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Traditional Karate · Est. 1961

Karate in Reservoir Hills, Durban

S.A. Budo Ryu Karate · All Ages, Sizes & Levels Welcome

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Years of Excellence
1961
Year Founded
4
Expert Instructors
ALL
Ages & Levels Welcome

Karate in Reservoir Hills: At a Glance

Dojo
S.A. Budo Ryu Karate
Location
2 Magdelan Avenue, Reservoir Hills, Durban, 4091
Established
1961, over 65 years of continuous instruction
Style
Traditional Japanese karate, Shito-Ryu
Ages
From 4 years old through to adults and seniors
Experience
Complete beginners to advanced black belts
Monthly Fees
R150/month (8 classes). See the full fee list
Free Trial
Yes, first lesson free, no uniform or experience needed
Head Instructor
Kyoshi Roy Soodhoo
Phone & WhatsApp
083 640 6320
Email
rsabudryu@gmail.com
Areas Served
Reservoir Hills, Westville, Pinetown, Queensburgh, New Germany, Cowies Hill, Durban

Karate Programmes

S.A. Budo Ryu Karate runs classes for children, teenagers and adults at our Reservoir Hills dojo in Durban. Every class is graded by ability, so beginners train at their own pace alongside experienced students. There is no fitness test to join and no age limit. All shapes, sizes and abilities are genuinely welcome.

Ages 4–6

Little Dragons

A playful introduction to karate for pre-schoolers and Grade R children. Short, energetic sessions build coordination, balance and the ability to listen and follow instruction. Parents are welcome to watch from the side of the dojo.

Ages 7–12

Kids Karate

Our largest group. Children learn kihon (basics), kata (forms) and controlled sparring while developing focus, confidence and self-discipline that carries into the classroom. A structured belt system gives them a clear goal to work toward each term.

Ages 13–16

Teens

Teenagers train at full intensity with an emphasis on fitness, practical self-defence and self-control. It is a screen-free hour that builds real physical capability and a peer group that pushes them to keep showing up.

Ages 17+

Adult Karate

Full-body conditioning combined with traditional technique and practical self-defence. Adults join us in their twenties through to their sixties, many with no martial arts background at all. Train for fitness, for stress relief, or all the way to black belt.

No Experience

Absolute Beginners

You do not need to be fit, flexible or young to start karate. Beginners are taught the fundamentals separately before joining the main group, so nobody is thrown in at the deep end. Wear comfortable clothes to your first lesson. A gi comes later.

All Ages

Family Training

Parents and children can train in the same dojo on the same evening, which makes lifts simple and keeps the whole family active. Ask us about training as a family when you book your free trial lesson.

Find Us in Reservoir Hills

We train in the Resmount Primary School hall in Reservoir Hills, Durban, and we draw students from across the western suburbs. Westville, Pinetown, Queensburgh, New Germany and Cowies Hill are all a short drive away.

Dojo Address

S.A. Budo Ryu Karate
Resmount Primary School hall, 2 Magdelan Avenue
Reservoir Hills, Durban
KwaZulu-Natal, 4091
South Africa

Phone / WhatsApp: 083 640 6320
Email: rsabudryu@gmail.com
Get directions on Google Maps →

Parking: Park in the Resmount Primary School parking lot, which is right alongside the hall where we train.

Training times at our Reservoir Hills dojo
Class Ages Days Time
Junior Classes 16 and under Monday & Wednesday 4:30pm to 5:30pm
Senior Classes 17+ Monday & Wednesday 5:30pm to 6:30pm

Arrive ten minutes before your first class so we can introduce you to the instructor. Call or WhatsApp 083 640 6320 to confirm times before your first visit, as school holidays occasionally shift the schedule.

Karate Fees

We keep our fees affordable and transparent, with no joining contracts and no hidden costs. Your first lesson is always free.

Monthly fees: S.A. Budo Ryu Karate, Reservoir Hills, Durban
Item Cost Notes
Trial lesson Free No uniform, experience or commitment required
Monthly training fee R150 Covers 8 classes a month
Registration / joining fee R50 Once-off on enrolment
Karate gi (uniform) Ask us Only needed once you decide to continue
Grading fee Ask us Payable only when you choose to grade

All prices shown are as adjusted for 2026. Fees are payable monthly. If cost is a genuine barrier for a committed student, speak to us. We have been part of this community since 1961 and we would rather have you training.

Our Core Values

Solid Citizens

We mold well-rounded members of society who contribute positively to their communities, families, and workplaces.

Humility

True strength lives in the quiet control of one's ego. We teach that humility is the foundation of all greatness.

Respect

We honour higher grades, teachers, families, and peers, building a culture of dignity inside and outside the dojo.

Discipline

Consistent training forges mental and physical resilience. Discipline in the dojo becomes discipline in life.

Fitness

Karate is total-body conditioning. We develop strength, flexibility, speed, and endurance in every class.

Tradition

Rooted in authentic Shito-Ryu Karate, we honour generations of martial wisdom while welcoming all who seek growth.

65 Years of Karate
in KwaZulu-Natal

S.A. Budo Ryu Karate has been teaching traditional Japanese karate in KwaZulu-Natal since 1961, making us one of the longest-running karate schools in Durban. Three generations of local families have trained on our dojo floor, and we still teach the finer art of traditional karate as a discipline that shapes character as much as it shapes the body.


The school is led by Kyoshi Roy Soodhoo, who was honoured to accept the style handed to him by Sensei Frank Van Rensburg. Kyoshi Soodhoo's knowledge spans over six decades of dedicated martial arts practice, and he still oversees instruction at our Reservoir Hills dojo today.

"I represented Natal for eight years. In 1978, I was selected as the Captain for the Indian fighting team and realised I was the first person of colour to be selected to fight the Japanese team."

