YudanshaThe Bristol and Portishead branch of DKK has a number of experienced and committed Yudansha (black belts) who have helped shape it into the supportive club it is today.
Yondan (4th Dan Black Belts) |
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Darren Heywood
Shodan 2010, Nidan 2014, Sandan 2019 Yondan 2024 "DKK has become a important and influential part of my life. Through hard physical training Karate has taught me that whatever challenges we face, both in and out of the dojo, nothing is too difficult or unachievable. It has given me the confidence to face my demons, to overcome fears and continue to push boundaries to achieve my goals and ambitions." |
Rob 'Smiley' Newton
Shodan 2005, Nidan 2008, Sandan 2015
Yondan 2024
"Who would have thought that a timid little lad like me would ever end up with a dan grade in a martial art? Certainly I'd never have seen it coming - and yet, here I am! This is a testament to the adaptability of Goju Ryu as a system, to the supportiveness of Daigaku Karate Kai as an association, and to the skill and patience of Shihan Lewis as an instructor - and not just Shihan Lewis, but all those who gave (and continue to give) help and encouragement along the way."
Shodan 2005, Nidan 2008, Sandan 2015
Yondan 2024
"Who would have thought that a timid little lad like me would ever end up with a dan grade in a martial art? Certainly I'd never have seen it coming - and yet, here I am! This is a testament to the adaptability of Goju Ryu as a system, to the supportiveness of Daigaku Karate Kai as an association, and to the skill and patience of Shihan Lewis as an instructor - and not just Shihan Lewis, but all those who gave (and continue to give) help and encouragement along the way."
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James Dingwall
Shodan 2006, Nidan 2009, Sandan 2018, Yondan 2024 |
Katharine Winstanley
Shodan 2009, Nidan 2012, Sandan 2018
Yondan 2024
"I joined DKK when I moved to Bristol in 2002. The breadth of the system means that there is always something new to learn. However, the core underlying principles are always present."
Shodan 2009, Nidan 2012, Sandan 2018
Yondan 2024
"I joined DKK when I moved to Bristol in 2002. The breadth of the system means that there is always something new to learn. However, the core underlying principles are always present."
Simon Mackown
Shodan 2008, Nidan 2011, Sandan 2019
Yondan 2024
"My first Goju session was at Summer School 2001 and I was hooked from the start. The defining moment was witnessing Mark Salomone and Genevieve Charles complete the 30 man kumite and earn their nidan grade. While at the time I did not believe that I would ever be capable of such an achievement, I decided there and then that Goju was the system for me. Karate has since become an integral part of what defines who I am both physically and mentally."
Shodan 2008, Nidan 2011, Sandan 2019
Yondan 2024
"My first Goju session was at Summer School 2001 and I was hooked from the start. The defining moment was witnessing Mark Salomone and Genevieve Charles complete the 30 man kumite and earn their nidan grade. While at the time I did not believe that I would ever be capable of such an achievement, I decided there and then that Goju was the system for me. Karate has since become an integral part of what defines who I am both physically and mentally."
Rob Curtis
Shodan 2008, Nidan 2014, Sandan 2019
Yondan 2024
"I have found training in Goju to be both empowering and humbling. No matter what you know, there are always fundamentals to work on, always more to learn. This challenge is what keeps Goju fresh for me, it’s a physical, mental, and emotional pursuit. DKK provides a supportive environment with high standards to pursue your own path."
Shodan 2008, Nidan 2014, Sandan 2019
Yondan 2024
"I have found training in Goju to be both empowering and humbling. No matter what you know, there are always fundamentals to work on, always more to learn. This challenge is what keeps Goju fresh for me, it’s a physical, mental, and emotional pursuit. DKK provides a supportive environment with high standards to pursue your own path."
Andy Bremerkamp
Shodan 2010, Nidan 2013, Sandan 2019
Yondan 2024
“Goju Ryu Karate training under Sensei’s Dan and Gavin is awesome! The fighting system is traditional in its core and basics, but is still open to ideas from other martial arts, traditional or modern. It has given me the hardest physical and mental challenges I have faced and continues to make me want to improve and work on my understanding and knowledge.”
Shodan 2010, Nidan 2013, Sandan 2019
Yondan 2024
“Goju Ryu Karate training under Sensei’s Dan and Gavin is awesome! The fighting system is traditional in its core and basics, but is still open to ideas from other martial arts, traditional or modern. It has given me the hardest physical and mental challenges I have faced and continues to make me want to improve and work on my understanding and knowledge.”
Sandan (3rd Dan Black Belt)
Caroline Clark
Shodan 2000, Nidan 2003, Sandan 2013
"Goju-ryu is not a rigid syllabus with a set number of techniques to learn. Instead it's the application of fundamental principals which can't be mastered overnight. Each time you train you realise there is so much more to learn. This is one of the benefits of training with someone as gifted as Sensei Lewis."
Shodan 2000, Nidan 2003, Sandan 2013
"Goju-ryu is not a rigid syllabus with a set number of techniques to learn. Instead it's the application of fundamental principals which can't be mastered overnight. Each time you train you realise there is so much more to learn. This is one of the benefits of training with someone as gifted as Sensei Lewis."
