The Hara Shotokan Karate Academy and it's students find inspiration from many people, in order to develop the academy and individuals.
Take some time to see some of the people who inspire us and our karate.
:: Brian Woods :: Steve Cattle :: Eddie Wolverson :: Geoff Beasley :: Dirk Heene :: Frans Brijon ::
:: Paul Jenkins :: Sadashige Kato :: Taiji Kase :: Hiroshi Shirai :: Andy Statham :: Eric Bortels ::
::Masatoshi Nakayama :: Hirokazu Kanazawa :: Keinosuke Enoeda :: Masao Kawasoe ::
Steve Cattle began his time in the martial arts training Judo in York, at the age of 12, during his time in Judo he gained the rank of 2nd Dan.
In 1962 he began training in Karate at a local club, also in York, under the guidance and instruction of Gordon Thompson, this was also the first karate club to be opened in York.
Steve was awarded his Shodan black belt after 5 years of training, the late master sensei Enoeda (Chief instructor to the Karate Union of Great Britain), was his examiner.
Steve went on to become a member of the British Karate Team in 1966 and continued to compete until 1989.
In 1990 Steve decided to establish his own group, the English Shotokan Academy, he wanted to follow the teachings of another late master sensei, Taiji Kase, this group of karate-ka's are still following his example today.
Steve was a well respected and colourful character, one of the best. His teachings of kata and his unique style of application (Bunkai), made him a very sought after instructor, both here and throughout the world, Steve is sadly missed, but he will never be forgotten to us, he was the 8th wonder of the world.
The members of the Hara Shotokan Karate Academy will always remember his enthusiasm, speed, incredible power and his phenomenal fighting spirit, this can only come from a guy who represented Great Britain for almost 25 years and won titles that only we can dream about.
Basically and plainly put, a LEGEND.
Written by Anna Rose.
Dirk Heene was born in Aalst (Belgium) on January 24th, 1949. Sensei Heene started his Karate training in 1965 and was a member of the Belgian National Karate Team from 1970 until 1980. He graduated in Physical Education at the University of Ghent in June 1972 and is a physical education and budo teacher in the secondary sports school in Hasselt.
He is an advisor and instructor in the Karate Instructor Course, organized by the government. He is a member of the Shihan-kai, of the SRKHIA and the technical director of the BKSA (Belgian Karate-do Shotokan Academy).
Sensei Heene was one of Sensei Kase's senior students and is Technical Advisor to the English Shotokan Academy, visiting the UK regularly to teach.
Frans Brijon was born in Antwerp (Belgium) in 1939 and first started training karate in 1969 with sensei Eddy Coppieters 5th Dan JKA.
In June 1978 Frans setup the Wijnegem Karate Centre (WKC) and over the years both Frans and the Karate Centre have played host to many courses and sensei's including Dirk Heene, Ken Button, Francois van Binst, Steve Cattle, Mario van Roy, Miazaki Sawada and Julian Mead, to name but a few.
Frans is a member of the Shihan-kai, of the SRKHIA and chief instructor and club found of the Wijnegem Karate Club.
Kato Shihan was born on July 22nd 1943 in Kochi, Japan. He attended the world famous Takushoku University in Tokyo and training under Sensei Tsuyama, Kanazawa and Urui.
Sensei Kanazawa's influence was very strong and he won a place on the JKA Instructors Course. Upon completion of the Instructors Course, Kato Shihan went to teach in Germany and in 1966 he was sent by the JKA to the UK.
As Chief Instructor for Europe, Kato Shihan is constantly traveling all over the continent, but such is the demand for his instruction that he is now traveling more outside of Europe and all over the World.
Sensei Taiji Kase was born on the 9th February 1929. He began his karate training in 1944, at this time he already had experience in kendo, aikido and judo, gaining his 2nd dan in judo in that same year. At the age of 15, after meeting with Gichin Funakoshi, Sensei Kase was taken on as a student at the Shotokan dojo. During his time at the Shotokan, Sensei Kase was taught by many different instructors, including Yoshitaka Funakoshi.
In 1946, Sensei Kase gained Shodan (1st dan) in karate-do and then in 1949, Sandan (3rd dan). At this time he was captain of the karate team at Senshu university, were he later graduated in march 1951 with a degree in economic science.
Sensei Kase had always wanted to be a professional Karate teacher, so to achieve this goal he joined the JKA (Japanese Karate Association). In 1964, he left Japan to teach in countries all around the world. These included South Africa, the USA, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and in 1967, France, where he settled permanently in Paris.
In 1986, Sensei Kase decided to close his Paris dojo to resume traveling around the world to teach.
Sadly, Sensei Taiji Kase passed away in Paris on the 24th November 2004, he was an inspiration to all his students around the world and will be greatly missed.
Born in Nagasaki, Japan in 1937, Sensei Hiroshi Shirai is a graduate of Komazawa University in Tokyo where he studied karate under Sensei Hidetaka Nishiyama and he remains affiliated with him to this day. A graduate of the JKA Instructor Program where he came under the influence of Sensei Taiji Kase.
