKING · FITNESS · CONDITIONING
Muay Thai
Dynamic full-body training using punches, kicks, knees and elbows, together with pad work, combinations, defensive movement and conditioning.
Explore Muay Thai
GRAPPLING · CONTROL · TECHNIQUE
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
Learn takedowns, escapes, positional control and submission techniques while developing fitness, composure and practical problem-solving skills.
Explore Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
WOMEN-ONLY TRAINING
Ladies-Only Kickboxing
Supportive and energetic women-only classes developing fitness, strength, striking skills, practical self-defence and greater physical confidence.
Explore Ladies Kickboxing
BALANCE · MOBILITY · WELLBEING
Tai Chi
Gentle, controlled movement that helps improve balance, mobility, coordination, posture, relaxation and mental focus.
Explore Tai Chi
NOT SURE WHERE TO START?
We’ll Help You Choose
Tell us whether your priority is fitness, self-defence, confidence, relaxation or a new challenge and we will recommend the best first class.
Find My ClassGet Fitter and Stronger Through Martial Arts
Many adults want to improve their fitness but find it difficult to stay motivated by repetitive gym routines. Martial Arts gives every exercise a purpose. While developing practical skills, you will also be improving your strength, stamina, mobility and coordination.
Depending on the class you choose, regular training can help you develop:
- Cardiovascular fitness and stamina
- Functional strength and core stability
- Flexibility, balance and mobility
- Coordination, speed and reaction time
- Greater physical confidence
You do not need to be fit before you begin. Our coaches will help you start at an appropriate level and progress gradually as your fitness and technique improve.
If weight loss is one of your goals, regular training can support it when combined with balanced nutrition and sustainable everyday habits. More importantly, you will have an enjoyable reason to keep exercising while learning skills that continue developing long after an ordinary workout would have become rather dull.
Relieve stress and clear your mind
Our lives in today’s society are often busy and pressured juggling family and work. We all need an outlet for our worries and stresses and to act as a timeout for ourselves and to be able to switch off properly.
Martial Arts training can provide this. Just a couple of classes a week can make a significant difference to your mental health. The physical activity will give your brain a clear focus for the duration of the class, you are distracted from emails, phones, deadlines and daily pressures into what you are doing at the moment. The physical activity whilst practicing your skills provides a positive outlet for tension. You will learn how to train with a mind that is free of stress, anger, fear or ego. In Japanese Martial Arts, this is known as Mushin or ‘no-mind.’ You’ll finish the class feeling mentally clearer and more grounded.
Join a friendly Community
Martial Arts may be an individual journey, but you do not have to make that journey alone.
Our members train together, encourage one another and understand what it feels like to be a beginner. Appropriate partner exercises also make it easy to get to know the people around you.
Many members arrive for their first class on their own and soon become part of the group. Over the years, we have seen many friendships begin on the mats and continue outside the Academy.
Although a Martial Arts class isn’t a ‘team’ sport, we are a supportive community where teamwork is encouraged and evident with our members who welcome new joiners into the class. You will also find that working out with a friend will help both of you to progress faster as you help one another with your training.
What our adult members say
Brilliant classes. The instructors are just the best, so friendly, knowledgeable and encouraging. They are also very patient, repeating techniques where needed to help the understanding. We wouldn’t train anywhere else.
Professional Martial Arts facilities in Basingstoke
You will have the advantages of our purpose designed and dedicated professional Martial Arts training centre with a waiting area and café.
Our largest training area covers an area of 18m x 14m and our 1st floor training area is 18m x 7m, which gives us the largest Kwoon (Name for a training facility in Chinese Martial Arts, it can also mean the place for peace and harmony) or Dojo (which means the same in Japanese Martial Arts) in Hampshire. We use specialist Martial Arts flooring to provide a safer and more hygienic environment to training in.
Our Adults Martial Arts Classes in Basingstoke aren’t the kind of class where you’ll march up and down the hall hitting air. You will be able to take advantage of using our full range of equipment in your training. This will help to develop correct skilful techniques, speed and power regardless of whether you are working at long or close range.
Our equipment includes:
Unlike community hall clubs, you’ll train in one of Hampshire’s largest dedicated Martial Arts facilities using professional equipment designed to help you develop safely and effectively.
Our academy includes:
• Specialist Martial Arts flooring
• Heavy bags and striking equipment
• Focus mitts and Thai pads
• Grappling equipment
• Functional fitness equipment
• Comfortable viewing and café area
Our experienced and qualified coaches will help you to develop your skills and knowledge.
