Chief Instructors
Read about our club chief instructors below
Read about our club chief instructors below
Sensei Julian started karate in 1977 and took his first grade in 1978, training as part of the Shukokai Karate Union, the largest Shukokai group in the UK at the time.
He achieved 1st Dan in 1986 with the SKU, followed by 2nd Dan in 1990 and 3rd Dan in 1996. He opened his own club in 1996, Tameside Karate, which currently has two locations covering the Tameside area of Greater Manchester, England. Sensei Julian remained part of the SKU until 1997 at which point he went independent and joined the Federation of English Karate Organisations (FEKO).
Whilst a member of FEKO, Sensei Julian was graded to 4th Dan in 2000 by Sensei Alf Bygion who was the chief referee for FEKO.
In 1998 he met Shihan, Sensei Fumio Demura, attending his seminar in Germany, with whom he continued to train with unofficially until 2001 when he became an official member of his organisation, Genbukai Shito-Ryu International. Upon joining, Sensei Julian had to do an adjustment grading to align with his group and was graded to 3rd Dan.
Sensei Julian stayed with Genbukai until 2022, in addition to Karate also training in Kobudo (the weapon systems of Okinawan martial arts) and Batto-do (Japanese swordmanship, the way of drawing and cutting with a sword in a single motion). He achieved 6th Dan in Karate, 4th Dan in Kobudo and 3rd Dan in Batto-do.
In 2022, Sensei Julian joined Osita-ha and was graded to 7th Dan. In 2023 he achieved Kyoshi degree (Supreme Instructor), awarded by Sensei Masataka Ohshita M.A.Ed., Soke, Hanshi 10th Dan.
In May 2022 Sensei Julian was appointed to Assistant National Kata Coach for the England Karate Federation (EKF). In October 2022, the national coach resigned and he became the joint Head Kata Coach for the English National Team, a position he is very proud of.
Sensei Phil Mitchell began training in Shitoryu Karate in 1987 in Wilmslow, England, under a sensei called "George Condrom". He found himself progressing very quickly, advancing through belts and in 1996 achieved Shodan Blackbelt.
Phil found this first blackbelt grading very nerve racking as it was held in front of Soke Kenji Kusano, who was a student of Chojiro Tani, and was conducted all in Japananese. As well as achieving Shodan, Phil also received Shidoin `ho` (teacher grade).
Following this grading he had the opportunity to complete further training with Soke Kusano and build his knowledge and techniques before opening his first dojo.
Phil continued to train as part of the WKKA, aligned to Kusano-ha Shito-Ryu, however in 2017 the association in England split and fragmented, following which Phil remained independent.
As part of 'Traditional Karate Club', Phil currently has 4 dojos, in and around the Macclesfield and Congleton areas of England.
In 2019 Phil first met and trained with Sensei Masataka Ohshita M.A.Ed., Soke, Hanshi 10th Dan, and in May 2023 was accepted into the Osita-ha Shitoryu Shukokai Karatedo International association.
Sensei Phil has attained the rank of Godan Blackbelt, Shidoin `A` Kenshi, initially in 2020 awarded by Soke Kenji Kusano, and recently in 2023 awarded by Soke, Hanshi Masataka Ohshita M.A.Ed upon joining Osita-ha.
Sensei Reuben was born on 20th January 1981 in Bangor, Wales. He completed his first grading with a local Shukokai club in June of 1996.
He founded his own club 'Dragon Karate Cymru' in March of 2017 and joined Soke Hanshi Masataka Ohshita’s association in late 2018, with dojos in the Gwynedd and Anglesey areas of north Wales.
Sensei Reuben's Grading History:
6th Dan 28/07/23 by Soke Hanshi Masataka Ohshita, 10th Dan Osita-Ha
Jun Shihan Degree 21/01/21 by Soke Hanshi Masataka Ohshita, 10th Dan Osita-Ha
5th Dan confirmed 17/07/20 5th Dan confirmed by Soke Hanshi Masataka Ohshita, 10th Dan Osita-Ha
5th Dan 20/10/17, Graded by Chiko Mbakwe Chief Referee and Director of Welsh Karate Governing Body (WKF) and Roger Williams British Karate Federation President.
4th Dan 20/10/12 graded by Gareth Edwards (UKASKO).
3rd Dan 11/08/06 Gareth Edwards (UKASKO).
Sensei Reuben achieved 1st Dan (13/05/01) receiving Highest Marks of the day out of 40+ candidates and 2nd Dan (1/06/03) by Roy Stanhope of UKASKO (receiving 2nd highest marks)