Kyoshi Roy Soodhoo, Head Instructor

We welcome everyone who wants to pursue fitness and discipline through karate: every age, every size, every level of experience. If you can walk through the door, we can teach you.


Book Your Free Trial →
S.A. Budo Ryu Karate crest, a Durban karate school established in 1961
Since 1961
Meet the Sensei

Our Instructors

Four qualified instructors teach at our Reservoir Hills dojo, led by a head instructor with more than sixty years on the mat. Together the team brings over 100 years of combined formal karate experience, competing and coaching all around the country.

RS

Kyoshi Roy Soodhoo

Head Instructor · Founder
6th Dan

Kyoshi Soodhoo has practised karate for over six decades and received the style directly from Sensei Frank Van Rensburg. He represented Natal for eight years and in 1978 captained the Indian fighting team, the first person of colour selected to fight the Japanese team. He still oversees instruction at the dojo today.

AS

Anil Soodhoo

Instructor
RJ

R.J. Maharaj

Instructor
AN

Anesh Singh

Instructor · Enrolment Contact

Karate in Durban: Your Questions

Everything parents and new students usually ask before their first lesson. Still unsure? Call or WhatsApp 083 640 6320.

How much do karate classes cost in Reservoir Hills, Durban?

Karate classes at S.A. Budo Ryu in Reservoir Hills cost R150 per month (8 classes), and your first trial lesson is completely free. There is no long-term contract. A karate gi (uniform) is only needed once you decide to continue. See our full fee list for registration and grading details.

Where can I learn karate near Reservoir Hills or Westville?

S.A. Budo Ryu Karate trains in Reservoir Hills, Durban, roughly ten minutes from Westville and Pinetown. Our students travel in from Westville, Pinetown, Queensburgh, New Germany and Cowies Hill. The full address and a map are in our location section.

What age can my child start karate?

Children can start karate with us from four years old in our Little Dragons class. Four to six year olds do shorter, play-based sessions focused on coordination and listening skills, then move into the main kids class at around seven. There is no upper age limit at the other end either, and we teach adults into their sixties.

Do I need a uniform or any experience to start?

No, you need neither a uniform nor any previous experience to start karate with us. Wear comfortable clothes and bring water to your first lesson. You only buy a gi once you have decided to carry on, and beginners are taught the basics separately before joining the main group.

Do you offer a free trial lesson?

Yes, your first karate lesson at S.A. Budo Ryu is free with no obligation to join. Call or WhatsApp 083 640 6320 to book a time, arrive ten minutes early, and we will introduce you to the instructor taking your group.

What style of karate do you teach?

We teach traditional Japanese karate, Shito-Ryu, as handed to Kyoshi Roy Soodhoo by Sensei Frank Van Rensburg. Training covers kihon (basics), kata (forms) and kumite (controlled sparring), with a formal coloured-belt grading system.

How long does it take to get a black belt in karate?

Earning a black belt typically takes four to six years of consistent training for a dedicated student. Progress depends on how often you train and how you perform at gradings rather than on time served. We do not sell belts, and every grade at S.A. Budo Ryu has to be earned on the dojo floor.

Is karate safe for young children and for older adults?

Yes, karate is safe when it is properly supervised, and our classes are graded by age and ability precisely for that reason. Sparring is controlled and introduced gradually, never on day one. Older beginners and anyone carrying an injury should mention it to the instructor, who will adapt the drills.

Do you teach adult self-defence?

Yes, practical self-defence is part of our adult and teen karate classes in Reservoir Hills. Alongside traditional technique you will train situational awareness, distance control and effective responses under pressure. Many of our adult students join for self-defence and fitness rather than competition.

What are your class times?

Our Reservoir Hills dojo trains on Monday and Wednesday. Junior classes (16 and under) run 4:30pm to 5:30pm, and Senior classes (17+) run 5:30pm to 6:30pm. The full breakdown is in the training times table. School holidays can shift the schedule, so it is worth a quick WhatsApp to 083 640 6320 before your first visit.

Do I have to compete in tournaments?

No, competing is entirely optional at S.A. Budo Ryu. Students who want to compete are supported and prepared for tournaments, and those who train purely for fitness, discipline or self-defence are equally welcome. Gradings are also taken only when you and your instructor agree you are ready.

I am unfit and have never done a martial art. Can I still join?

Yes, you do not need to be fit, flexible or young to start karate here. Most of our adult beginners arrive with no martial arts background at all, and fitness is something training builds rather than something you need first. Everyone works at their own level in a class graded by ability.

Is karate good for a child who lacks confidence or focus?

Karate is one of the most effective activities for building confidence and focus in children, which is why many parents bring their child to us in the first place. The belt system gives clear, achievable goals, the dojo etiquette teaches respect and self-control, and quieter children gain ground steadily in a structured environment where nobody is singled out.

How do I find the dojo and is there parking?

We train in the hall at Resmount Primary School, 2 Magdelan Avenue, Reservoir Hills, Durban, and you can park in the school parking lot right alongside it. Use the Google Maps directions link in our location section, and call 083 640 6320 if you have any trouble finding us on the night.

Book Your Free Trial Lesson

Come in for a free trial session at our Reservoir Hills dojo. No uniform, no experience, no commitment required. Just show up and experience traditional karate for yourself.

Contact Instructor

Anesh Singh

083 640 6320
Call to Book WhatsApp Us
S.A. Budo Ryu Karate
Resmount Primary School, 2 Magdelan Avenue, Reservoir Hills
Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, 4091, South Africa
Email: rsabudryu@gmail.com
Free trial lesson
All ages, sizes & levels
No experience needed
+27 83 640 6320