A former instructor with the JKA and a former JKA champion, Sensei Shirai has lived in Italy since 1965 and is currently the head of the Technical Committee of the International Traditional Karate Federation (ITKF) and is joined on this committee by Sensei Masao Kawasoe, 8th Dan, the overall head of the ITKF is Sensei Hidetaka Nishiyama.
Geoff is the English Shotokan Academy's Vice Chairman, Chief Referee and Grading Examiner.
Geoff started karate in 1970 training in Wado Ryu and changed to Shotokan in 1979.
Represented the AKA England squad for three years, gaining many memorable successes in team and individual competitions.
Andy Statham was one of the original members of the 'Scotter Karate Club', which I [Ken Button] was also a member, before being given the honour of becoming it's instructor. Andy had previously trained at the same club as myself in Scunthorpe but only on the odd occasion.
Moving to Scotter after getting married was to change the face of my karate, taking on the club and it's members was not going to be easy, but this young mans attitude and ability would have inspired anyone to teach! I was definitely going to be one lucky man.
Andrew has an amazing depth to his character, especially for one so young, he seemed to absorb everything this novice instructor had to offer and this in turn encouraged me to find out more, his striving for perfection was also my motivation!
Over the years he became well respected among all the local students and certainly was an inspirational figure to his fellow club members, his achievements in local and international tournaments were second to none.
In 1981 he was awarded special Karateka of the day, at the Kodokai International Championships in Crewe by sensei Kato, not bad for a 15 year old lad.
In 1983 the first dan grading's took place at Scotter, Andy was among the candidates, alongside fellow club members, Anthony & Jason Borrell. Both 'Amps' and Andy passed successfully, Jason had to try again, he passed six months later.
In 1984 Andrew's life was to change dramatically, he was moving to live in Horstead Keynes, Sussex. I received a phone call from his sister [Alison], after only a few months, Andy had been killed in a tragic road accident, "My god, what a shock, certainly one of the hardest blows I have ever had to take".
An instructor's job is to teach and prepare students for any scenario, I am still to this day trying my best!
Thanks you Andy, you were and still are one of my main inspirations, god bless you son, rest and watch.
P.S. My son carries your name with pride, also 'Toddy' is still waving his arms and legs about with me, He He.
Written by Ken Button.
Sensei Eric Bortels started karate in 1981 at the age of 15, with sensei’s Dirk Heene and Dimitra Limneos. Eric rapidly reached the conclusion that karate was what he had been searching for and his enthusiasm for karate was particularly great for the training that sensei Dirk Heene carried out.
In 1996 Eric left Sensei Heene’s club, to explore karate further and to set up his own club, building on the knowledge, skills and philosophy taught to him by sensei Heene.
Setting up the new club did not immediately work however, but after the lows must come the highs and eventually a group formed, that shared the vision and objectives of Eric.
Eric continued to follow the direction of Dirk Heene and in turn Sensei Taiji Kase, “Sensei Kase was a man who took karate to another level and did it with such energy”.
Eric continued to follow the teaching of Sensei Kase until his death in 2004, and was proud to grade to 4th Dan under the watchful eye of Sensei Kase.
The vision, experiences and skills learnt over the years have paid off, as Sensei Bortels currently runs the Go No Sen Karate Academy in three locations in Belgium; Sun Courts, Houthalen and Kuringen.
"Eric is a true friend and a great instructor, to think alike is a gift." Ken Button.
Born into a samurai family in Kanazawa, Japan, in 1913 Master Nakayama is known today as the most famous student to have trained directly under Master Gichin Funakoshi.
Instrumental in the founding of the Japanese Karate Association in 1949 Master Nakayama is also best known for the introduction of more scientific ways of training and for the JKA's decision to send JKA instructors overseas to Hawaii and Europe starting in the 1960's in order to spread the art of Shotokan Karate beyond the shores of Japan.
- The author of a great many books on the subject of Shotokan Karate these publications are today still considered as essential reading on the subject for any serious student. Master Nakayama was the Chief Instructor of the JKA from 1955 until his death on April 15, 1987.
- With his passing the world of Shotokan lost one of its few remaining direct links to the Founder, and Father of Shotokan Karate, Sensei Gichin Funakoshi.
Born in Iwate, Japan in 1931, Shihan Hirokazu Kanazawa is one of the best known and most widely respected Shotokan karate Masters in the world today.
Shihan Kanazawa's karate was honed during his time at Takushoku University, after graduating he joined the JKA in 1956 becoming a direct student of Sensei Masatoshi Nakayama, and he became one of the first graduates of the Japan Karate Associations legendary Instructors Training Program.
His victory in the 1957 "All Japan Karate Championships" and subsequent victory in both kata and kumite in the 1958 "All Japan Karate Championship" ultimately led the JKA to send Shihan Kanazawa overseas to Hawaii in 1961.
