About Chi Club
A martial arts and energy training club in Qatar, built around real training, inner calm and a safe place to learn at any age.
Chi Club was founded to bring real martial arts and energy training to families in Qatar. Our goal is to offer a wide range of martial arts in one club, so every child and adult can find the art that suits them, and keen students can train in more than one.
Today Chi Club focuses on adults of every age: energy training, Reiki and meditation for calm and awareness, and practical self-defence for real life. Children’s karate continues at our sister club, karate.qa.
We want the dojo to be a safe place to train and experiment, where you can find out what works for your own body and abilities. We train for real life first. Students who train for the street can still compete, but competition training alone does not prepare you to stay safe.
Sensei Najmal Ibrahim
Sensei Najmal has trained in karate since 2001, first in Dubai at the Shito School of Karate, where he was assistant coach, and at JKS Karate, then in Doha at the ICC Karate Club. He founded Chi Club in 2014 and leads it as head coach and chief technical director, with a team of black-belt instructors across our locations. His students have gone on to win national and international championships.
- 6th Dan black belt, World Karate Federation
- Direct member of JKS, the Japan Karate Shoto Federation
- Accredited coach, Qatar Taekwondo, Judo and Karate Federation
- Certified karate referee and judge for kata and kumite
- Shotokan and Shito-ryu karate, taught to the Japanese syllabus
- Tai chi and qigong expert, and certified Systema coach
- Reiki Level 3 practitioner and teacher
- Specialist in self-defence and energy training, with experience in aikido and kalaripayattu
Trained in Japan
Sensei Najmal has travelled to Japan to train in traditional dojos and attend karate events, so what our students learn in Qatar comes from the source.
JKS Shotojuku
Our karate follows the syllabus of JKS, the Japan Karate Shoto Federation. Our dojo name, 松涛塾 (Shotojuku), means “school of Shoto”, after the pen name of Gichin Funakoshi, the founder of Shotokan.
The tiger in our emblem is the traditional symbol of Shotokan karate. The calligraphy beside it, 奈樹真留, is Sensei Najmal’s name, written in his own hand.
The dojo kun
Five precepts recited at the end of class in Shotokan dojos. Every line opens with 一 (hitotsu, “one”), because each precept matters as much as the others.
- 人格完成に努むることSeek perfection of character.
- 誠の道を守ることBe faithful.
- 努力の精神を養うことEndeavour.
- 礼儀を重んずることRespect others.
- 血気の勇を戒むることRefrain from violent behaviour.
Start training with Chi Club
Message us on WhatsApp and join a class this week. No experience needed, at any age.