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Instructors Annual Awards 2018


MICHAEL TATTERSALL (Black Belt 7th Dan)

Michael started Shukokai karate in 1983 at the age of 10, and obtained his Black Belt at the age of 14. He started his own club at 17, and now runs 3 clubs, teaching almost every day. He joined UKASKO in 1993 and has been a regular member of the UKASKO England Team since 1997.

Michael Tattersall

Michael has competed at all levels in both Kata and Kumite since the age of 10, and still does. A couple of competition highlights have been winning the UKASKO National Championships in 1998 and coming second in the English Karate Governing Body (EKGB) National Championships in 2004.

Michael was awarded his 5th Dan in 2004 at the age of 31 making him one of the youngest Karate-Ka in the country to achieve this. He is also a qualified Dan Grading Officer.

Additionally he has been in the top twenty instructors annual awards list since 1999 and has been appointed the Associations child protection officer. Michael has now been a professional full time instructor since 1998.

Michael can be contacted on Tel: 07904 -240569 / 0113 - 2947098 or via e-mail:
leedspremierkarate@ntlworld.com


RICHARD WELSH (Black Belt)
Richy Welsh

Richard's Martial Arts training began with Lau Gar Kung Fu in my early-teens, for the wrong reasons really…. However, he very quickly realised he had found something he really loved to do and quickly found myself training virtually every day.

He also realised at an early stage that he wanted to train in more than one discipline, and although frowned upon back then, he started cross training in other systems, "It just made sense to me."


He attained Shodan in Freestyle Karate in April 1987 under the watch full eye of, back then, 6th Dan, Roy Stanhope (UKASKO) and in the same year was awarded his 1st Dan in Mugendo Kickboxing.

Prior to that he had attended my first Guro Dan Inosanto seminar in 1986 which affirmed the direction he wanted to take in his Martial Arts career.


Richard started teaching at the age of 18 to a small group and have continued to teach ever since. However, still regard himself, first and foremost a student – always a white belt!

"I’m fortunate enough to still run a small club teaching and studying Combat Submission Wrestling, CSW MMA, STX KickBoxing (Under Sensei Erik Paulson-USA) – Muay Thai, JKD/Jun Fan, Filipino and Indonesian Martial Arts (Under Sifu Marc Mcfann-USA)"


Together with several Instructors and apprentice Instructors at the Auckland Martial Arts Academy, they have produced several World, European and British Junior Champions in both Muay Thai and Kickboxing.

Richy Welsh can be contacted on Tel: 01388 609338 or by email richy@aucklandmartialarts.co.uk

JOHN FARLEY (Black Belt 6th Dan)

John has been training in Martial Arts since 1984, and after attending courses with the likes of Soke Jim Bryson In Shirinitsujujitsu, Bill 'Superfoot' Wallace, and 23 times World Kickboxing Champion Jean-Yves Theriault, John decided that Freestyle was the way to go.

John Farley

As a full time professional instructor since 1984, John decided to join UKASKO because, as well as its policy of non-interference and technical support, he had a completely free hand to design his own syllabus. John now runs a number of clubs in the Aberdeenshire area under the group name of 'JORUKAI'.

As well as Freestyle Karate, he teaches self-defence and impact training, which he describes as a must in today's environment. He specializes in weapons training with the Bo-Staff, Nunchaku and Samurai Sword as his favourites.

John holds a level 2 coaching qualification. and teaches children from 5 years old, with the oldest adult being 58.

John has competed in both Kata and Kumite for a number of years and was runner up in the individual Kumite at the UKASKO Scottish Championships in 2004 and winner of the Weapons Kata in 2006. As far as teaching goes, he is a open minded person and is always looking to please his students by offering them as many different aspects of the Martial Arts as possible.

On a number of occasions, John has been the top instructor in the Association's annual awards and because of his tremendous support for UKASKO, he was more than qualified to be awarded a Dan Grading. Instead he opted to take a technical grading and passed his 6th Dan in 2004, where he excelled with various weapons techniques.

