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.
2nd Kyu Examiner Licence – JKF 2015. Tokyo, Japan.

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.

I started my karate training in 1998 at my local karate club My local club was part of the England karate-do Wadokai where I achieved the rank of 3rd dan. Not long after taking my 3rd Dan I started to train over at Cumbria Wadokai under the guidance of Sensei Lesley Fisher and Sensei John Stephenson. After training at Cumbria Wadokai for some months, I decided to leave the EKW and join the ABWK to further my learning of traditional Wadokai.

Dan grade history
1st Dan 2004 EKW
2nd Dan EKW
3rd Dan 2015 EKW
1st Dan JKF February 2016 ABWK Technical Committee
2nd Dan JKF September 2016 ABWK Technical Committee and Tamaki Sonoda
3rd Dan JKF November 2018 ABWK Technical Committee                      
4thDan  JKF February 2023 Tokyo,Japan JKF Wadokai Technical Committee  
3rd kyu instructors JKF February 2023 Tokyo,Japan JKF Wadokai Technical Committee    
3rd kyu examiners JKF April 2023Tokyo,Japan JKF Wadokai Technical Committee 

5th Dan JKF September 2023 Switzerland, JKF Wadokai Technical Committee
2nd kyu instructors JKF February 2024 Tokyo,Japan JKF Wadokai Technical Committee

I started my training in Wado in 1983 with the EKW. After an invitation from Leo Sensei to train with ABWK and the JKF, I have had the opportunity to train in traditional Wadokai with many Japanese instructors both here and in Japan. I hope to pass on their instruction to my students in the future.

Dan grade history
Shodan 2005 EKW
Nidan 2007 EKW
Sandan 2012 EKW
Shodan JKF August 2015 -Nagoya, Japan – JKF Technical Committee
Nidan JKF September 2016 – ABWK Technical Committee and Tamaki Sonoda
Sandan JKF November 2018 – ABWK Technical Committee

Yondan JKF February 2023- Tokyo,Japan JKF Wadokai Technical Committee                                                                           

I started training when I was 24, this was in Leicester. The club I joined was part of British Karate Kyokushinkai, I trained with them Until I left the area, a very happy six years.
I turned up at Sensei Leo’s club, I had been searching for a club for my Son, saw how they trained, and the rest, as they say, is history. I took my first Dan some years later.
Continuing under Sensei Leo’s guidance, I passed my 3rd Dan In 2005. Having trained with most of our senior Japanese instructors, I continue to grow and learn, passing this on to our students.

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.