Tim Clark
Shodan 2000, Nidan 2003, Sandan 2013
"For me karate is a very personal and private corner stone in my life, challenging me physically, mentally and at times emotionally. However, it has also enabled me to forge very powerful friendships through shared experiences, for which I am truly grateful."
Shodan 2000, Nidan 2003, Sandan 2013
"For me karate is a very personal and private corner stone in my life, challenging me physically, mentally and at times emotionally. However, it has also enabled me to forge very powerful friendships through shared experiences, for which I am truly grateful."
Dan Solomon
Shodan 2014, Nidan 2016, Sandan 2023
"I never chose Karate, Karate chose me. Okinawan Goju Ryu is a hard and soft style, blending striking and grappling, which for me makes it a practical and real martial art. Each time I go to the Dojo it’s a challenge for me to face my demons and prove my spirit. The hard and the soft have a different meaning to me now, than when I first started. They say that the journey never ends, and once you reach blackbelt that is when you truly start to learn Karate. From whitebelt to blackbelt is a very important journey, it has changed me from a boy into a man."
Shodan 2014, Nidan 2016, Sandan 2023
"I never chose Karate, Karate chose me. Okinawan Goju Ryu is a hard and soft style, blending striking and grappling, which for me makes it a practical and real martial art. Each time I go to the Dojo it’s a challenge for me to face my demons and prove my spirit. The hard and the soft have a different meaning to me now, than when I first started. They say that the journey never ends, and once you reach blackbelt that is when you truly start to learn Karate. From whitebelt to blackbelt is a very important journey, it has changed me from a boy into a man."
Danny Williams
Shodan 2014, Nidan 2018 Sandan 2023
“The belt around my waist, and the certificate hanging on my wall represent to me, the shining highlight of a lifetime of physical pursuits, where, on the day I was tested in June 2014, every lesson of my 40 years of a life in sport came together for a successful melding of body, mind and spirit, and gave me a feeling like never before!”
Nidan (2nd Dan Black Belt)
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Lawrence Long
Shodan 2012, Nidan 2019 
Olly Cross
Shodan 2016, Nidan 2021 "Goju has helped me all areas of my life and I am physically and mentally stronger for training in it. Through overcoming challenges present in the dojo I have developed both a sense of discipline and a sense of perspective that I carry with me in my daily life." 
Hannah Shapter
Shodan 2016, Nidan 2022 
Maisie Vining
Shodan 2018, Nidan 2022 
Katie Killick
Shodan 2017, Nidan 2022 
JV Chamary
Shodan 2019, Nidan 2022 Sarah Lovegrove
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Chris Taylor
Shodan 2016, Nidan 2019 |
Elin Haug
Shodan 2007, Nidan 2014 "When I started training all those years ago, I never imagined what a big part of my life karate would be, and how much influence it has had on the commitments I have made and choices I have taken, and still do. Although not training regularly with the club any more, I still feel a part of DKK, and treasure every moment when I get to train in such an inspiring environment." |
Shodan (1st Dan Black Belt)
Mike Parsons
Shodan 2016
Shodan 2016
Marjukka Sutton
Shodan 2018
"On my grading 18/6/2018 for Shodan by the end of around 4 hours testing we did sparring endless rounds against DKK fighters to the point I was crying in the corner and after that I almost had a like a spiritual awakening and felt my inner spirit was a lion and I came back stronger and by the end I didn't care as it was a question of life and death. Being part of DKK journey has been most amazing experience in my life and really looking forward for the next round...and over all it has made me grow more in my body mind and spirit more wholesome as a person and given me a strength to grow spiritually"
Shodan 2018
"On my grading 18/6/2018 for Shodan by the end of around 4 hours testing we did sparring endless rounds against DKK fighters to the point I was crying in the corner and after that I almost had a like a spiritual awakening and felt my inner spirit was a lion and I came back stronger and by the end I didn't care as it was a question of life and death. Being part of DKK journey has been most amazing experience in my life and really looking forward for the next round...and over all it has made me grow more in my body mind and spirit more wholesome as a person and given me a strength to grow spiritually"
Terry Meehan
Shodan 2018
Shodan 2018
Yudansha Alumni
Bristol Yudansha currently living, working and training elsewhere in the world.
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Matt Savigear Elin Haug Paul Hill Muataz Al-Barwani Ben Sturgeon Torbjoern Roenning Nick Coleman Elin Haug Tom Garner Gina Reinge Mike Jenkins Toby Nicols Luke Gamble Nick Hughes Steve Redman Kayvan Shokrullahi Georgia Pashias Priya Suktankhar Jules Wallace Mizuki Murai |
Sandan 2023 Nidan 2014 Shodan 1998 Shodan 2000 Shodan 2004 Shodan 2005 Shodan 2007 Shodan 2007 Shodan 2009 Shodan 2011 Shodan 2015 Shodan Ho 1998 Shodan Ho 1999 Shodan Ho 1999 Shodan Ho 1999 Shodan Ho 1999 Shodan Ho 2004 Shodan Ho 2006 Shodan Ho 2008 Shodan Ho 2010 |
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