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Who
We Are... Information about the club and it's instructors
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SKKIF
is a representative association of the Shotokan Karate do
International Federation (SKIF) in Tokyo. With over two
and a half million members in over 100 countries, SKKIF belongs
to one of the world's largest Shotokan karate bodies. The
association is dedicated to following the teachings of Kancho Hirokazu Kanazawa, as it offers a solid grounding in
Shotokan karate, a well thought-out teaching structure that results in high
technical standards, and the ability to utilise techniques in real fight
situations. SKKIF offers a comprehensive training syllabus for this
traditional style in both set and freestyle fighting. |
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Kodokai are an extremely active club. The
club itself has been running since 1998 and joined the SKKIF
organization in June 2002 after leaving Jin Sei Kai. The club is headed by Sensei Kevin
Leigh, 5th Dan. The club trains 3 times a week, with a senior
session every month. A children's class is also run twice a
week by instructors who have undergone rigorous training and all the
necessary police checks. Sensei Leigh believes the secret of the club's success
is by keeping his teaching fresh and organising regular courses -
either with guest instructors or weekends away. The students
obviously agree, as Kodokai Watford currently have approximately 120
members and are growing fast.
Sensei Kanazawa named the club Kodokai in November 2002 after
one of his many on going visits to the club. |
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KODOKAI |
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Sensei
Kevin Leigh 5th dan Sensei's
karate history is long and varied, spanning some 30 years. He started training with ASKA in 1977. Whilst
there, he achieved 2nd Kyu under the tuition of Sensei Malcolm
Phipps and graded by Sensei Blante 4th Dan. Sensei
Leigh joined Jin Sei Kai in 1981 under the tuition of Sensei Paul
Perry 8th Dan. He graded to 1st Dan in 1982 under Kancho
Hirokazu Kanazawa. Jin Sei Kai left SKIF in 1982 and Sensei
Leigh continued training under the direction of Sensei Paul
Perry. He achieved 2nd Dan in 1985, 3rd Dan in 1991 and
4th Dan in 1997. When not teaching karate, Sensei enjoys
swimming, skiing, guitar, photography and squash. Kancho Kanazawa
awarded sensei Leigh his 5th dan at the National sports centre
in Lillishall on 6th November 2005. |
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Sensei
Shaun
McCartan 3rd dan
Began training in karate in 1984, with Jin Sei Kai. He achieved his 1st
Dan under the tuition of Sensei Leigh in 1988, and was awarded 3rd
Dan in 1995. He was also the Jin Sei Kai kumite champion twice. In
his spare time, Mr McCartan enjoys running, cycling and drawing. |
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Sensei
Graham Riley 3rd dan
Graham started his karate training with
the KUGB in 1988. His instructors were Sensei Daniels and
Sensei Lennon. In 1989, he joined Jin Sei Kai. He
achieved his 3rd Dan in 1998 under Sensei Perry. Graham
likes travelling, sailing and cycling. |
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Sensei Bruce
Rice 3rd dan
has now trained for over 19 years, starting his martial arts
career with Jin Sei Kai with whom he graded to 2nd dan in 1999
and 3rd dan in 2003. Mr Rice lists his hobbies as among other
things parachute jumping, gym work, ski-ing and cycling. |
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Fleming
Jetmar 2nd dan
began his training in 1979 in Bornholm,
Denmark and was taught by Sensei Niels tue Petersen 2nd Dan.
Fleming achieved Shodan in June 2001 with Jin Sei Kai and his
2nd dan with sensei Kanazawa in Nov 2004. Fleming is a qualified
stuntman & camera man and has appeared in Eastenders. His
hobbies are ski-ing and travelling. |
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Phillip Suddick 3rd dan
Phil has
been training since he was 5 years old and was member of TISKA for ten years
under the tuition of Sensei Coles and sensei Sahota,
receiving his first dan at the age of 13. Phil enjoys reading,
Japanese anime, Martial arts movies, going to the gym, swimming,
the beach, dancing and skateboarding. Phil graded to 3rd dan in
Japan with Kanazawa in 2006. |
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Adrian
Holt 2nd dan started training in
1993 with the KUGB under Sensei Kevin Healey 4th Dan.