John can be contacted on Tel: 01888 - 562192. Mobile: 07759 - 591689 or by e-mail john@jorukai.freeserve.co.uk


MASOUD SHABESTARI (Black Belt 4th Dan)

Masoud, together with his wife Maryam 4th Dan run Nearu martial art classes in Birmingham UK. He started training in Nearu martial arts 17 years ago and has taught Nearu for almost 11 years.

Masoud Shabestari

Masoud joined UKASKO when he moved to the UK in 2012 to establish Nearu classes in Birmingham UK.

Since he has opened and supported a few other classes around the world such as the Netherlands, Sweden, and Malaysia.

Masoud has been awarded his level 2 coaching qualification from Mr Roy Stanhope in April 2018. He and his wife teach Nearu every day in 3 different venues to children from the age of 3 and adults.
As the couple are both instructors, they hold classes for both adults and kids in the same venue, at the same time, but use different halls for each age group. This gives the opportunity to parents to practise at the same time as their children.


Masoud can be contacted on Tel: 07414-467747 or via email: masoud.shabestari@yahoo.co.uk


GARETH EDWARDS (Black Belt 6th Dan)

Gareth, together with his wife Meriel 3rd Dan run the Zanshin group of Karate clubs in North Wales. Gareth teaches Shukokai Karate and his specialities include impact training (pad work) and one step sparring/self-defence. He is fully bilingual and speaks Welsh as his first language.

Gareth Edwards

Gareth is the Wales' highest graded Shukokai Karate Instructor, he holds a level 2 coaching qualification with UKASKO and is the association's Chief Grading Officer for North Wales.

Gareth has been a member of United Kingdom All Styles Karate Organisation (UKASKO) since 1993 and in this time has taught over 30 students to Black Belt or higher. He has officiated as chief referee for the Welsh National Karate Tournaments before joining UKSAKO.

In his life outside of karate, Gareth runs the official web site for the Royal Town of Caernarfon. He has been a community member governor at the largest primary school in Gwynedd – Ysgol Yr Hendre School since 2004.


Gareth was awarded his 6th Dan from Shihan Roy Stanhope 9th Dan in October 2011.

Gareth can be contacted on Tel: 01286-676166 and via his club website www.ZanshinKarate.co.uk and e-mail: dojo@cofis.co.uk


GARRY LEWIS (Black Belt 6th Dan)

Garry began the art of Shukokai Karate in 1985 at the age of 17 under Sensei Ossie Rowe in the Shukokai Karate Federation.

Garry Lewis

During this time he had the chance to train on numerous occasions with Master Shigeru Kimura and Sensei Eddie Daniels and won the National Championships in Kumite.

He joined the United Kingdom All Styles Karate Organisation in 1990, during which time he has represented the association at both Kata and Kumite.

Garry passed his Black Belt 1st Dan at the national black belt gradings under Shihan Stanhope in 1994 going on to pass his 2nd Dan in 1999, 3rd Dan in 2002 and being awarded his 4th Dan in 2007, 5th Dan in 2012 and being awarded his 6th Dan in 2018.


During his time with UKASKO he has had the privilege of attending various courses including Hanshi Roy Stanhope 9th Dan, Shihan Terry Pottage 8th Dan, Shihan Kunio Miyake 8th Dan, Shihan Phil Meade 8th Dan and Shihan Kevin Barlow 8th Dan.

Garry started Komayaka Karate Club in January 2007, which he now runs with his assistant instructors Mike Wilde 5th Dan and Duwain Chase 3rd Dan.

Garry is also a Level III Coach, Association Dan Grade Examiner and the UKMAF/UKASKO Chief Referee.

Garry can be contacted on Tel: 0161 - 6284170 or e-mail: garry@komayakakarateclub.co.uk
or via his Club Website www.komayakakarateclub.co.uk


MARTIN PETRIE (Black Belt 4th Dan)

Martin from Aberdeenshire started training in Freestyle Karate in 2000 and later with John Farley of Jorukai from 2003 until 2011.

Martin Petrie

He recently took over the chief coaching roll of the Rokra Karate Club resulting in its members enjoying reasonable success at the UKASKO Scottish Championships.

Martin fought on the Scotland UKASKO team 3 years in a row and won the heavyweight Kumite in the UKASKO Scottish championships in 2008.

