The technical committee and instructors at ABWK have many years experience with karate and this is shown during every training session. They will endeavor to make every session enjoyable, technical and balanced for all levels from beginner to black belt. The are all very friendly and approachable so if you have any questions they are enthusiastic when answering.
Leo McDermott – 7th Dan JKF Wadokai

Leo McDermott – 7th Dan JKF Wadokai

Treasurer, Instructor

Dan grade history

Shodan. 1977 with England Karate Do-Wado-Kai. Walter Seaton Sensei 7th Dan.
Nidan. 1979. EKW. Seaton Sensei.
Sandan. 1982. EKW. Seaton Sensei.
Yondan. 1990. EKW Seaton Sensei.
Godan. 2007. JKF Wado-Kai. (Confirmation Grading) Shingo Ohgami Sensei 8th Dan JKF Wado Kai.
Rokudan. 2014. JKF Wadokai – Tokyo, Japan.
Nanadan. 2019. JKF Wadokai – Hamamatsu, Japan
2nd Kyu Kata Referee Licence JKF 2013.
3rd Kyu Instructor Licence – JKF 2013.
3rd Kyu Examiner Licence – JKF 2014.
2nd Kyu Instructor Licence – JKF 2015. Tokyo, Japan.
2nd Kyu Examiner Licence – JKF 2015.

Graham Chilton – 6th Dan JKF Wadokai

Graham Chilton – 6th Dan JKF Wadokai

President, Instructor

I began training September 1975 with Sensei Walter Seaton, over the years I have trained with many great instructors past and present and I am forever striving to improve.

Dan grade history

1st Dan in 1982 with Sensei Walter Seaton EKW
2nd Dan in 1992 with Sensei Walter Seaton EKW
3rd Dan with the WKF
4th Dan with the WKF
1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th Dan Confirmation Grades with Sensei Shingo Ohgami JKF Sweden
5th Dan with Sensei Shingo Ohgami JKF Sweden
6th Dan with the JKF Wadokai Technical Committee in Hamamatsu, Japan
I have been an Instructor for many years now teaching at various clubs starting with Teesside Polytechnic in 1980. I also had a junior club within Billingham Forum for over 10 years and saw many students obtain their Dan Grades.
I am founder member of the WKF which has now become All Britain Wado Kai.
I have constantly trained for almost 40 years now and I shall continue to do so with dedication, commitment and loyalty to Karate and the A.B.W.K.

John Stephenson – 6th Dan JKF Wadokai

John Stephenson – 6th Dan JKF Wadokai

General Secretary, Instructor

I started my formal training at Billingham Karate Club in September 1979 under Ian Hales and Keith Howard being part of England Karate Do-Wado-Kai under the leadership of Walter Seaton Sensei 7th Dan.

I was privileged enough to be made both a National Coach and Chief Coaching Officer for the EKW and greatly enjoyed these roles over the years.

After receiving an invitation to train with the ABWK at Bannatynes in Ingleby Barwick I found that I greatly enjoyed not only the excellent Wado training and teaching but the friendliness of the students who welcomed me with open arms.

Dan grade history 

1st Dan 1983 with England Karate Do-Wado-Kai. Walter Seaton Sensei 7th Dan.
2nd Dan 1985 with England Karate Do-Wado-Kai. Seaton Sensei
3rd Dan 1989 with England Karate Do-Wado-Kai. Seaton Sensei
4th Dan 1994 with England Karate Do-Wado-Kai. Seaton Sensei
5th Dan 2001 with England Karate Do-Wado-Kai.
6th Dan 2010 with England Karate Do-Wado-Kai.
England Karate Do-Wado-Kai National Coach.
England Karate Do-Wado-Kai Chief Coaching Officer.
1st Dan JKF Wadokai with Tamaki Sonoda 7th Dan.
2nd Dan JKF Wadokai with Koichi Shimura 7th Dan.
3rd Dan JKF Wadokai with ABWK Technical Committee and Hideo Takagi.
4th Dan JKF Wadokai with Hideo Takagi and Tamaki Sonoda.
5th Dan JKF Wadokai with Hideo Takagi and Tamaki Sonoda.
3rd kyu Instructor Licence. JKF 2015, Tokyo, Japan.
2nd kyu Instructor Licence. JKF 2017, Tokyo, Japan.

