DEVON WADO-RYU KARATE-DO KAI
"Authentic Wado-Ryu Karate-Do in the South West of England"
TRAINING OVER CHRISTMAS
As last year, the Barnstaple Dojo will be running a class organised by Andy Kilby 5th Dan with a little get together afterwards during the festive period on Saturday 28th of December 2024. The class time will be 2.00pm - 3.30pm and is open to all members of all grades and ages with Peter Hill 7th Dan Sensei leading the class.
If you would like to train over Christmas and attend this class, please book in the normal way through this website.
ROLL OF HONOUR
Since 1984 when Devon Wado-Ryu Karate-Do Kai was officially established nearly seventy people have attempted various levels of Dan Grade. The following are honoured having achieved the level shown by the
Wado-Ryu Karate-Do Academy and endorsed by the Wado-Ryu Karate-Do Renmei, Japan.
Achieved the level of:
7th Dan: PETER HILL
6th Dan: MATTHEW SOANES
5th Dan: ANDREW KILBY
4th Dan: DANIEL BEVAN & GARY MOORE
3rd Dan: BILL ALDERSON, CHRIS GRUNDY,
CRAIG HILL, RUSSELL OVEY, ERIC PROLE,
MARK VALLEI & GILLIAN MacKENZIE
13 people have achieved the level of San-Dan or above;
those shown above continue to be members.
Pictures and memories of a young Takamizawa Sensei the founder of our group during his University days in Japan
2nd Dan: CAROL HILL,
late MICHAEL PRYER, JAMES BOLTON,
MARK PREECE, BRYAN SMITH & JOHN McPAKE
Eight people have achieved the level of Ni-Dan,
those shown above continue to be members.
1st Dan: Promoted to Sho-Dan for 2022:
CHRIS STAMP,
MICHELLE DALEY & KIERAN BEER
Thirty four people have achieved the level of Sho-Dan;
eighteen continue to be members.
Honourary Members:
FERNANDO PALLADINO 7th Dan
LEN JAY 6th Dan Renshi
MAURIZIO GIOIA 6th Dan
NORIKO MITSUHASHI 3rd Dan
The founder of Wado-Ryu Karate-Do Hironori Otsuka was born in June 1892 and started to practice Ju-Jitsu from the age of 5 to overcome infirmity and illness. Otsuka studied under Nakayama Sensei and at the age of 29 Otsuka succeeded his teacher and became the 4th Grandmaster of Shinto Yoshin Ryu. In 1921 Otsuka began to study Karate, first with Funakoshi Sensei and then with Sensei Mabuni and Motobu. Otsuka not satisfied further studied Yagyu Shiage Ryu Kenjitsu. In putting together these experiences Otsuka created the basis of “Wado-Ryu”. Otsuka Sensei passed away in 1982, but his wishes and spirit were carried on by his son Jiro who had over forty years of direct daily training from his father. On the death of his father Jiro Otsuka has custom was re-named H.Otsuka II. Sadly H.Otsuka II passed away in 2015, he has been succeeded by his son Kazutaka who has taken the name H.Otsuka III. The Otsuka Soke is represented in Europe by the Wado-Ryu Karate-Do Academy headed by a direct student of the original Grandmaster, the legendary and world renowned M.Shiomitsu 9th Dan Hanshi. The Wado-Ryu Karate-Do Academy is the
only organisation in Europe teaching and practicing the correct authentic techniques, theories, movements, spirit and standards of Wado-Ryu Karate-Do and Wado-Ryu Ju-Jitsu Kempo according to the wishes of the founder and his family.
INSTRUCTORS
The instructors shown below have since our official founding in 1984 made significant and invaluable contributions to our group.
Each one in their own unique way have brought skills and expertise to our group that have helped enormously to where it stands today.
Principle:
late H.OTSUKA II 10th Dan
Ni-Dai Soke
Principle:
H.OTSUKA III
San-Dai Soke
Chief Instructor:
M.SHIOMITSU
9th Dan Hanshi
Founder:
late T.TAKAMIZAWA
7th Dan Kyoshi
Senior Instructor:
PETER HILL 7th Dan
Assistant Instructors
MATTHEW SOANES
6th Dan
ANDY KILBY
5th Dan
Assistant Senior Grades
Daniel Bevan
4th Dan
Gary Moore
4th Dan
Chris Grundy
3rd Dan
Russell Ovey
3rd Dan
Welfare Officer
Gillian MacKenzie
3rd Dan
Squad Coach
Craig Hill
3rd Dan
James Bolton
2nd Dan
Dojo Captain: TORRINGTON
Bryan Smith
2nd Dan
Neil Fordham
1st Dan
John McPake
2nd Dan
Dojo Captain: CREDITON
Mark Vallei
3rd Dan
Sue Greenaway
1st Dan
Mark Preece
2nd Dan
Dojo Captain: BARNSTAPLE
Edmund Denning
1st Dan
late Michael Pryer
2nd Dan
