GRAHAM CHUCK
Beginning Wadoryu karate in February 1979 under Yoshi Shinohara and the UKKW in Romford, Essex at the age of 16 Graham took the first step on what was to be a lifelong journey. After training for four and a half years he attained Shodan (1st Dan) and a further six months later left Shinohara Sensei and his association the EKA to join Higashi Karate Kai. Training at a local club under Peter Hall & the late Paul Hurst Sensei, and at the HKK Hombu under chief instructor Peter Spanton, he graded to 2nd, 3rd and 4th Dan, as well as qualifying as an association referee (under Pete Whitney) and EKGB coach- Senior level. Since 1985 he has been teaching on a regular basis, producing many students of a high standard up to 4th Dan, and several successful competitors at various national and local events. He has organised many courses, both Karate & Multi-art, and been invited to teach on numerous occasions both in the UK and abroad, including a multi-art seminar in Portugal in 1996 & two visits to American summer camp for children, in 1984 & 1993.
After much soul-searching he left the HKK in 1996 and founded the Wadoryu Karatedo Kenkyukai in order to teach traditional Wadoryu, the style created by Otsuka Meijin, 10th Dan.
The following year he was invited to become Chief grading examiner for the South Wales Karatedo Wadokai. In 1998 he was awarded 5th Dan.
After moving to the Southwest of England he established a new Dojo in Plymouth in 2002, and affiliated to the Alliance of International Wadoryu (AIWa).
In March 2003 he regraded to 5th Dan under the AIWa panel undertaking a full technical grading. The following year the Wadoryu Karatedo Kenkyukai became a founding member of the Amalgamated Warrior Arts (AWA), a group of like minded Martial artists whose sole aim is to train together and share knowledge of their respective arts. He was also invited to become the Southwest representative for the AWA and also served as their Child Protection Officer.
In May of 2005 he graded to 6th Dan under a joint AIWa and AWA Dan grade panel.
On the 23rd September 2012 he took a technical grading for 7th Dan under Chris Thompson 9th Dan, technical director of the English Karate Federation, this grade is recognized by the European & World Karate Federations alike.
In 1995 he qualified as a fitness instructor (YMCA). He is a Boxercise & Kickboxercise coach and has been a practitioner of Yang style Tai Chi, Ju-jitsu and Bo-jitsu. He has taught self protection & awareness at various schools in Devon & Cornwall, to Scout groups and to adults since 2003.
In over 40 years he has studied under many famous Masters and teachers in Wado and other styles of Karatedo. He has attended courses and trained under the following Wado teachers:
Hironori Otsuka II, Toru Arakawa, Katsumi Hakoishi, Tatsuo Suzuki, Mizuho Ashihara, Kuniaki Sakagami, Toshiaki Maeda, Shingo Ohgami, Shuzo Imai, Fumio Sugasawa, Rob Zwartjes, George Grimes, Tony Heap, John Moreton, Joe Balko, Barry Wilkinson, Willie Vincent, Mick Rapley, Colin Clapperton, Steve Rowe, Mike Sutcliffe & Gwyn Evans.
He has also trained under many varied and well known instructors including:
In Karate: Hirokazu Kanazawa, Koei Nohara, Ticky Donovan, Dominique Valera, Cezar Borkowski, Patrick McCarthy, Chris Thompson, Tetsuhiro Hokama, Masakazu Kinjo, Kinjichi Uezu, Yoshinobu Ohta, Terry O'Neill, Steve Cattle, Terry Pottage, Pete Whitney, Alan Flook, Dave Wheatley, Timmy Francis, Vic Charles, Jeoff Thompson, Roy Jerome, Steve Gul, John Smith, Viv Nash, Chris Rowen, John Richards, Steve Quinn & many others.
In other arts: Mally Holmes, Alan Tattershall, Kevin Pell & Brian Herbert (Ju-jitsu), Dave Rubens & Master Inoue (Aikido), Paul Wheel (Muay Thai), Yoshitaka Gakiya, Craig Finch, K Nohara, M Kinjo, T Hokama, K Uezu, C Borkowski (Kobudo), Neil Garland & Bob Poyton (Tai Chi) & Ron Holt (Kenjutsu/Budo).
His philosophy on Karate: Train hard to understand yourself and others.
After much soul-searching he left the HKK in 1996 and founded the Wadoryu Karatedo Kenkyukai in order to teach traditional Wadoryu, the style created by Otsuka Meijin, 10th Dan.
The following year he was invited to become Chief grading examiner for the South Wales Karatedo Wadokai. In 1998 he was awarded 5th Dan.
After moving to the Southwest of England he established a new Dojo in Plymouth in 2002, and affiliated to the Alliance of International Wadoryu (AIWa).
In March 2003 he regraded to 5th Dan under the AIWa panel undertaking a full technical grading. The following year the Wadoryu Karatedo Kenkyukai became a founding member of the Amalgamated Warrior Arts (AWA), a group of like minded Martial artists whose sole aim is to train together and share knowledge of their respective arts. He was also invited to become the Southwest representative for the AWA and also served as their Child Protection Officer.
In May of 2005 he graded to 6th Dan under a joint AIWa and AWA Dan grade panel.
On the 23rd September 2012 he took a technical grading for 7th Dan under Chris Thompson 9th Dan, technical director of the English Karate Federation, this grade is recognized by the European & World Karate Federations alike.
In 1995 he qualified as a fitness instructor (YMCA). He is a Boxercise & Kickboxercise coach and has been a practitioner of Yang style Tai Chi, Ju-jitsu and Bo-jitsu. He has taught self protection & awareness at various schools in Devon & Cornwall, to Scout groups and to adults since 2003.
In over 40 years he has studied under many famous Masters and teachers in Wado and other styles of Karatedo. He has attended courses and trained under the following Wado teachers:
Hironori Otsuka II, Toru Arakawa, Katsumi Hakoishi, Tatsuo Suzuki, Mizuho Ashihara, Kuniaki Sakagami, Toshiaki Maeda, Shingo Ohgami, Shuzo Imai, Fumio Sugasawa, Rob Zwartjes, George Grimes, Tony Heap, John Moreton, Joe Balko, Barry Wilkinson, Willie Vincent, Mick Rapley, Colin Clapperton, Steve Rowe, Mike Sutcliffe & Gwyn Evans.
He has also trained under many varied and well known instructors including:
In Karate: Hirokazu Kanazawa, Koei Nohara, Ticky Donovan, Dominique Valera, Cezar Borkowski, Patrick McCarthy, Chris Thompson, Tetsuhiro Hokama, Masakazu Kinjo, Kinjichi Uezu, Yoshinobu Ohta, Terry O'Neill, Steve Cattle, Terry Pottage, Pete Whitney, Alan Flook, Dave Wheatley, Timmy Francis, Vic Charles, Jeoff Thompson, Roy Jerome, Steve Gul, John Smith, Viv Nash, Chris Rowen, John Richards, Steve Quinn & many others.
In other arts: Mally Holmes, Alan Tattershall, Kevin Pell & Brian Herbert (Ju-jitsu), Dave Rubens & Master Inoue (Aikido), Paul Wheel (Muay Thai), Yoshitaka Gakiya, Craig Finch, K Nohara, M Kinjo, T Hokama, K Uezu, C Borkowski (Kobudo), Neil Garland & Bob Poyton (Tai Chi) & Ron Holt (Kenjutsu/Budo).
His philosophy on Karate: Train hard to understand yourself and others.