Gene Buchanan – 5th Dan JKF Wadokai

Gene Buchanan – 5th Dan JKF Wadokai

Chairman, Instructor

Dan grade history

Shodan 1995 WKF
Nidan 1998 WKF
Sandan 2002 WKF
Sandan JKF Wadokai 2007 (Confirmation grade) Shingo Ohgami Sensei.
Yondan JKF Wadokai 2013 Hideho Takagi Sensei.
3rd kyu Instructor Licence. JKF 2017, Gifu, Japan.
Godan JKF Wadokai 2019 Tamaki Sonoda Sensei

Alex Hodgson – 5th Dan JKF Wadokai

Alex Hodgson – 5th Dan JKF Wadokai

Instructor

Alex began his karate journey one Tuesday night in 2000 as a shy young boy. Little did he know that something he started to try and build up his self esteem would become a life long passion.
Over the years Alex has trained with many Japanese instructors in an attempt to improve his technique and also competed at the British National Championships in 2004.
He will mostly be found at the clubs around Ingleby Barwick and his karate journey has come full circle as he now teaches in the very Tuesday night class he started in.

Dan grade history 

Shodan – 2003, Leo McDermott Sensei
Shodan JKF Wadokai – 2007, Shingo Ohgami Sensei
Nidan JKF Wadokai – 2010, Shingo Ohgami Sensei
Sandan JKF Wadokai – 2012, Shingo Ohgami Sensei
Yondan JKF Wadokai – 2015, Hideho Takagi Sensei, Nagoya, Japan
3rd Kyu Instructor Licence – 2015, Nagoya, Japan
Godan JKF Wadokai – 2018, Hideho Takagi Sensei, Tokyo, Japan

John Nixon – 5th Dan JKF Wadokai

John Nixon – 5th Dan JKF Wadokai

Vice Chair, Instructor

Dan Grade History

Shodan 1989 WIKF – Sensei T. Suzuki
Nidan 1992 WIKF – Sensei T. Suzuki
Sandan 2008 WKF – Sensei Leo McDermott
Shodan JKF Wadokai 2012 – Sensei Shingo Ohgami
Nidan JKF Wadokai 2013 – Sensei T. Sonoda
Sandan JKF Wadokai 2014 – ABWK Technical Committee with Sensei H. Takagi
Yondan JKF Wadokai 2016 – ABWK Technical Committee with Sensei T. Sonoda
Godan JKF Wadokai 2019 – ABWK Technical Committee with Sensei T. Sonoda

Lesley Fisher – 5th Dan JKF Wadokai

Lesley Fisher – 5th Dan JKF Wadokai

Instructor, Secretary

Lesley has been training Wado-Kai karate for 32 years. Lesley started training with ABWK at Ingleby Barwick 2 years ago and was that impressed with the Instructors and Students alike, she affiliated with them. Cumbria Wadokai did not want to lose Lesley, so they asked if they could move with her. Since then, CWK have gone from strength to strength with ABWK, attending many of the courses that they organise, which has given them the opportunity to train Wado-Kai with Japanese Masters and Senior ABWK Instructors all over the UK.

Jean Neale – 4th Dan JKF Wadokai

Jean Neale – 4th Dan JKF Wadokai

Instructor, Child Protection Officer

I started my karate life shortly after both my boys and husband started training.
My first major achievement was passing my 1st Dan in 2002, I achieved my 2nd Dan in 2004.
My JKF 2nd Dan confirmation grade was taken in 2007, and my JKF 3rd Dan in 2011 both were taken in Sweden with Sensei Ohgami.
I have attended many courses over the years, training with Japanese instructors.
I train regularly at Bannatynes under the instruction of Sensei Leo and currently run Kaizen Karate Club with my husband Lewis, teaching children and adults.

Pam White – 4th Dan JKF Wadokai

Pam White – 4th Dan JKF Wadokai

Instructor, Licensing Officer

After seeing the benefits and confidence karate brought to my husband and daughter, I decided to join them in the dojo, that was 2001.
Since then I have trained with Japanese Masters and experienced Sensei, meeting karateka from around the world.
In 2004 I was given the opportunity to instruct at my local Junior Club where I am privileged to guide my students on their Wado journey.