Looking for a Japanese karate instructor in UK

[dani-san]

Hi,

I am Looking for a Japanese karate instructor in UK.

I don't mind the karate style or the location.

Do you know any?

Many thanks!

Dani-san

[Harkon72]

Yes, one of the best, Sensei Kawasoe 8th Dan. He's located in London, he teaches Shotokan Karate as part of the Japan Karate Association. You cannot get any better, that's my opinion.

[Kusotare]

Hi,

I am Looking for a Japanese karate instructor in UK.

I don't mind the karate style or the location.

Do you know any?

Many thanks!

Dani-san

Why Japanese instructor specifically?

By narrowing down your field that way you could miss many brilliant opportunities.

K.

[FullPotentialMA]

I would recommend Iain Abernethy Sensei in Cambria. He teaches traditional martial arts (probably more Okinawan influence than Japanese).

[dani-san]

Yes, one of the best, Sensei Kawasoe 8th Dan. He's located in London, he teaches Shotokan Karate as part of the Japan Karate Association. You cannot get any better, that's my opinion.

Thanks a lot for that Harkon72 this is just what I was looking for!

Do you know where exactly where is he training? I googled a bit and find out that the dojo is in Hammersmith London but I did not find an exact location or name of the club.

Why Japanese instructor specifically?

By narrowing down your field that way you could miss many brilliant opportunities.

K.

I don’t think that by training with a Japanese instructor I will narrowing down my field at all. I think that I will expand it!

What brilliant opportunities are you talking about?

I would recommend Iain Abernethy Sensei in Cambria. He teaches traditional martial arts (probably more Okinawan influence than Japanese).

Thanks FullPotentialMA, I am attending to Ian’s seminars when I have the chance but last time when I checked he was not Japanese. Just by his accent only…

[Kusotare]

Yes,

Why Japanese instructor specifically?

By narrowing down your field that way you could miss many brilliant opportunities.

K.

I don’t think that by training with a Japanese instructor I will narrowing down my field at all. I think that I will expand it!

What brilliant opportunities are you talking about?

The chance to train with instructors who may be able to offer you more than their Japanese counterparts.

Don't automatically assume that being Japanese makes them the best instructors.

Also consider the following:

Is the style the Japnese instructor that you find the best for you? Just because the instructor fits your desires the art may not.

Will the Japnese instructor be able to dedicate as much of his time to you (bearing in mind they can be in high demand seminar wise)?

Are you happy trading off with things like frequency of training and travelling distances/times. These can often cause problems that can derail your training in the long term.

K.

[sensei8]

Yes,

Why Japanese instructor specifically?

By narrowing down your field that way you could miss many brilliant opportunities.

K.

I don’t think that by training with a Japanese instructor I will narrowing down my field at all. I think that I will expand it!

What brilliant opportunities are you talking about?

The chance to train with instructors who may be able to offer you more than their Japanese counterparts.

Don't automatically assume that being Japanese makes them the best instructors.

Also consider the following:

Is the style the Japnese instructor that you find the best for you? Just because the instructor fits your desires the art may not.

Will the Japnese instructor be able to dedicate as much of his time to you (bearing in mind they can be in high demand seminar wise)?

Are you happy trading off with things like frequency of training and travelling distances/times. These can often cause problems that can derail your training in the long term.

K.

Very solid post!!

[DWx]

I agree with Kusotare, you will be somewhat limiting yourself if you are only looking for a Japanese teacher. Being Japanese doesn't automatically mean they will be any good or a good fit for you.

If you don't mind me saying so, saying: "I don't mind the karate style or the location." is a little odd. The UK is still quite a big place with many 100s of Karate teachers. I think maybe you might need some idea of where is feasible for you to train. No good us suggesting a teacher in the outer hebrides if you are living in on the south coats.

[Nabil Kazama]

Yes, one of the best, Sensei Kawasoe 8th Dan. He's located in London, he teaches Shotokan Karate as part of the Japan Karate Association. You cannot get any better, that's my opinion.

Awesome. I would like to train with him sometime.

[mal103]

There are 1000's of instructors in the UK, and they don't have to be Japanese to be good! If its just for the thrill of having an authentic Jap name train you then you are better off looking at who is closer to you and training more often as suggested.

Remember that Karate went to Japan just over 100 years ago from Okinawa to merge in with their existing MA, they then helped spread it to the rest of the world but that doesn't qualify them as the experts, in fact some opinions suggest they stripped out a lot from Karate, changed it and even over-wrote some of the more tradition Okinawan versions.

I have spoken to many people who have been to big Jap name semina's but we're less than impressed by the content.