Sensei Kenneth Tsai 4th
Dan
I.T.K.A. of Great Britain - Chairman
Firstly let me introduce myself my name is Sensei Kenneth Tsai
and I first started training in the art of Shotokan Karate in
1987.
I enrolled at the Torbay Shotokan Karate Club in Paignton,
South Devon England under the instruction of Sensei Bob Davis
who was a San Dan
within the K.U.G.B. (Karate Union of Great Britain) with over 20
years experience .
I trained with the Torbay Karate Club for over six years.
uring this time I had the opportunity to train with some of the
best Karatekas'
in the World for example Sensei’s Andy Sherry, Terry O’Neill,
Frank Brennan
and in my opinion the Master of them all the legendary Sensei
Enoeda just to name a few.
On the 16th December 1987 was the day I took out my first
licence
with the world renowned K.U.G.B. this was the start of my love
for the art of Karate,
little did I know on that day what a major part of my life
Karate was to become.
I remember my first lesson my son and I did not know anyone and
we stood looking down the line
and seeing the Black belts and thinking that one day it would be
us although on that day it seemed like a far off dream.
The training was hard and fast for the next three months
learning all the techniques
before being allowed to take my 9th Kyu.
On the 28th February 1988 was my first grading, this was the
first time I met Sensei Terry O’Neill.
He gave all the students a really hard lesson and then we were
allowed a ten minute brake and then the grading started.
Silence surrounded the Dojo the only voice to be heard was that
of Sensei Terry O’Neill.
When all the 9th Kyu students had completed their gradings
Sensei Terry O’Neill called me forward
and asked me if I knew my next kata. I replied 'oss' Sensei he
then asked me to perform the kata for him.
At the end of the grading Sensei Terry O’Neill came to speak to
me
and told me that I been able to double grade which meant that I
was now an 8th Kyu.
Sensei Terry O’Neill told me that I had made him proud as he was
from my home town of Liverpool
and I had impressed him with my attitude towards the art of
Karate.
I then continued with my training with added enthusiasm
for the next three months to get ready for my next grading.
I needed to train even harder for my next kata and training
syllabus
before going for my 7th Kyu as I wanted to be as good as I was for the
first grading.
On the 19th June 1988 was my next grading date this was taken
under Sensei Steve Cattle which I passed.
Unfortunately I broke my ankle in training and was unable to
train for a while
whilst it healed and I then had to build up my technique and
stamina again.
The 22nd July 1991 was the next time I was able to grade this
grading
was with Sensei Frank Brennan another good pass.
By this time Karate had become a large part of my life
and I could not train often enough the more I was trained the
more I wanted to train
and I would go to other Clubs in my area and train with them as
well.
My next grading was on the 17th November 1991 this grade was
with Sensei Terry O’Neill again
and I was looking forward to grading with Sensei again and he
was again impressed with my attitude and skills
that I had continue to learn that he double graded me again.
My next grade would be my 4th Kyu this was taken by Sensei Billy
Higgins on the 7th March 1992.
The 21st July 1992 was a day I will always remember as this was
the first time
I met Sensei Ohta from the( J.K.A.) Japanese Karate Association
at a training seminar
that was held at the Torbay Karate Club there was over 400
karateka in attendance and I was going to take my 3rd Kyu.
Sensei Ohta was the under study and assistant to Sensei Sensei
Keinosuke Enoeda.
The day was long and hard and by the time the grading can round
I was worn out
but you find the strength to carry on and believe me it was
worth it in the end
as this was the first Japanese Sensei to sign my licence book.
This made me a 3rd Kyu.
The 7th November 1992 it was time for my next grading this time
it was with Sensei Bob Poynton.
My next grade was to be my 1st Kyu this was on the 13th
February1993 my second grading with Sensei Billy Higgins.
The next one was the big one I had a long year of hard training
so I would be ready for my big day.
I took my Sho Dan on the 27th March 1994 with the Master himself
Sensei Enoeda
when I passed I was over the moon at last it was no longer a
dream
I was a black belt at long last all the training paid off at
last. I can now where the belt with pride.
In the August of 1994 I moved my family back to Liverpool from
South Devon
where my son’s Lee and Adam and myself joined St John’s Karate
Club
which was run by a close family friend Sensei Tony Chin.
Sensei Chin’s father and my father came over from China together
several years earlier.
In the September of that year I met Andy Sherry who was taking
the club’s kyu grading this included both my son’s.
Lee was taking his 3rd kyu and Adam was taking his 6th kyu.
The next time I met Sensei Sherry was in the December again he
was taking the club grading’s at that time
I was invited to take my judges and referees badge.
After attending courses I passed the exam’s the following next
year this meant
I could go to all the K.U.G.B. tournaments and be an official.
At this time my wife Adrieanne became interested in time keeping
so now the whole family were involved in karate.
I stayed with St Johns Karate Club for 8 years. It was then that
I was approached
by the Elder of the Arabic Cultural Foundation and asked to
instruct there children in the art of karate.
This was the start of the A.C.F. Shotokan Karate Club.
In May 2003 we opened the doors to the club and to my amazement
there where 30 children eagerly wanting to learn karate.
In December of that year the club joined the British Karate
Association
under Sensei Brian Seabright. On the 24th April 2004 I graded to
Ni Dan with the British Karate Association
shortly after this I met Sensei Charles Gidley a 6th Dan who had
his own association called the B.S.K.I.
(British Shotokan Kyogi International) and he invited me to join
his association and I took up on his invitation.
Since joining the B.S.K.I. we have affiliated to the J.S.K.A.
(Japan Shotokan Karate Association)
under Sensei Abe Keigo 9th Dan who trained for 35 years with the
J.K.A. under Sensei Nakayama
who was himself taught by Sensei Gichin Funakoshi.
I have been with Sensei Charles Gidley for the past 5 years and
the Association has opened many doors
for me in the world of Shotokan. By this I mean that he has
introduced me to many high ranking Karateka
most of which I met in New York at the 3rd J.S.K.A. World
Championships.
I also competed at the championships and I was placed sixth in
Kata and fifth in Kumite
not bad for a man of 49 years of age and had not competed for
nearly 15 years.
It was at these championships that I meet Sensei Bambouyani a
very elegant very well spoken
and dignified man who invited me to Chicago to attend the
I.T.K.A. Tournament
which I attended with my wife and one of my students in 2008 and
2009.
It was Sensei Bambouyani that inspired me to take my San Dan.
I took this on the 22nd March 2008 with the J.S.K.A.
In 2008 I played a major part in the organising of the 4th
J.S.K.A. World Championships
with Sensei Charles Gidley this was held in Manchester Great
Britain.
Sensei Bambouyani attended this competition and enabled me to
return the hospitality
that my wife and I had received when we were in Chicago.
December 5th 2009 I graded to yon Dan under Sensei Bambouyani
from the I.T.K.A. from Chicago, USA
This brings me almost to a close but I would like to thank all
those people
that I have mentioned and that I have had the privilege and
honour
to have met and trained with in all my years as a Karateka.
Especially Sensei Terry O’Neill for all the encouragement he
showed me in my early years
as a kyu grade and that I now pass on to my students.
