Stevenage Karate Club Instructors
All instructors and coaches teaching at the Stevenage clubs have to obtain an Enhanced Certificate from the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB), are fully Insured & Qualified to teachBeginners
The idea of joining our club to start-out in JKA Shotokan Karate may seem a bit daunting to most aspiring martial artists...Read more
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Affiliation
Stevenage Karate Club is proud to be affiliated to the Japan Karate Association.
Sensei Ohta
Sensei Yoshinobu Ohta
7th Dan JKA
Chief Instructor JKA England
Sensei Steve Rowe
2nd Dan JKAAssistant Instructor, SKC
Steve began karate in 1980 when he joined the English Shotokan Karate Association (ESKA). He trained under Sensei Mick Nursey for two years and achieved the grade of 5th Kyu, during which time he competed in the 1981 ESKA Nationals and won 3rd place in Kata.
Steve became disillusioned with the ESKA and in 1983 joined the Karate Union of Great Britain (KUGB) association as run by the late Sensei K. Enoeda and trained under Sensei’s Scott and Dean Saunders at their Stevenage club. Steve trained at their club for two years and attained the grade of 1st Kyu.
Steve had a lengthy break from karate due to problems with his shoulders dislocating, undergoing operations and lengthy spells of physiotherapy, but got back into karate in 2005 when his daughter Samantha wanted him to take her to karate lessons. Going back to the club he knew, Steve noticed that several changes had taken place since he last trained. Sensei Tom Peebles had taken over the running of Stevenage Karate Club and the governing association had changed from the KUGB to the Japan Karate Association (JKA), with its chief instructor being Sensei Ohta.
Under Sensei Tom’s instruction, Steve passed Shodan in May 2007 under Sensei Tanaka and Sensei Ohta.
In 2008, Steve entered the JKAE Nationals and won bronze for kumite in the over 21’s category.
In August 2009, Steve attained his Nidan under Sensei Ueki and Sensei Ohta.
In 2010, he passed level 3 Instructor and level 4 Judge/ Referee licence exams.
In 2011, he passed level 2 Instructor and level 3 Judge/ Referee licence exams.
Steve passed his level 2 Judge/Referee licence exam in February 2012.
Steve has become actively involved in the club by attending national courses, assisting in teaching at the club and judging at competitions when requested.