Members

Here you can find out more about our members and access our members only section.

SENSEI BIOGRAPHIES

Shihan Julia

Julia has been practising since 1983, and is graded to 5th Dan.  She has the very great honour of heading up the School in England - an undertaking which requires her full time commitment.
She has a deep love of karate and is particularly passionate about inspiring and enabling children to become kind, caring, compassionate and responsible young citizens.
Julia has trained in Japan regularly since commencing her practice and has led groups to train/compete in Japan and Finland on numerous occasions.  
Julia loves to read – politics, zen, history and leadership are her particular favourites.  She is also a keen tennis player and really enjoys watching the game as well. 
Her favourite quote is - ‘Adversity is just a form of spiritual weight lifting’- Dan Millman author of ‘The Peaceful Warrior.’    
Above all, Julia is determined to ensure that she supports all of her students in their endeavour by following the teachings of her Sensei – the head of Shorinjiryu Renshinkan Soke Sensei Iwao Tamotsu - whom she admires greatly not only for his outstanding technical knowledge and performance, but also for his spiritual depth which is reflected in his kindness and concern for others at all times.

Sensei Noel

Sensei Noel is a father of two who has been practising since 2001 and is graded to 2nd Dan.  His son has achieved shodan.
Sensei Noel has been teaching since 2005 (Ardingly College) and launched his own dojo in Ditchling in June 2006.  He has practised in Japan and looks forward to returning in 2010.
Noel loves teaching and generating passion and enthusiasm for Shorinjiryu Renshinkan.  He loves performing and perfecting kata and is particularly enthralled with learning intricate technical details of all kata.
Noel is also a keen runner and enjoys watching cricket and supporting his children in all of their endeavours.

Sensei Lance

Sensei Lance has practised since 1995 at the age of 9 and is graded to 2nd Dan.  Karate has formed a massive part of his life giving him a confidence and self awareness that has enabled him to overcome many personal challenges.
Lance started working with Julia Shihan as an Assistant Instructor in 2002 and has been running his own dojo’s in Cottesmore and Summerhill and Tavistock for the last four years.
His motivation for teaching comes almost entirely from his love of seeing youngsters grow and develop as well the challenge to his own skills and understanding that teaching gives him.
Lance is a keen guitar player and also enjoys playing tennis.

Sensei James

With over ten years experience has his Dojo in Cowfold. He has trained in Finland and is enjoys on sparring.

 

 

Sensei Matt

Sensei Matt has been practicing karate since 2003 and is graded to 1st Dan. His shodan grading was taken in Japan.
Sensei Matt opened the London dojo in 2008 and is currently building a class of adult beginners, who are progressing rapidly.
For Matt karate is about working the mind as well as the body and spirit. When practicing and teaching technical aspects of training one’s own gaps in knowledge are constantly being identified, so learning never stops.
Matt is really enjoying watching his students learning and developing their karate and this is tremendously rewarding and keeps him motivated to continue!
When he is not practicing karate is a keen diver and active father of two.

Sensei Gemma

Gemma is a mother of four, who has been practising karate for seven years and is graded to 1st Dan. All her children have practised karate and her son achieved shodan in 2002.
Gemma loves karate which gave her strength of mind and patience at a difficult time in her life. She loves the constant striving for improvement in kata through training mind, body and spirit. She is starting a new dojo in January and looking forward to sharing the things that karate has brought her with new students. Gemma has practised in Japan and looks forward to returning in 2010.
Three of Gemma’s children have left home and she now has the time to do various voluntary activities and silk painting as well as working at the Royal Sussex County Hospital , Brighton .