News and Events

Latest News:

JSKA World Championships, August 2008

We have been invited to the JSKA World Championships 2008 by Sensei George Carruthers of JSKAGB.we hope to take some of our members to these prestigious championships.

UPDATE...Second year for the TKGB, new committee, new ideas...UPDATE

From March 2008 a new committee was formed.

The 'New' Executive Committee
In order to promote a spirit of openness and transparency, you may contact the members of the Executive Committee directly via email should your own organisation not be able to help you first. Please bear in mind that the holders of these posts do so on a voluntary and unpaid basis so you may not receive a response immediately. The current members of your Executive Committee are:

Chairman: Kevin Thurlow 6th Dan
Chief Instructor to the English Shotokan-Ryu Karate Kyokai (ESKK), World Traditional Karate Organisation (WTKO) International Instructor, Examiner and Judge and Fellow of the International Shotokan-Ryu Karate-Do Shihankai (ISKS). Kevin has been training since 1977 and teaches/trains in traditional Nakayama style JKA Shotokan Karate within his Dojo in Kent where he lives. In addition to traditional Shotokan, Kevin trains and teaches Okinawan Kobudo using the Nunchaku, Sai and Bo.

To contact him please email chair@tkgb.org

Vice Chairman: Ken Fanner 4th Dan
Chief Instructor of the Southern Counties Shotokan Karate Association, Ken has almost 30 years of experience in Shotokan karate and teaches Shotokan Karate from a traditional perspective. In recent years, he has focused on researching the use of pressure points in Shotokan and his experience of cross-training in other disciplines gives him great insight into this aspect of traditional karate. Ken was one of the original members who came up with the idea of TKGB in disscussions with other senior karate-ka, and still supports the ideal where others have fallen by.

To contact him, please email kfanner@tkgb.org

Secretary: Sheila Thurlow 3rd Dan
Sheila is currently Deputy Chief Instructor to the English Shotokan-Ryu Karate Kyokai and runs her own Dojo in Bexleyheath, Kent, where she lives. Sheila started training at the tender age of 48, along side her son Kevin and passed her Shodan at the age of 53. Sheila, now a 4th Dan, holds and ESKK Instructor C class qualification and D class examiner qualification. Sheila continues to teach and train in traditional JKA style Shotokan Karate as well as training in Kobudo, with Nunchaku as her chosen main weapon.

To contact her, please email sthurlow@tkgb.org

Treasurer/ Membership Registrar: Andy Wilkinson 4th Dan
The founder and Senior instructor of Juurai Martial Arts (JMA), with over fifteen years of training in, and over ten years of teaching, Shotokan Karate. JMA is based in Runcorn, Cheshire and is a progressive family-orientated group that is expanding their knowledge of Shotokan using naha-te based techniques such as those taught by Harry Cook, Julian Mead and Phil Snewin. JMA encompases both Renketsu Karate Club and Ketsui Ryukyu Kobujutsu Club. Renketsu is part of SKG and ESKA under Keith Callaghan. Ketsui is a satellite club of the BRK under Phil Snewin and the RKAGB under Julian Mead.

Andy is enhanced CRB checked, first aid qualified, an ESKA association referee and an ESKA senior instructor

To contact him, please email awilkinson@tkgb.org

Child Protection Officer: to be appointed

Ex-officio Committee Members
PR and Web Officer: to be appointed
Health and Safety/First Aid Adviser: to be appointed
Events and Course Officer: to be appointed

Traditional Karate Great Britain's mission is:
to act as an apolitical, not for profit, nonprescriptive governing body for Okinawan and Japanese traditional styles of karate throughout Great Britain by offering services, based on equal opportunity, and through its representation, promoting and supporting high standards in our art.

Our objective is to encourage nationally recognised standards within traditional karate by facilitating good services for the British karateka, thus empowering and supporting individuals, clubs and association to continually strive for professional standards through safe and competent practice.

We offer the following services to our membership:

- CRB Checks

- Insurance

- Traditional Karate code of conduct

- Health and Safety advise

- Dan Grade Register

- Student / Dojo / Association registration

- Coaching Awards

Traditional Karate Great Britain as an organisation, is run for its members by its members and is open to all traditional groups in the United Kingdom.

So, here is our first banner and we intend to offer the alternative to Karate England for the traditionalist.

To any other organisations, Federations, Associations do you want to be at the forefront of this new beginning?

Well, if so either e-mail or phone me, and I'll give you the information as best I can.

A great day out.......
On a recent course both Sensei Ken Fanner and Sensei Lee Watson trained with Professor Rick Clark 8th dan. The course covered kyusho bunkai (pressure point fighting) and the structure covered for both the beginner and the more advanced student, the course itself ran for 4 hours and was both technical and fun (Professor Rick Clark likes a joke to keep the group relaxed and focused). The two photos below show the group and one of both Sensei Fanner and Sensei Watson with Prof. Rick Clark (We wore black gis for a change and it was the talking point of many of the other students and Prof Clark, the response was 'that's cool, and you do shotokan'). Sensei Fanner has invited Prof Clark to Southampton and/or Bournemouth in 2007, so stay tuned to the courses page and Merry Christmas to you all.

CLUBS ARE WELCOME TO JOIN US - Please contact Sensei Fanner for more details