JKA England Executive Committee

As a constituted unincorporated association, the JKA England is a non-profit making organisation whose main objective is the promotion of JKA Shotokan Karate. The JKAE Executive Committee comprise of 8 elected positions and 4 appointed positions and holds annual general meetings available to all club representatives. The Executive Committee is responsible for the day to day running of the association and promotion of JKA Karate in England and Wales.

In addition, there is a separately appointed Technical Committee responsible for gradings, technical aspects and standards of the association.

Sensei Yoshinobu Ohta 7th Dan – Head of Association & Chief Instructor

Our Chief Instructor is Yoshinobu Ohta, 7th Dan. Ohta Sensei is a graduate of Takushoku University and has also attended the famous Instructors Classes at JKA Headquarters in Japan. Takushoku University in Japan has a tremendous reputation as one of Japan’s strongest Karate clubs and the club coach Ishikawa Sensei encouraged Sensei Ohta to continue studying karate. Many of the JKA’s top sensei’s including Masters Nakayama and Enoeda had previously graduated from Takushoku.

After leaving university he decided to continue with Karate at the JKA. Sensei Tsuyama chief instructor of the Takushoku University Karate Club encouraged Sensei Ohta to train at the highly prestigious JKA instructors classes where Sensei Ohta soon found himself training alongside such respected names as Sensei’s Shoji, Asai, Abe, Tanaka, Osaka, Kagawa and Yahara. It was also common practice at this time for Sensei Nakayama to teach and assist during classes.

In 1982, Sensei Ohta was selected by Sensei Enoeda to come to England and become his assistant. From 1982-2003 Ohta Sensei was the assistant to Keinosuke Enoeda, 9th Dan. In the following twenty years Sensei Ohta had build up a reputation as a very popular and technically brilliant senior instructor in his own right. It was during this time he gained an international reputation for being one of the most technically skilled JKA instructors. In 2003, following the death of his mentor Sensei Enoeda, Sensei Ohta was appointed as the chief instructor of JKA England and has built up the association from strength to strength.

In April 2010 Sensei Ohta passed the examination for 7th Dan in front of the JKA's most senior technical committee at the JKA HQ Honbu Dojo in Tokyo.

Sensei Ohta teaches at all national courses and teaches abroad, as well as at his own clubs in Covent Garden and Chelsea.

Tony Cronk 3rd Dan – General Secretary

Tony started karate in 1977 and has trained in Goju-Ryu where he received his first black belt. In addition he studied Thai Boxing and Kickboxing. After a break in which he became a member of the British Triathlon Team he returned to Shotokan, training under Sensei Tomlin and Sensei Ohta.

Tony was graded JKAE Shodan in 2006. In 2008 he obtained his Nidan and was award his 3rd Dan in 2011 by Tanaka Sensei, Osaka Sensei, Sawada Sensei and Ohta Sensei. As well as his duties on the Executive Committee he also runs classes in Blackheath, South East London. Tony actively encourages people to come and talk to him at JKAE events and welcomes suggestions of how we can make the Association better.

Simon Marchant-Jones 2nd Dan - Treasurer

Simon Marchant-Jones first studied karate at Leeds University in 1974; like many new students at that time, he had seen Bruce Lee and had been inspired to start a martial art. Gradings at Leeds were given by Sensei Enoeda so when, in 1976, he moved to London he joined the renowned Marshall Street dojo. Simon was at Marshall Street when Sensei Ohta arrived in 1982, but pressure of work and a young family took priority so Simon took a sabbatical until 1999.

In 1999, aged 45, he re-commenced training and gained his first black belt in 2003 under Sensei Ohta, and passed the second dan in 2006. A Chartered Accountant by profession, Simon teaches at the Harpenden JKA Karate club and also in two After School Clubs in Harpenden. He is a regular at the Oasis dojo as well as JKAE events where his specialisation is stamping licenses.

Regional Representatives

Martin Dobson 3rd Dan – London and the South East

Martin began his karate training in 1975 at Goldsmith College and was initially graded by Sensei Tomita and Sensei Enoeda. Having attended the famous Crystal Palace Spring and Summer Courses and was lucky enough to train with many of the past and present legends of JKA Karate.

In 1988, Martin set up the Balham Club (now South London SKC), which has a large number of long standing students, as well as many younger members and children. Martin is a very familiar face at all the National Courses, and helps with judging and refereeing at the Championship Competitions. On three successive occasions, 2007,2008, and 2009 he completed the Kan Geiko (winter training) Course at JKA HQ, Tokyo.

A Chartered Surveyor by profession (and keen Crystal Palace supporter) he is keen to build the foundations of a strong association.

Martin is also currently responsible for the London and South West Regional Representative position which he was elected in 2010.

Glyn Morgan 5th Dan – South West (inc Wales)

Glyn started karate back in 1974 when he saw a small advert for "learn karate - beginners wanted”, and went along to a small club on the Isle of Portland in Dorset. Gradings back then were held over the weekend for 3 days with Sensei Eneoda, and Sensei Tomita (even taking all his grading with Sensei Eneoda). Even as a white belt, he remembers them as unforgettable experiences and so has continued training ever since.