Regardless of whether you are a beginner to Martial Arts or an experienced Martial Artist already, you are welcome to train with us.
Can I learn a Martial Art?
Yes. Most of our adult members began with little or no previous Martial Arts experience.
Our coaches will introduce the foundations clearly and help you progress at a pace suitable for your experience, fitness and physical capabilities. Where appropriate, exercises and techniques can be adapted around individual needs.
You will learn not only how to perform each technique, but also why it works. This deeper understanding helps you develop skills that suit your own body and continue progressing over the long term.
Our adult programmes are for ages 18 and over. We provide separate age-appropriate classes for younger students.
Our adult’s beginners Martial Arts classes in Basingstoke are primarily for anyone from the age of 18 years old. (We also offer Children’s Martial Arts classes) The classes teach a wide range of different skills which the participants are able to pragmatically apply to suit their own body rather than having to force their body to do something it’s not physically able to do. Whilst practicing effective and practical Martial Arts skills, we also learn their associated underlying principles and theory. This helps our long-term development as a Martial Artist in order to learn some of the more advanced skills.
Practical self protection and personal safety
Effective self-protection involves considerably more than learning how to punch, kick or grapple.
Our training also develops awareness, confident communication, safer positioning, avoidance and sensible decision-making. These skills can help you recognise potential problems earlier and provide more options for responding safely.
Physical skills are practised progressively and under control. The aim is to develop confidence and capability while hoping you never need to use those skills outside the academy.
We don’t just teach you the physical skills to defend yourself, we also teach you the soft skills necessary for self-protection including how to spot potential danger, developing greater awareness, recognising potential problems earlier and making confident decisions to avoid or manage risk using what’s available to you along with weapons safety. Plus common-sense strategies to keep safe along with an understanding of how your voice and attitude both affect your safety.
We also provide regular specialist ladies only self-defence courses. These provide focused, clear and concise principles for women to follow to help them to stay safe. ‘Prevention is far better than cure’ is certainly true for self defence. Although safety in our area is generally good, self protection in Hampshire is still important, these courses help you to learn the soft skills necessary to look after yourself. Self protection often overlooks emotional and mental self defence whereby we actively consider our own personal health and what we can do to foster it and guard it. Mindfulness is a key part of how we train this and develop our own bodies, knowledge and mind.
Frequently Asked Questions About Adult Martial Arts in Basingstoke
Thinking about starting Martial Arts? Here are answers to some of the questions adults commonly ask before attending their first class at Shin Gi Tai. Looking for more information? Visit our complete Martial Arts FAQs for Basingstoke .
Am I too old to start Martial Arts?
Definitely not. Adults regularly begin Martial Arts in their 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s and beyond. You do not need to have started as a child to make meaningful progress.
Our coaches will help you train at a pace appropriate to your current fitness, mobility and experience. Our Basingstoke Tai Chi classes can be particularly suitable if you are looking for gentler, lower-impact exercise.
Do I need to get fit before I start?
No. Improving your fitness is one of the reasons to begin training.
You will not be expected to perform at the same level as experienced members. Your strength, stamina, flexibility and coordination can improve naturally as you attend classes regularly.
Can complete beginners join?
Absolutely. Most of our members started with little or no previous Martial Arts experience.
Our classes teach the foundations clearly before progressing to more advanced skills. The coaches will explain the techniques, help you work safely and give you time to develop at a pace suitable for you.
You can experience the academy and training by arranging a free Martial Arts taster class .
Which Martial Art is best for me?
The best choice depends on your goals, your preferred style of training and the type of class you are most likely to enjoy consistently.
- Karate and Kung Fu : A broad Martial Arts education combining striking, traditional forms, partner work, practical self-defence and a structured pathway towards Black Belt.
- Muay Thai : Energetic striking training using punches, kicks, knees, elbows, pad work and conditioning.
- Brazilian Jiu Jitsu : Grappling, positional control, takedowns, escapes and submission techniques, with an emphasis on leverage and problem-solving.
- Ladies-Only Kickboxing : Fitness, striking and practical skills taught in a friendly and supportive women-only environment.
- Tai Chi : Lower-impact training focused on controlled movement, posture, balance, relaxation and mental focus.
If you are still unsure, tell us what you would like to achieve and we will recommend the most suitable class.
Which Martial Art is best for fitness?
Muay Thai and Ladies-Only Kickboxing offer energetic striking-based workouts.
