The Portsmouth Karate Club has been established, since the mid 1960s and has been one of the principal clubs in the South of England for many years. The Club is renown for its commitment to traditional Karate. With an emphasis on dedication and hard work rather than inherent physical ability. Men, women and children (minimum age 8 years) who join work to their own capacities. Our students increase their self-confidence, physical well being and, ultimately become equipped with one of the most effective forms of self-defence in existence.  Young people especially gain from the discipline learned and the readiness to work hard in order to achieve. Women often find their self-esteem grows enormously from taking an active part in what is perceived as a very rigorous pastime. 

TAKEN FROM THE SHOTOKAN DAWN SUPPLEMENT

‘The Portsmouth dojo was established and run by Robert Moffatt, a professional footballer for Portsmouth Football Club, who applied to join the BKF on 29th August 1964, aged eighteen. Moffatt’s other interests at the time of application were sketching and playing the guitar. Considerable correspondence exists between Moffatt and Bell, and the latter remembered the former as a ‘very nice fellow.’ The club dojo was sited at the Community Centre, Southsea. Club members for whom membership application forms survive, presented in the usual format, are: Francis Amoroso, 20, able-bodied seaman, Royal Navy (17.5.66); Peter Anderson, 31, shopkeeper (8.2.66); Ian Ayland, 18, apprentice joiner (5.12.65); Peter Bisset, 26, sales representative (12.2.66); Ray Burley, 35, prison officer (8.6.66); Ronald Cook, 33, Royal Navy (4.11.65); Peter Cooper, 20, joiner (24.4.66); Roy Cull, 24, police constable (11.2.66); David Gentles, 19, labourer (--.9.65); Reginald Goldsmith, 43, maintenance supervisor (3.5.65); Michael Goodall, 19, fitter and turner (19.2.66); John Hatton, 24, labourer (19.7.65); Michael Hazel, 20, labourer (27.7.65); Robin Ingram, 19, apprentice fitter and joiner (28.8.65); Robert Kendall, 30, printer (21.3.66); Brian Lucas, 22, hairdresser (23.2.66); Ronald Miles, 22, electronic wireman (10.2.66); Derek Mills, 23, lithographer (17.1.66); Daniel O’Hanlon, 35, council workman (11.4.66); David Oliver, 26, assistant building surveyor (18.4.66); Norman Oswald, 31, Royal Navy (8.5.66); Dennis Penfold, 34, electrical fitter (6.2.66); John Pitt, 21, draughtsman (8.2.66); Peter Rippon, 33, electronic inspector (9.2.66); John Rockell, 27, driver (28.10.65); Michael Saurin, 19, commercial bodybuilder (15.3.66); Roger Stephens, 22, labourer (8.2.66); Brian Twine, 34, building worker (8.6.65); Amran Vuai, 33, press operator (18.4.66).

    Cook is interesting, in that on his application form he noted that he was a Shodan in karate. Bell naturally followed this up and wrote to Cook, receiving an undated reply. Cook wrote: ‘I started karate training in HMAS Penguin at a club run by servicemen from service personnel. The instructor was [Colonel] J.C. Laughlin, 4th Dan, Commanding Officer Australian Commando Brigade. The other instructor was H. Brady (Capt), Australian commandos. The club was a sub-branch of the Central School of Self Defence, in Yokohama, Japan. The karate taught was judo/karate used as self-defence. The grades were: 4th kyu (yellow), 3rd kyu (orange), 2nd kyu (brown – light), 1st kyu (brown – dark), Shodan (black). These grades are not the same as yours, nor is the karate style.’’

Taken from Dr. Clive Layton’s, The Shotokan Dawn Supplement (Mona Books {2007}, pp. 117-119). 

This was taken from a letter to Richard Kiernan, a twenty-one year old work-study engineer from Kingsand, founder of the BKF Plymouth dojo, by Vernon Bell, dated the 18th February 1966: ‘The Portsmouth Branch itself had the same trouble last year and has found it a struggle for the last nine months to get established, but suddenly it had an influx of members after several training courses and is now forging ahead.’

Taken from Dr. Clive Layton’s, The Shotokan Dawn Supplement (Mona Books {2007}, p 119). 

THE AGE OF BKF KARATEKA AT THE TIME OF THEIR APPLICATION

 

           Dojo                              N         %         Av.              SD³           Youngest     Oldest          Years            

                                                            known¹   age²                                                                       covered  

 

       Portsmouth                       30       100       26.0             6.7                 18                43            1964-1966

     Taken from Dr. Clive Layton’s, The Shotokan Dawn Supplement (Mona Books {2007}, p 147).

www.shotokandawn.co.uk

Portsmouth Karate Club is the Founding club to The Shotokan of England Karate Union (SEKU), inaugurated in 1982 - look at our web site, www.seku.co.uk to find out more.  Chief Instructor Mick Dewey has himself been practising Karate since 1967, as full time professional since 1974. He has represented Great Britain and England and is the holder of a European Team Gold Medal. He has practised Karate in Japan, Russia, Denmark, Sweden, Portugal, Spain, France, Belgium and many other European countries. He has taught Brazil and The Slovak Republic as well as the home countries (England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland)  Mick, as well as holding the position of Chairman to SEKU, also served as Chairman to the Technical Committee of the English Karate Governing Body (EKGB), sponsored by Sport England and The Lottery.