The Karate Centre

Tokkotai - The Karate Centre (formerly known as Tokkotai Karate Club) was formed in 1978 by Sensei Damien McLaughlin 8th Dan and started out at the Old Boy's Club just off Huddersfield Road opposite St. Paul's School in Stalybridge. In 1979 the club moved to The Copley Centre (originally called Copley Sports Centre) when it was first opened.

In 1995, Sensei McLaughlin retired from teaching and handed Tokkotai over to his most senior student Craig Murphy 7th Dan to run on a full time basis. TKC is one of the oldest established Karate clubs in Tameside and the oldest and the first Karate club in the Stalybridge area.