Martin did a training stint in Kyokushin while on a working holiday in Japan back in 2004 and trained in Brazilian Ju-Jitsu, Judo and Boxing.

Last year he hosted the UKASKO Scottish Championships and was Scottish Coach for the Kumite team.

Martin is well known in the UKASKO Kumite Circuit, having competed in various competitions and been a member of the Scotland Squad three times. He currently holds the position of Scotland Kumite Coach and is regularly hosting training events for fighters keen to test their skills.

Martin can be contacted by e-mail rokra.scotland@gmail.com


STEVE LANGBRIDGE (Black Belt 6th Dan)

Steve started training in 1972 under Master Tatso Suzuki in Wado Ryu at the Judd Street Dojo in London. Sensei Meiji Suzuki took over the running of the club in 1974 and together with Sensei George Canning developed the Mugendo system where Steve continued to train for many years.

Steve Langbridge

In 1978 he joined a small club at his home town of High Wycombe; the Sands Club which taught a style based on Kyokushin. In 1980 Steve also joined a local Wado Ryu club where he trained for 4 years before leaving to join a Shotokan club run by a student of Master Kanazawa.

In 1991 Steve obtained his Black Belt 1st Dan, and shortly after reformed the Sands Karate Club as the Prestwood Karate Club. In November 2008 this was reformed as the South Bucks Karate Academy.

Steve has this unquestionable thirst for knowledge, and because of his open minded policy regarding teaching; he decided to look for a multi-style organisation with a reputation for non-interference. Eventually this search led him to joining the UKASKO, where he continues to train with some of this countries leading instructors.

Steve has also been training for 6 years in American Kenpo where he started again as a white belt.

Awarded his 6th Dan by Roy Stanhope in April 2018 he currently runs clubs at Prestwood, near High Wycombe, and at Newlands School in Maidenhead. www.sbka.co.uk

Steve is also a Level III Coach, Association Dan Grade Examiner and Association Regional Referee.

Steve can be contacted on Tel: 01494 -863949 or via e-mail steve@sbka.co.uk


FRED BATEMAN (Black Belt 6th Dan)

Fred has over 32 years in Karate and is 5th Dan in Anshin Ryu Karate-do.

Julius Manyoni

He also has a vast knowledge of Kobudo with a 4th Dan in Okinawan Kobudo, and 3rd Dan in Matayoshi Kobudo.

His other achievements have been in Kamishin Ryu Karate (1st Dan), Kickboxing (1st Dan) and also train and graded in Aikido, Ninjutsu and Iaido (sword art).


A very experienced Martial Artist who has spent time and graded in Okinawa and Japan under the tutelage of Kaicho Takiashi Kinjo (10th Dan) and Mikio Nishiuchi (7th Dan).

Fred is currently studying Matayoshi Kobudo under Franco Sanguinetti (7thDan) who was a direct student of Sensei Shinpo Matayoshi.


Fred has been with UKAKO since 1992, and has competed with the UKASKO's international squad. He has been a well-respected Kumite and Kata Referee for the English Karate Governing Body (EKGB), as well as a former Chief Referee for UKASKO.


Fred Bateman can be contacted on Tel: 07807 - 827978 and via his e-mail: fred.bateman@ntlworld.com
or via his Club Website www.kodokan.org.uk


JULIUS MANYONI (Black Belt 6th Dan)

Julius Manyoni 6th Dan started Martial Arts training back in 1978 in Lau Gar Kung Fu.

Julius Manyoni

At University of Sussex Julius joined a Wado Ryu Karate class and found his passion for the style. Before graduating he started his own Club at Cox Lane, West Ewell and called it Epsom & Ewell Karate Club after joining UKASKO in 1987 as a brown belt now teaching Freestyle Karate. Later that year he gained his first Dan under Shihan Stanhope and Julius has never looked back.


All his Dan gradings were under Shihan Stanhope, including all his students. Julius was awarded 6th Dan by Shihan Stanhope in 2013, and has won top ten instructors award for several years.



Julius can be contacted on Tel: 0208 - 2968934 and via his website www.epsomandewellkarate.com or via e-mail: julius@epsomandewellkarate.com