A keen believer in attending a many courses as possible, he focuses on continually improving his own karate and those of his students in the Purbeck & Wareham club for which he is an instructor. As well as a regular face at courses and a referee at competitions, often giving out medals, Glyn was also a member of the Coastguard Service for 25 years involved in search and rescue and has collected several medals himself for life saving.

Lester Wellington 3rd Dan – Central

Lester started karate back in 1981 at the Budokwai dojo in Chelsea with Sensei Caesar Andrews taking his first few gradings under Sensei Tomita. After a fairly long break due to the pressures of work, it was his son Christopher who persuaded him to restart and not before long, he had gained his Shodan in 1999.

A former Metropolitan Police officer spanning 30 year career, Lester has also taught self defence to other police officers. It had always been Lester’s ambition to run his own club and in 1999 opened Tairyoku SKC and has grown in students ever since then.

A firm supporter of JKAEngland, Lester is a regular feature at JKAE courses and competitions. Lester now has his hands full running his club but still manages to find time to enjoy his family and his favourite pastime of Geocaching.

Mick Lowe 3rd Dan - North

Mick has been practicing shotokan karate since 1974, when he started training at the Newark dojo. Due to Mick’s career he moved about with his job and would train with any martial arts group that was available in the area, but he eventually ended up in Holbeach and, having gained his shodan, was asked to take over the joint running of the Holbeach Karate Club in 2001. He would go once a year to Blackpool to train with a guy called Sensei Ohta. At this time Sensei Ohta was the top person he got to train with and thought this guy rocks!

Having expanded to five clubs, they were asked to go to a training session at Newark by an old friend and trained once again with Sensei Ohta. At the invitation of Sensei Ohta, they decided to join the JKAE having realised that this was the direction they wanted for our own karate and that of their students.

Since joining JKAE, Mick has attended all but two of the national and international courses that have taken place in England, and has also travelled to Scotland, Norway and Sydney to support the JKAE squad.

Officers

Dave Paulus – 4th Dan – Registrar and Licensing Officer

Dave graded to 1st Dan Black Belt in 1992 and it was during this time that he enjoyed success at the many regional and national championships in both Kata and Kumite and decided to open his own club in 1994. After achieving 2nd Dan in 1995 and then 3rd Dan in 1998, Dave became more interested in the more traditional approach to Karate and decided to return to train with Sensei’s Enoeda, Ohta and the other JKA Instructors at the annual Spring and Summer Courses at Crystal Palace.

Dave has been fortunate enough to train under the world’s top instructors, including Sensei’s Sugiura, Enoeda, Mori, Ueki, Tanaka, Osaka, Kanazawa and many more. He has also trained with former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion, Lyoto Machida in Las Vegas. Dave first travelled to Japan in 2000 and has returned every year since to train at the JKA Honbu Dojo.

In 2008, Dave was presented with the ‘Coach of the Year’ award by Sportessex and more recently, Dave and his club, the Yushikai Karate Academy, were recognised above notable venues including the Brentwood Centre and Melbourne Stadium for their contribution to the Development of Sport in Essex.

Nathan Quigley 2nd Dan – Discipline & Complaints and Child Protection Officer

Nathan started his karate training in 1983 with the Ulster Karate Assoc in Nihon Wado with Sensei Gavan Duffy. Nathan saw his first karate class at school aged 13 however his obsession with football delayed his commencing karate training. On returning to London in 1984 he began training at Kilburn and graded as Shodan with Sensei Enoeda and Sensei Ohta in 1989.

Nathan then trained at Marshal until it closed in 2000. Nathan graded as Nidan with Sensei Ohta and Sensei Sawada where Nathan has trained with Sensei Roy Tomlin ever since.

Roger Fabri 2nd Dan – Events Officer

Roger Fabri started training in Shotokan karate in 1985 under Sensei Roy Tomlin, 5th Dan, at the Lewisham Shotokan Karate club. In 1990 he was awarded his 1st Dan. He has attended many courses during this time and trained under both Sensei Enoeda and Sensei Ohta. Roger was awarded his 2nd Dan in 2005.

In September 1999, Roger established the Beckenham Shotokan Karate Club. Roger maintains close ties with local community and has raised money for 'St Christopher's Hospice' and the Dreams Come True charities. Roger has extensive experience is managing competitions and tournaments (notably the JKA W/F European Championships in 2011) and is a regular face at all JKA Events.

Non Executive Committee Member(s)

John Harvie 3rd Dan – Deputy Head of the Association

John first started training at Manchester University in 1992 and obtained his Shodan in 1995. During this time, he competed at a number of events, and was also club treasurer up until 1996 when John left university.

With the intervening years after university a mixture of different clubs within London and having passed the Chartered Accountants professional exams, John joined Roy Tomlin’s Lewisham club in late 2000. Under Roy’s tutelage, John gained his coaching qualifications and during 2004, John also obtained his Nidan with Sensei Aoki and Sensei Ohta. More recently, John also passed his Sandan in August 2008 with Sensei Ueki.

Chair of the Constitutional Working Party which implemented the new JKAE constitution, John is a keen promoter of the JKAE and regular attendee at JKAE courses and events, notably chairing the 2011 JKA-England Europeans Championships Working Party. When not enjoying karate, John is a keen Scuba diver and has dived all over the (warmer parts) of the world.