Cowdenbeath Karate Club was founded in 1977 by John Blakely and Tom Hynd.

The clubs first training hall was the former Kirkford Club in Cowdenbeath.  After a short period the club moved to the old scout hall and then to Beath High School in 1980.  It was at this point that 2 new members joined that would be significant to the clubs future, Harry and Gordon Maxwell.

Later Harry Maxwell left to live in Spain and another brother Neil Maxwell joined.
 
In the early 80’s the club started to become successful and joined the Scottish Budokan Association.  During the early 1990’s the club began to compete regularly and achieved notable success on a local and national level mainly due to Gordon and Neil Maxwell.

In 1991 Gordon Maxwell became the first club member to represent his country. He was selected for the Scotland squad for the Europeon Championships in Finland

In 1996 Tom Hynd left the club leaving overall control to the Maxwell brothers.

At this point the Maxwell brothers decided the club needed a new progressive and modern approach and decided to join the Tei Karate Organisation headed by Ross Frame. 

In early 1997 the club moved to the towns lesuire centre.

Towards the end of the 1990’s the club had over 60 members and for the first time introduced separate junior and adult classes. 

In 2002 chief instructor Gordon Maxwell realised a life’s times ambition and moved the club into its’ own building, the old telephone exchange.

Since then through support from the members and the local community the club has steadily improved their facilities in term of equipment ect. 

They remain there to this day doing what they do best, Teaching and Enjoying the art and sport of Karate.