Instructors

Sensei Natasha

Sensei Natasha Pirogova

Founder & Chief Instructor, Karate Academy Oxford

Natasha began training in karate in Russia in 1994, at the age of 12. More than 30 years later, karate remains a major part of her professional and personal life.

Her approach to teaching karate is shaped as much by her background in education as by her martial arts training. Before moving to the UK, Natasha trained as a primary school teacher and worked in education, martial arts coaching and sports management. She holds degrees in Pedagogy and Methods of Primary Education and Physical Education from Tomsk State Pedagogical University.

Over the years, Natasha has worked with children of different ages and abilities, including children requiring additional educational, behavioural and communication support. Her academic work has also explored the physical, psychological and social effects of karate training on children.

This combination of education and martial arts continues to shape the way she teaches today. Technical ability matters, but karate training is also an opportunity to develop confidence, discipline, communication, independence, self-control and the ability to work with others.

Natasha holds black belts in both Shotokan and Goju-ryu Karate. After beginning her training in Shotokan, she continued her development in Okinawan and Japanese Goju-ryu and currently holds:

1st Dan, Shotokan Karate
1st Dan, International Okinawan Goju-ryu Karate-do Federation
3rd Dan, Goju-ryu Karate Seiwakai
3rd Dan, Japan Karate Federation Goju-kai

She has also trained in Aikido.

In 2020, Natasha founded Karate Academy Oxford, developing it from her own classes into an independent karate school teaching children, teenagers and adults across Oxford.

More than 30 years after her first karate class, Natasha still trains, still learns and still teaches on the mat every week. 🥋