His grading examiner was Sensei Enoeda 9th Dan. In 2001,
he achieved his 1st Dan grading with Jin Sei Kai and his 2nd
dan with sensei Kanazawa in Nov 2004. Mr Holt's other
interests include flying airplanes, scuba diving, ski-ing and
running. |
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Julie
Crawford 2nd dan
Julie has trained since 1995 where she obtained
1st dan within the Jin Sei Kai organisation under Sensei Perry
in 2000 and 2nd dan with sensei Kanazawa in Nov 2004. Julie
joined Kodokai in 2001 and enjoys cycling, skiing, going to the Gym and swimming. |
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Vit Stencel
2nd Dan
Vit
began his training in 1988 in
Czech with sensei Sochatzi 2nd Dan CSKe/WKF. He was a member
of the Czech national team in kumite in 1994/95. Vit achieved
1st Dan in 2000 and then joined Kodokai in 2005 when he came to
England, achieving 2nd Dan with Kancho
Kanazawa in November 05. His hobby is traveling especially
mountain-tours. |
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Bryn Green
2nd dan started
karate with Jin Sei Kai under the tuition of Sensei Leigh in 1998. In 2002, he was awarded with his 1st
Dan and his 2nd dan with sensei Kanazawa in Nov 2004. For leisure activities Mr Green enjoys kart racing, mountain biking
and fishing. |
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Remus Nistorel
2nd dan
began training in Karate in
1990 with sensei Mihai Bernescu 5th dan. In 1992 he also started
training in Kendo with sensei Tsushima 5th dan. Achieved his 1st
dan karate in 1994, under sensei Iorga and 1st dan kendo, with
sensei Kobo and 2nd dan Shotokan with sensei Kanazawa in March
2006. He likes fishing, swimming, reading and music. |
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Ben Pritchard 2nd dan trained briefly in ESKA in 1997
but left through injury. He then joined Sensei Leigh's Dojo in 1999,
achieving Shodan with Sensei Kanazawa in March 2003 and 2nd dan
in March 2006. An integral
part of the under 16's regime at the Berkhamsted club Ben also enjoys
cycling, drawing and Music, he has played Bass guitar in several
bands. |
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Renauldo Gordon 2nd
dan
at 12 joined SKIFTT with sensei Neville Mason 5th dan, obtaining
Shodan in 1997. Representing Trinidad & Tobago at many
International tournaments winning gold in the SKIF pan American
Champions in Venezuela 1996, then awarded Karateka of the year
SKIFTT 1997. Joined Kodokai in 2007 & achieved Nidan in 2007
with sensei Kanazawa. Renauldo enjoys reading, football and
music. |
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Christina Small 1st dan
joined Kodokai in February 2000 and achieved 1st Dan in October
2003 under Sensei Kanazawa. Christina lists as her hobbies as
skiing, keeping fit, running and she works out regularly
in her local Gym. |
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Guy Quint 1st dan
joined Kodokai in 1999 and passed 1st dan with sensei Kanazawa
in 2005. He is an avid runner and regularly partisipates in
marathons around the world. |
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Jacky
Nutkins 1st dan
Jackie began
training with Jin Sei Kai in 1981. Due to
family commitments, Mrs Nutkins took a hiatus, then resumed training in 1997
under Sensei Leigh. She achieved 1st Dan in 2001 grading under Sensei Perry. Her
hobbies include gardening, shiatsu massage and needlecraft. |
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John Church 1st dan was
born in Liverpool. After moving to Watford for
work John joined Kodokai in 1998 and graded to Shodan in 2004
under Kancho Kanazawa. |
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Danny Leigh 1st dan
first started
training under sensei Colin Martin 4th dan in 1998 and graded to
1st Dan with sensei Kanazawa in May 2005. His hobbies are
playing guitar, skiing and cricket.
Danny is also a member of Watford swimming club, he plays
for a local football team and is memeber of Watford water polo
team |
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Jon Colledge
1st dan
joined Kodokai in
February 2001 and has been training under Sensei Kevin Leigh
ever since, achieving his 1st Dan in March 2006 with Kancho
Kanazawa. Jon spends most of his spare time surfing, hill
walking in Wales and looking after his five children. |
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Chris Tyson 1st dan
Chris joined Kodokai in August 2001 and has been
training under Sensei Kevin Leigh ever since, achieving his 1st
Dan in November 2005 at the Lillishall Autumn course with Kancho
Kanazawa. When not training he enjoys swimming, ski-ing, squash
and cycling. |
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William Acquaah 1st dan started Shotokan with
Sensei Mola 4th Dan in 1985. He commenced Shotokan again with SKKIF under
Sensei Steve Hpa in 1995. He was 1st in the 1996 SKKIF
individual Free-Style Championships. Joined Kodokai in 2000 and
went on to attain his 1st Dan in 2005 with Kancho Kanazawa.
Hobbies include music, dancing, painting and Tennis.
William is also a second kyu in Wing Chung. |
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Michael Godding
1st dan began training in 1987 at the YMCA
in Watford but after reaching 3rd kyu took a long break.
Resuming his karate career with sensei Colin Martin in 2000 as a
white belt he then re-graded back to brown in 2004 with Jin Sai
Kai. In 2004 he joined Kodokai and passed his black belt in
Nov 2005 with Kancho Kanazawa. He enjoys
swimming and squash. |
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Przemystaw
Kolczyk 1st dan
Shamek as he is known comes from Poland and first began training in 1989
with sensei J. Skurska 4 dan (AKK/ PZKT). After a few years
then he started training with sensei S. Gubiec 3 dan (AKK).
Przemysław which translates as 'Shamek' includes in his
hobbies: cycling, mountain - tours, reading and music. |
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Anna Cockin
1st dan started
training in
2000 with the KUGB under Sensei Willis 5th
dan. In 2001 joined ESKA under the tuition of Sensei Hitchings 4th
dan. Anna joined Kodokai in 2002 and achieved 1st dan
in March 2006 with Sensei Kanazawa. Anna now owns a
smallholding so when not working spends her spare time
riding her horse and looking after the animals and family. |
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Helen Rickwood
1st dan
Helen joined Kodokai when she was 14 and worked her up to
1st dan passing with sensei Kanazawa in 2006. She is now at
university studying to be an archaeologist and in her spare time
enjoys skiing and the gym. |
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Simone Lurz
1st dan Simone
began her training in Veitshoechheim Germany in 2002, under
Sensei Franz Schreiner. Moving to the UK in 2003 she joined
Kodokai and in November 2007 she graded to Shodan, under Sensei
Kancho Kanazawa. Simone enjoys skiing, exploring the UK and
travelling in Europe. |
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Alex Stewart-White 1st dan Alex
began training in September 2002 with Kodokai and gained 1st Dan
under Kancho Kanazawa in November 2007. Alex enjoys travelling,
spending time with friends, cooking and gardening. |
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