5Sensei Martin Skidmore 5th Dan
Sensei Martin started training in Bristol 1979 and after gaining 3rd Kyu, started to assist teaching when Pat Murray, his instructor, was unable to attend. After attaining Shodan in 1984, he took on the role as chief instructor of the club. After devoting many years teaching juniors, including his own children to Shodan status, decided in 1998 to attempt, and passed Ni-Dan grade under the late Enoeda Sensei.
After a few years felt it time to progress to 3rd Dan which he took and passed in June 2010
His favourite discipline is Kata and once won the South West Shotokan Karate kata championship.
Sensei Martin passed his 5th Dan in Nov 2023 with the BKA under Sensei Seabright 7th Dan.
Martial art experience include, Shotokan Karate, 36yrs, Judo, Akido, Self defence,
Kyudo (Japanese Archery) and Japanese swordsmanship (Shinkendo, and Zen Shin do Kenjutsu).
Now Chief instructor of his new club, Kyokyujitsu-Kai, hopes to bring a more rounded view of martial arts to students
He is proud that he has Sensei's Nakayama and Enoeda's signature endorsing his 1st Dan diploma and sensei Enoeda's on his 2nd Dan diploma.
Sensei David Hayward. 4th Dan
Sensei David started in the martial arts in 1991 studying Judo for a short time before starting Shotokan Karate under Sensei Martin Skidmore in May 1992, and has been training with him ever since.
He has been teaching under the supervision of Sensei Martin since 2004, and currently holds the grade of 4th Dan He was officially made assistant instructor of the Kyokujitsu-Kai at the beginning of 2010.
David has been studying Bunkai (combative application of Kata forms) since 2001, and has travelled the UK training with multiple specialist instructors from many styles in this field in order to gain an in depth understanding of the combative and self-defence application of karate.
In addition to Karate, David has crossed trained in various armed and unarmed systems, with particular emphasis on Japanese Jujitsu, and hold grades in 3 different styles of Japanese swordsmanship, including a Ni-Dan in Zen Shin Do Kenjutsu
He has been teaching under the supervision of Sensei Martin since 2004, and currently holds the grade of 4th Dan He was officially made assistant instructor of the Kyokujitsu-Kai at the beginning of 2010.
David has been studying Bunkai (combative application of Kata forms) since 2001, and has travelled the UK training with multiple specialist instructors from many styles in this field in order to gain an in depth understanding of the combative and self-defence application of karate.
In addition to Karate, David has crossed trained in various armed and unarmed systems, with particular emphasis on Japanese Jujitsu, and hold grades in 3 different styles of Japanese swordsmanship, including a Ni-Dan in Zen Shin Do Kenjutsu
Instructor's Karate Linage
Gichin Funakoshi (船越 義珍 Funakoshi Gichin, November 10, 1868 – April 26, 1957) was the creator of Shotokan Karate and is attributed as being the "father of modern karate. Following in the teachings of Anko Itosu, he was one of the Okinawan Karate masters who introduced karate to theJapanese mainland in 1921.
Masatoshi Nakayama (中山正敏, Nakayama Masatoshi, 1913–1987) was a high-ranking master of Shoyokan Karate-dō, the first in Shotokan to be credited with the rank of 9th dan while alive (posthumously awarded 10th dan in 1987).
Nakayama was born in the Yamaguchi prefecture. He began studying karate after enrolling in Takushoku university in 1932, where he trained under Gichin Funakoshi and Funakoshi's son Gigo.
In 1949 Nakayama helped found the JKA with Funakoshi, being appointed as Chief Instructor, and began to restructure the training by following methods developed in modern Sports sciences. He established Kata and Kumite as tournament disciplines.
Nakayama was born in the Yamaguchi prefecture. He began studying karate after enrolling in Takushoku university in 1932, where he trained under Gichin Funakoshi and Funakoshi's son Gigo.
In 1949 Nakayama helped found the JKA with Funakoshi, being appointed as Chief Instructor, and began to restructure the training by following methods developed in modern Sports sciences. He established Kata and Kumite as tournament disciplines.
Keinosuke Enoeda (1935-2003) was chief instructor of the KUGB until his premature death due to cancer. Enoeda was ranked 8th dan in Shotokan Karate and was world renowned as a formidable karate-ka. Following his death, Enoeda was posthumously awarded 9th dan.
After graduating from Takushoku university he studied at the JKA honbu dojo in Tokyo under Masatoshi Nakayama, the chief instructor. He won the JKA All Japan Championship in 1963. During this period he picked up the nickname "tiger" (tora in Japanese), after Nakayama-sensei had described his fighting.
On 20 April 1965, following the JKA policy of sending its instructors abroad to spread karate, he travelled to England with JKA instructors Shirai, Kanazawa and Kase.He began teaching in Liverpool.
Sensei Enoeda's students include Andy Sherry 8th Dan and Bob Poynton 7th Dan, both of which Sensei's Martin and David trained under regulary.
Sensei Martin trained under Enoeda Sensei around 3 times a year over a 25yr period and is proud to have both sensei Nakayama and Enoeda endorse is shodan grade and Enoeda Sensei on his Nidan grade
After graduating from Takushoku university he studied at the JKA honbu dojo in Tokyo under Masatoshi Nakayama, the chief instructor. He won the JKA All Japan Championship in 1963. During this period he picked up the nickname "tiger" (tora in Japanese), after Nakayama-sensei had described his fighting.
On 20 April 1965, following the JKA policy of sending its instructors abroad to spread karate, he travelled to England with JKA instructors Shirai, Kanazawa and Kase.He began teaching in Liverpool.
Sensei Enoeda's students include Andy Sherry 8th Dan and Bob Poynton 7th Dan, both of which Sensei's Martin and David trained under regulary.
Sensei Martin trained under Enoeda Sensei around 3 times a year over a 25yr period and is proud to have both sensei Nakayama and Enoeda endorse is shodan grade and Enoeda Sensei on his Nidan grade
Both Club instructors are CRB Registered