Karate and Kung Fu combine technical training, movement, pad work and conditioning, while Brazilian Jiu Jitsu provides a physically demanding grappling workout.
Tai Chi develops balance, posture, coordination and controlled movement at a gentler pace.
The best option is ultimately the class you enjoy enough to attend consistently.
Which Martial Art is best for self-defence?
Our Karate and Kung Fu training provides a broad combination of striking, close-quarter skills, partner work and practical self-protection principles.
Muay Thai develops effective striking and movement, while Brazilian Jiu Jitsu concentrates on grappling, escapes and positional control.
Effective self-protection should also include awareness, avoidance, confident communication and sensible decision-making. You can learn more in our self-protection resources .
Will I have to fight or spar?
No. You will begin with technical exercises, pad work and controlled partner drills.
Depending on the programme, more experienced members may progress to carefully managed sparring or rolling. This is introduced gradually, with the emphasis on developing skill and control rather than trying to hurt or overpower a training partner.
We teach members to work with their training partners, not against them.
Is Martial Arts training safe?
All physical activities involve some risk, but safety is central to the way our classes are taught.
Training is progressive and controlled. Members learn how to practise responsibly, communicate with their partners and work within their experience and physical capabilities.
Our dedicated Basingstoke Martial Arts facilities include specialist Martial Arts flooring and professional training equipment.
I have an old injury. Can I still train?
In many cases, yes. Plenty of adults arrive with an old knee, back, shoulder or other injury that needs to be considered.
Please tell us about any relevant injury or medical condition before your taster class. Our coaches can discuss appropriate adaptations and help you select the most suitable programme.
The Martial Art should fit your body, rather than forcing your body to fit the Martial Art.
If you are uncertain whether exercise is medically suitable for you, please seek advice from an appropriate healthcare professional before participating.
What should I wear to my first class?
Wear comfortable exercise clothing that allows you to move freely, such as a T-shirt with tracksuit bottoms or leggings.
Most of our classes train barefoot on specialist mats. You will not need to purchase a uniform or equipment before attending your free taster class .
Can I attend my first class on my own?
Absolutely. Most new members attend their first class by themselves, although you are welcome to bring a friend if you would feel more comfortable.
You will be introduced to the coaches and paired appropriately during partner exercises. Our members remember what it was like to be new and will help you feel welcome.
How is Martial Arts different from joining a gym?
Martial Arts allows you to improve your fitness while learning practical skills and working towards clear goals. Every class is coached, varied and social, which can make it easier to remain motivated.
You are not simply completing another workout. You are developing an ability, becoming part of a community and learning something that can continue challenging you for years.
It also makes “skipping leg day” considerably more difficult.
How often should I train to get results?
For most adults, training twice a week provides a good balance between progress, recovery and other commitments.
Regular attendance helps you remember what you have learned and steadily improve your fitness, coordination and technique. Your coaches can advise you if you later want to train more frequently.
You can see the available classes on our Basingstoke Martial Arts timetable .
Where are the adult Martial Arts classes held?
All our Basingstoke classes take place at our full-time, professionally equipped Martial Arts academy:
Shin Gi Tai Martial Arts Academy
Unit A, Daneshill Central
Armstrong Road
Basingstoke
Hampshire
RG24 8NU
The academy has a spacious, fully matted training area, professional Martial Arts equipment and a comfortable café and viewing area.
You can find more information and photographs on our Basingstoke Martial Arts facilities page .
Is parking available at the academy?
Yes. Free parking is available at our Daneshill academy and on the surrounding roads, making it convenient to attend daytime and evening classes.
More information about the location is available on our facilities page .
What days and times do the adult classes run?
We provide adult classes on several days throughout the week, including Karate, Kung Fu, Muay Thai, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Ladies-Only Kickboxing and Tai Chi.
As class times can occasionally change, please check our current Basingstoke class timetable for the latest days and times.
Can I try a class before joining?
Yes. You can book a free taster class, meet our coaches and experience the training before deciding whether Shin Gi Tai is right for you.
There is no pressure to join afterwards. The session gives you an opportunity to experience the class, see our Basingstoke academy and ask any questions you may have.
What our members think
Your individual and group approach helps people speak up about their needs without feeling uncomfortable about speaking to the whole group. It helps build confidence and trust in oneself.
Rod
Find out more about Adult Martial Arts in Basingstoke
Whether you have questions about the classes, your needs or whether Martial Arts is the right fit, we’re here to help. Complete the form below and one of our coaches will be in touch