World Shotokan Karate-Do Federation England
TOMIKO MITSUOKA – Chief Instructor
8th Dan
Tomiko Mitsuoka was born in Japan in 1948 and started the study of Shotokan Karate (JKA) in 1966 at the age of 18 years.
My initial purpose was to learn self-defense as I was employed in a department store, working long, late hours. I remember that it was not popular for ladies to study martial arts at that time and I found it very difficult to join a dojo…..
GEORGE CHRISTODOULIDES
6th Dan
I was born in Kumasi in Ghana when my family was living in West Africa due to my father’s employment being based there. I started my martial arts training in 1973 when I was 12 years old and living in Nigeria. I was first taught Judo at a local club in the state of Sokoto by a black belt 2nd Dan Englishman who also worked there. This was the Bruce Lee era! His films were a great inspiration! I am proud to say that I was very influenced by this talented and charismatic martial artist! But I wanted to do more than Judo; I was interested in learning Karate!…..
TOM CURTIN
5th Dan
I first started karate in 1970 with Sensei John Van Weenan (BKF), training for four years in Edmonton, North London. I then stopped until I resumed in 1985 in Hayes, West London, with Sensei Kevin Healy (KUGB). I stayed with them until I met Sensei Tomiko Mitsuoka in 1997, and I have been training with her ever since. I have learned so much from her over the years. I still find great joy in both practicing and teaching karate.
ANDY HUNT
4th Dan
Andy took up Karate at the age of 43 at the request of his 7 year old daughter, training at the Ruislip and Hayes Dojos of the KUGB, competing locally and nationally in both Kata and Kumite.
He was awarded 1st Dan by Sensei Keinosuke Enoeda at Crystal Palace in 1998…..
SYED IMAM
4th Dan
Syed Imam started his martial arts journey in 2009 in the Shotokan Karate style and joined the International Shotokan Karate Federation, where he was trained by Sensei Ahcene Moussaoui, 7th Dan, Sensei Xavier Boulanger, and Chairman/Chief Instructor Hiroyoshi Okazaki, 9th Dan.
He was part of ISKE for one year, where he was trained by Sensei Rod Butler, 6th Dan…..
IONUT GRECU
3rd Dan
I started karate in Romania when I was 9 years old. I can still remember my Sensei, Vasile Popa, teaching us spinning techniques after he attended a seminar with Hitoshi Kasuya Sensei. I had the privilege to learn all aspects of karate through perseverance and hard work. I stopped when I was 18 when I started university and had a few attempts to come back, but I didn’t last long…..
JULIAN BINNS
3rd Dan
Julian started his karate journey in the mid-1980s under the popular South London-based karate dojo, Sydenham Hill, which was affiliated with the Karate Union of Great Britain (KUGB) under the late Keinosuke Enoeda Sensei.
After achieving his Shodan in 1987, Julian trained through the mid-1990s, competing in Kumite and Kata competitions nationwide. Due to injuries, he took a sabbatical from his karate training. Upon his return, he was introduced to…..
Bob Bamgboye
7th Dan
I started Karate in 1978 in South London under Thames Karate Association with John Taylor. Upon receiving my 2 kyu in 1980, I joined Enoeda Sensei’s Marshall Street Dojo.
During the 80s, I was also assisting in Don Morrison’s dojo (Sydenham Hill) where we had a formidable kumite team that travelled all over England, competing and collecting several medals. I was quite successful in individual kata…..
DON MORRISON
6th Dan
Sensei Don Morrison sadly passed away on January 23rd, 2021, after a lifetime of karate practice, competition, and teaching. He will be missed by all of his friends in WSKF.
Sensei Don Morrison began studying Ishin Ryu Karate in 1971 (a style formed by Ticki Donovan). After training for a couple of years, Sensei Don then switched to the similar style of karate called Kyokushinkai…..