While there he was to become the first Shotokan sensei to instruct Shihan Kenneth Funakoshi, 9th Dan, Chief Instructor, of the Funakoshi Shotokan Karate Association. Several years later Shihan Kanazawa would move to England to become the Chief Instructor for the Karate Union of Great Britain.
In 1977 in a surprising move Shihan Kanazawa left the JKA and formed his own organization the Shotokan Karate International Federation (SKIF). Shihan Kanazawa is currently ranked 10th Dan and is the only living Shotokan Master to currently hold this rank.
Sensei Enoeda was born in Kyushu, an island in the South of Japan, on July 4th 1935. A strong and natural athlete, he initially took up baseball, kendo, and judo, as did many of his contemporaries - these being the popular sports in Japan at that time. He proved particularly adept at Judo, and by the age of 16 he had reached 2nd Dan. However, as is often the way, fate guided him to a demonstration by two top Karate exponents from the famous Takashoku University. The two Karateka, Sensei's Irea and Okazaki, so impressed him, that there and then, he decided to channel his energy into Karate.
He enrolled at Takashoku University, joined the Karate section, and within two years was the proud holder of Shodan. Another two years found him Club Captain.
One his teachers was the great Master and founder of modern Shotokan Karate, Funakoshi Gichin, whose instruction and advice was a source of inspiration to him.
Sensei Kawasoe was born in 1945 and began his martial arts training in judo and at the age of 15 saw a karate demonstration. This so impressed him he immediately went to find a karate dojo.
One of his first instructors was the famous Sensei Tsuyama, who's home was in the same town, Saga City. Training through his high school years and then going to the famous University of Takushoku, he continued to train with Sensei Tsuyama.
It was during his stay at the university that he first aroused the attention of Sensei Nakayama, the Chief Instructor of the JKA, and soon, Kawasoe was invited to join the infamous full-time Instructors course, which he completed within three years.
Eddie was a giant of a man, with at least size 17 feet!!!
When he tapped you with a kick it was like being slapped with a flipper and his fists were of the same calibre as a howitzer; but this man just had something to offer a young chap who was eager to learn this thing called 'Wado Ryu'.
Sensei Eddie Wolverson was the senior instructor and founder of the Scunthorpe Sieken Karate Club, he started training himself in 1965 at the age of 19, he told me he started because he was bullied when he was younger, seems hard to believe that someone so big could get pushed around, never the less it was his reason for walking into a dojo.
Eddie's first instructor was sensei Bill Fleming, who ran the very first karate club to start in Scunthorpe; there was a local Judo club in the town however sensei Fleming's was the first karate dojo, Bill was a brown belt as there weren't to many black belt's around at the time.
Eddie passed his shodan in 1968 under a panel system headed by sensei Phil Milner (Dinnington), not long after this achievement Eddie started his own dojo. He was joined a year later by sensei Geoff Beasley (now of the English Shotokan Academy). Both Eddie and Geoff ran the club from then on, with a short break (Bloody politics get everywhere), not to long though and they were back together.
Eddie was part of the English squad that was chosen by sensei Suzuki for the European Championships in Amsterdam in 1974, along with with Geoff Beasley; sorry but no idea how they got on, I was only a junior grade at the time and it didn't seem appropriate to ask how they did at the time, I will one day!
Eddie's enthusiasm and his total commitment to training was second to none, his personality was very unique to say the least, a big man with an even bigger voice and an unbelievable sense of humour.
Eddie retired from teaching in the mid eighties due to work commitments and also deciding to migrate to Australia with his family.
I personally have a lot to thank the big man for, as he got me through some very difficult times during my training and I will always be in his debt, he was, and still is a massive influence on my karate.
Thank you Eddie (without you there would be no sensei Ken Button).
P.S. I had a fantastic time in Australia, cheers buddy.
Written by Ken Button.
"It was my first european course, teaching and meeting Paul!
A fantastic buddy and a good translator for a nervous instructor; Woody and Jess will stay in my mind forever". Ken Button
Paul was born in 1956 and was first attracted to karate at the age of 7, when he read about 'The Karate Kid' in american superhero comics; seeing Bruce Lee in 'Enter the Dragon' at the age of 18 inspired him to search for a dojo. "A few months in a newly founded kung fu club was enough to put me off", until Paul became re inspired at the age of 22, at a Sanku Kai club at Reading University; Paul also trained for a short while in Goju Ryu before leaving the UK.
Paul moved to Luxembourg in 1982 and found Pete Taylor's Shotokan Club the following year. "I have had the great pleasure and privilege of training all over europe with many sensei's, from Japan to our own home grown masters."
Paul and sensei Button first met in 1996 at the Wijnegem Karate Centre in Belgium, where he gained the dubious notoriety of having the dirtiest gi in karate history, after Ken literally wiped the floor with him!
"My persistency, if not intelligence, was rewarded when in 1998 I managed to gain my 1st Dan in front of sensei Kase.
Having visited many clubs over the years, I can honestly say how continually refreshing it is to meet and train with a group whose motto remains 'In Friendship We Train', good on ya."