Matsuba Kai Shotokan Karate Club was established in 1998 and was first based at the YMCA in Walthamstow, East London. The main dojo moved to City Limits in Romford a year later where it remained until the gym closed down. The main dojo is now located at Caterham School, Barkingside.

A number of kyu grades from an exisiting Shotokan Karate club approached David Lewin, Geoffrey Mitchell and Michael Power and asked them start a new club where they could continue studying under Shihan Kanazawa. Matsuba Kai was founded shortly afterwards. The name, Matsuba kai, meaning pine needles, was given to the club by Toshiko Whitcher, the widow of their orginal teacher, Sensei Eddie Whitcher.
 
 
 

 

Matsuba Kai senior grades with Shihan Kanazawa (10th Dan).

Matsuba Kai Photo Gallery

 

The club badge was designed by Camille Whitcher, Toshiko's and Eddies daugher. Matsuba Kai originally started with 10 students and has now grown to around 50 students and is going from strength to strength. We are honoured to frequently host Shihan Hirokazu Kanazawa and Sensei Manabu Murakami for special lessons and try to keep the original traditions and spirit of Sensei Eddie Whitcher.

 

Much emphasis is placed on studying Shihan Kanazawa's syllabus and all gradings are either conducted by Shihan Kanazawa, Sensei Murakami or Sensei Carpenter.

The club is affiliated with Sensei Carpenter's S.K.K.I.F. which itself is affiliated to S.K.I.F. Japan, the largest single style Karate association in the world.

Matsuba Kai Instructors and students have attended courses and competitions all over the world and have the experience of training with such masters as Shihan Hirokazu Kanazawa, Shihan Keinosuke Enoeda, Sensei Carpenter, Sensei Shigeyuki Ichihara, Sensei Manabu Murakami, Sensei Nobuaki Kanazawa, Sensei Ryusho Suzuki, Sensei Shinji Tanaka and Sensei Kenneth Funakoshi.

Matsuba Kai Photo Gallery

 

Matsuba Kai senior grades with Shihan Hirokazu Kanazawa (10th Dan) at the Romford Dojo.

 


 
 
 
 

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Shihan Hirokazu Kanazawa

Sensei Manabu Murakami

Sensei Eddie Whitcher