Kazoku Kai England Karate Team
Welcome to the Kazoku Kai National Squad page! The official site for the Kazoku Kai England Karate team! Here you will find information regarding our Junior and Senior squad. You will find information on our coaches, forthcoming squad training sessions and events as well as tournament results and write-ups!
The Kazoku Kai National Squad is part of Kazoku Kai International. It is coached and run voluntary and is there to give Kazoku Kai members the chance to compete to a high level both in the UK and abroad! The Squad has its own bank account! Money from Squad sessions and fund raising events are paid into this account. This money is then used to pay entry fees and expenses for squad members!
Kazoku Kai is a multi style traditional Karate association therefore the Kazoku National Squad is a multi style team! Squad members are selected on their ability and potential regardless of style. This comes from the concept of us being part of one team, one ‘family’ regardless of style.
Squad Coaches
SENSEI DAVE WILKINS 6TH DAN Kazoku Kai – England Senior National Squad Coach Dave Wilkins 6th Dan member of the Shotokan Ryu Kase Ha former European Team Kumite champion 1995 and holder of many National titles. Dave was initially training to become an athlete and in particular the 800m event through his training he received at school. Due to changing Schools, however, this training soon stopped and Dave decided to join Leicester Karate Club in 1979 in order to keep up his fitness. Dave was then aged thirteen and began training under a former student of Sensei Asano, Antony Conroy (3rd Dan). In 1985, Antony Conroy gave the club to Dave to develop further to which end is happening to this very day. Dave Wilkins has now been training at the Leicester Karate Club for the last 26 years and is still going strong having passed his 5th Dan in September 2000 in Mullheim, Germany under Master Kase. Chief Instructor Dave Wilkins 6th Dan is continuing to strive for excellence in this fascinating Martial Art, not only for himself but for all the student's he teaches. A full time karate student and twenty-three years as a karate teacher, he is devoted to furthering his knowledge and ability, forged by quality teacher's such as Steve Cattle 6th Dan and Taiji Kase 9th Dan. Sensei Dave Wilkins was appointed Kazoku Kai Senior Squad coach in 2003 due to his vast wealth of knowledge and experience! Dave also assists in coaching the under eighteens Junior squad. Dave is a valuable asset to the Kazoku Kai Squad, combining his successes in competition with his attributes as a traditional Karate Instructor. SENSEI KEENAN PEDLEY 3RD DAN Kazoku Kai – England Junior National Squad Coach Keenan Pedley 3rd Dan member and Instructor of Kazoku Kai International. Former Wado-Kai England Karate Team Member. Holder of over 50 National and International Kata & Kumite titles. Keenan started training in the Wado-Ryu style of karate in 1987 under Sensei Vince Parker. In 1993 Keenan begun training under Sensei Eric Cheshire at the Shizen Do Karate Club in Bilston. It was at a club competition after a grading where Keenan found he enjoyed competing. He started to combine his normal traditional training lessons 3 times per week with additional bag and pad work at home! Keenan would pick tournaments out of various Martial Arts magazines, and enter as many competitions as possible. Between 1993 and 1997 Keenan won various kumite titles in tournaments up and down the country. These included B.A.S.K.A London Area Champion and 2 x Butokukai National Kumite Champion (1996 & 1997) Keenan passed his senior Shodan black belt in 1996 under Sensei Eric Cheshire and Sensei Derek Ridgway. It was from this time on that Keenan begun training with Sensei Ridgway on a regular basis at the Hombu Dojo. Sensei Ridgway developed Keenan’s competition training as well as the principles and fundamentals of good traditional karate. Keenan also started to learn the Shito-ryu system from Sensei Ridgway. In 1997 Keenan started teaching at Stowlawn Community Centre. Classes were aimed at combining traditional Wado-ryu syllabus work with competition Kumite and Kata training! In 1999 Keenan gained a place in the Wado-kai England team and flew to Japan to represent his country in the Wado World cup! Also in 1999 Keenan passed his 2nd Dan under Sensei Derek Ridgway, Sensei Harry Cook and Sensei Steve Kaczmaryk. Sensei Keenan was appointed Kazoku Kai Junior Squad coach in 2000 and over the last five years has grown and developed the standard of the Junior squad! In 2001 Keenan assisted Sensei Derek Ridgway on a trip to Kazoku Kai India. Keenan coached those in India interested in competing! Keenan returned to India in 2003 to do the same. Kazoku Kai India is now successfully competing all over India and Asia!!! In September 2003 Keenan passed his 3rd Dan under Sensei Ridgway, Sensei Cook, Sensei Peter Collins and Sensei Tony Bergin. To date Keenan is striving to improve his traditional karate, teach his students and coach the Junior National squad! Keenan works hard to maintain his place in the Kazoku Kai Senior team and still compete himself to a high standard. 1st Squad Training for 2008 The first Open National Squad training session for 2008 was held on Sunday 20th January at Darlaston. The session was well attended with over 40 students turning out to train. Senior Squad coach, Sensei Dave Wilkins took the class allowing Keenan chance to train for the Sato Cup! Dave recapped basic fundamentals of competition Kumite and moved on to look at everyone's Kata. No selections took place at this, first squad training. Full selections would be made at the next session after Canada. Squad Training & Team Selections at Leicester On Sunday 9th March the 2nd Squad session of 2008 was held at Leicester. Students from all over the country turned out to train and try to gain a place in our National Squad that will represent us in the forthcoming Ken Yu Kai Championships! A fast paced Kumite training hour was followed by Kata. Sensei Wilkins took the group through Shotokan Shitei Kata Jion. Training intensity was high as students were obviously hungry for a place! After a short break selections for both Junior and Senior, Kata and Kumite took place. WELL DONE to all those who gained a place on the Team!!! Squad Members Please find below a list of Squad selected following the trials at Leicester Junior Team Lemarc Hill, Jordan Cooper, Jack Smith, Ben Smith, Bethany Harvey, Katie Beasley, Kimberley Harvey, Raife Tansey, Josh Parry, Senior Team Lori Seys, Steve O'Gara, Dan Felton, Ashton Tansey, Kelly Stych, Dan Weiss, James Baker, Soul Nolan, Tim Smith, Kevin Greenwood, Chris Unsworth, Jo Baker, Keenan Pedley Ken Yu Kai National Open Championships Sunday 13th April 2008 saw a selection of our Squad travel to Manchester to compete in the 2nd Ken Yu Kai Nationals hoasted by Terry Pottage. A well attended tournament that was run well by officials and kicked off on time with 5 areas running most of the day. Those of our Squad that attended did really well as the standard was high in both Kata and Kumite! Congratulations to our following squad memebers who got into the medals!! Jack Smith - Gold Medal in 10yrs and under Kata upto 7th Kyu Josh Parry - Gold Medal in 10yrs and under Kata 6th - 4th Kyu Jordan Cooper - Silver Medal in 11 - 15yrs Kata upto and including 4th Kyu Ashton Tansey - Bronze Medal in Female Kata 3rd Kyu and above Photo's coming soon!!!! Next Open National Squad Training Our Next Open Squad Training will be held in May. Venue and date to be confirmed! Watch this space!!!
