Shihan John Smith 8th Dan is one of the first generation of British Karate Sensei. One of a handful of British karate-ka who were originally taught by the first wave of Japanese Instructors to arrive in the UK, back in the early 1960’s.
Shihan Smith has also spent considerable time in Japan, studying a variety of fighting arts, and developing Bujinkai Karate around 1972.
He is a former national champion, in both kata and kumite, and has represented Great Britain on many occasions, having captained Great Britain twice at the European Championships. Shihan Smith is an 8th Dan Black Belt.
Below is a brief summary of his Karate Career.
Shihan John Smith – Synopsis
1965 Started Wado Ryu Karate in London
1967 First International fight experience in Paris.
Stood in for injured team members after the first
round. Won both fights.
Stayed on the British Team until 1973.
1968 Started Streatham Karate Club (London)
1968 Southern Area Team Champions
1969 National Kata Runner up
1970 British Team and Individual Champion
National Kata Champion
Captain of the National Team
Second in European Championships (Belgium)
1970–71 National Team Champions
1972 Started Mayflower Karate Club (Plymouth)
1973 Founded Bujinkai Karate in association with Sensei
Danny Connor.
Mid 1970s Hosted the first ‘Kick Boxing’ & Full Contact Karate
event in Britain.
1979 Opened the South West’s First Martial Arts Centre
‘Fighting Fit’ Gymnasium (Plymouth)
1970–79 Chairman British Karate Association Technical
Committee.
Shihan Smith continues to be the active head of Bujinkai Karate. He has coached and trained many of the countries top fighters and has researched and written a number of books on the subject of Karate. He is well respected by other senior members in the Karate world as an innovator, sportsman, coach and teacher.
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