In June of 2002 the Whitstable Karate Kai dojo was opened. The school was created by Justine and Phil with the aim of providing a friendly and welcoming dojo for all who wish to study Karate and associated martial arts.
Both Justine and Phil began their Karate training with the Sea Dragon Karate dojo based in Whitstable many moons ago. Both felt it the dojo begun to loose its way. The decision to create the Whitstable Karate Kai a difficult one; but the only way forward.
Justine and Phil were both senior students at the Sea Dragon Karate dojo and assisted with much of the teaching. Phil also run additional classes under the Sea Dragon Karate banner with an associated dojo; this provided much of the experience necessary for running a dojo in the England.
With the decision made the doors were formally opened at the beginning of June 2002.
Yudansha
Over the years we have seen many students come and go, it has been our pleasure to have helped a number of our students obtain yudansha i.e. achieve the level of black belt level; a full list of active and in-active yudansha can be found here.
Kamishin Ryu Karate Do
In September of 2003, Phil attended a Karate seminar hosted at a dojo in Margate, Kent. Phil was unaware at the time how this seminar would impact the direction of his Karate.
The seminar focused on a mudansha kata known as Pinan sonon Yon as taught by Snewin sensei of the Kamaishin Ryu Karate Do Association. The emphasis was on the bunkai oyo of the Kata. This approach really resonated with Phil, so at the end of the seminar Snewin sensei and Phil discussed all things Karate.
Phil was extended an invitation to attend the next Kamishin Ryu instructor seminar in Birmingham; this seminar left Phil realising he was missing much needed guidance to take his Karate forward. So when Snewin sensei extended a further invitation for Phil to become a personal student, this was kindly accepted.
Once Phil had demonstrated he was an able Karate-ka, Snewin sensei gave permission to teach Kamishin Ryu Karate Do.
The Tournament Connection
Justine brought a grace in movement to her kata performance. While training with the Sea Dragon Karate dojo she found a new outlet for her Karate by entering the Karate tournament circuit, focusing on the traditional Japanese kata section.
(For a more detailed account of her competitive career please refer to Justine’s profile in the Whitstable Karate Kai Instructors section of the web site.)
Being placed in the top three in a variety of UK open competitions which resulted in being invited to represent England in World Karate Association (WKA) world Championships on multiple occasions.
Justine’s achievements inspired a number of students at the Sea Dragon Karate dojo to take up the challenge of competing on the competition circuit along side Justine. Of those there were a number of teenage girls, one of which was Justine’s younger sister. Needless to say Justine was a bit of a heroine to these girls who in turn wanted to emulate her achievements.
The results were very respectable with the girls being placed in the top three on many occasions.
Justine also worked hard putting together group creative Kata routines for these girls to perform at the various demonstrations the Sea Dragon karate dojo were invited to take part in. With the combination of Kata and the accompanying musical sound track, these routines would be used to finish the demonstrations giving the spectators a little more than a routine Karate demonstration.
After setting up the Whitstable Karate Kai, Justine’s sister was one of a handful of students who joined the dojo. Through the connection with the World Union of Martial Arts (WUMA), Justine’s sister Danielle took part in the WUMA 2004 European championships and was placed second in the junior Japanese Kata section.This made her eligible for the WUMA world championships in 2006 to be hosted in Malter.
Danielle would no longer be taking part as a junior but would have to move up into the senior category. So it was a very pleasant surprise when she was narrowly beaten into second place by the then three times WUMA world champion.
Goju Ryu Karate
Through Phil’s association with the Dentokan Martial Arts Association from 2005 to 2019, which initially started with his introduction to Iaido (see the Iaido connection below), Phil gained experience with many of the other Martial Arts taught within Dentokan; Goju Ryu was particularly important given the relationship between Goju Ryu and Kamishin Ryu.
Ryu Kyu Kobujutsu
Phil was introduced to Ryu Kyu Kobujutsu by Snewin sensei (who was a senior student of Ryu Kyu Kobujutsu studying under (Julian) Mead Sensei of Ryu Kyu Kobujutsu Association Great Britain).
Over the years Snewin sensei shared some of his knowledge of Kobujutsu with Phil, introducing the Bo/Ko, Sai and Tekko.
(Roy) Hobbs sensei and (Neil) Malpas sensei of the Dentokan were kind enough to share their Kobujutsu knowledge with Phil, allowing him to extend his understanding of Bo/Kon, Eku Bon, Sai, Tonfa, Kama, Nuchuku and Tekko.
The Whitstable Karate Kai runs Kobujutsu sessions which are open to anyone with an interest in the weapons of Okinawa.
Iaido/Battodo
At the beginning of April of 2005 Phil became a member of the University of Kent at the Canterbury’s Iai-jutsu dojo. His aim was to expand his knowledge of the martial arts. Once again, this event was to have a profound impact on Phil’s martial arts studies and continues to do so.
The university dojo was teaching Dento Shoshin Ryu Iai jutsu; which is based on the Toyama Ryu Batto jutsu as taught at the Toyama academy in Japan pre-world war II, for officers in the Japanese armed forces; so is therefore considered a Gendai (Modern) Martial Art.
Toyama Ryu was created by a committee of Koryu Iaido sword masters who originally codified five Kata, which later was extended to consist of the seven Kata that exist today with an additional eighth Kata being added later. These Kata contain the essence of using the Katana or the World War II Gunto.
Through the University dojo Phil was able to received instruction in Zen Nippon Kendo Renmei – Iaido Kata (Seitei Iaido) and Muso jikiden Eishin Ryu Iaido, from a Japanese overseas student.
Phil has continued his Toyama Ryu Iaido/Battodo and Muso Jiki Den Eishin Ryu studies under the guidance of Shimojo sensei, soke of the Dai Nippon Iaido Kyokai based in Kyoto Japan.
The World Union of Martial Arts (WUMA)
Before the Whitstable Karate Kai Dojo could take students, there were many things to consider. One of the priorities was to find an organization to affiliate too, for the purpose of insurance for both students and Instructor public indemnity.
Anyone who has ever read a Martial Arts magazine knows there are many organizations to choose from, with new ones cropping up on a regular basis.
Although the Whitstable Karate Kai does not focus on sport Karate, a decision was made to join the World Union of Martial Arts (WUMA).
The WUMA does not dictate how the member dojos should run. It acts as a facilitator for essential services such as insurance cover, child protection, etc. While bringing a variety of Martial Arts under a collective umbrella.