EKW summer Course 1999 (5 Days of the best torcher)
This was one of the best weeks of training I’ve ever had. I felt both challenged and motivated. Have you ever been in a dojo with around 100 or 120 people, yet during practice it feels like you’re the only one there? I experienced that sensation, this week was the first time. I worked hard and was pushed to my limits, thanks to Kevin and Gary Quinn for motivating me. The good news is that I passed my 2nd Dan and received the Geoff Lake Trophy for outstanding student.
At six years old, during the early 1980s—a time without iPads or PlayStations—my interest in martial arts first emerged. Living on a farm between Benton and Wallsend in Newcastle upon Tyne, outdoor activities and sports were an integral part of daily life.
Wallsend Wado Kai was a Wado Ryu Karate Do based in Readsdale first school. Inspired by my mother Dorothy, who began training, and my interest in watching Bruce Lee and Chuck Norris films, I wanted to join as well. At six, it was uncommon for children to be in dojos, but Ray Gallagher Sensei allowed me to attend for 30 minutes a week at £1 per session. Little did I know how much this experience would shape my life.
Wallsend Wado Kai belonged to the England Karate Do Wado Kai (EKW), led by Walter Seaton, 7th Dan—a key figure in the UK's Wado Ryu movement from the 1970s to mid-1990s.
Quote – “Remember: it’s through basic techniques that we learn how best to use our weight and speed, that’s why basics are the most fundamental part of Karate practice.” Walter Seaton 7th Dan EKW Chief instructor
Sensei's quote influences my training today.
Colin Holmes 4th Dan
(Head Instructor Newcastle Wado Kai)
Martial arts history and Way of Life in his own words
In early 1985, I started my journey but couldn't grade right away. Still, I enjoyed training. On Saturday, February 14th, 1987, Walter Seaton visited Wallsend Wado Kai with Leo McDurmmet Sensei and David Swolwell Sensei to conduct a grading. I successfully earned my 8th Kyu and received a Japanese headband from Walter Sensei, brought back from Japan. Walter and Leo spent two weeks training at Nihon University’s Wado-ryu Karate dojo under Katsumi Kobayashi. A head band that is on my Living room Wall today. An experience that will remain memorable; this is one of many lasting memories that will endure over time.
Training hard 3–4 times a week, traveling nationwide for week-long summer courses, and competing regularly paid off. In 1991, I earned my Shodan.
I trained with Walter Sensei through the early 1990s. In 1994, I was diagnosed with a brain tumor that forced me to stop activities like driving, rugby, and Wado karate. After two surgeries and some difficult years, including unhealthy habits, I eventually asked my doctors if I could resume karate training. Although I was approximately 18 years old and participating in children's outpatient sessions—a situation that presented challenges due to administrative restrictions—Professor Pearson ultimately consented. However, he emphasized that my practice should be closely supervised and remain non-combative. Boom here we go again.
Back in 1998, email wasn't widespread yet, so I used my EKW licence to write to Walter Sensei about returning to train. Unfortunately, Wallsend Wado Kai had stopped operating due to declining interest in martial arts. Still, I felt compelled to reconnect with my roots.
A few days later, Sensei called me, recognized who I was, and invited me to train directly with him at his Sunday morning Senior Grade session in Thornaby, Teeside. Although the EKW had diminished from its former strength, it remained familiar to me.
I couldn't drive, so my dad took me every Sunday. While he watched indoor bowling with a pint of lager, I practiced "Punchy and kicky” as Leo McDermmet calls it “Great Quote”. But unfortunately at this point Leo was no longer there, but our paths connect later in the future. After several months, Sensei told me I'd be taking my 2nd Dan during the summer course. It was also announced that I would be responsible for reestablishing Wallsend Wado Kai. It was an honor to found my home club, and the rebuilding process began. Although some members had been training, I required their assistance. I extend my gratitude to Shaun Jones and Steve Outhwaite for helping to recreate Wallsend Wado Kai.
During that same summer course, Walter Sensei announced his retirement from EKW and as Chief Instructor, which would take effect by the end of 1999. It was an emotional conclusion to the summer session. David Swolwell took over as Chief Instructor; it felt as though one chapter closed and a new one began. I continued training and developing Wallsend Wado Kai.
Unfortunately, around 2008, due to commitments to family business and personal circumstances, the club eventually closed. This was a challenging time; additionally, martial arts in general were beginning to shift from being a way of life to more of a hobby. There were not many quality Wado Ryu clubs in the Newcastle area at the time. As a result, I started training at a small Wado club in Gosforth and occasionally joined a Shotokan club in Cramlington. I maintained this routine until about 2014. However, because my job became nationally based, my martial arts practice had to take a back seat to work commitments and frequent travel.
In March 2017, I separated from my wife, and once again my life was turned upside down. I returned to unhealthy habits like drinking, had no regular family life, only seeing my daughters once a week, and lacked any real focus or motivation. However, every difficult situation brings some good eventually. In mid-November 2017, I met Kelly—my rock. She had two boys and I had two girls, and we agreed that as long as the kids got along when they met, we would start our relationship. Thankfully, they all got on well.
About eight months into our relationship, a Shotokan club opened up at the community centre at the end of Kelly's street. Logan (Kelly's Son around 8 years old) started attending classes, but I never really told Kelly about my martial arts background. Kelly is a nurse and works shifts, so she asked if I would take Logan to his training. I did, and when we walked into the dojo, I bowed, which caught the attention of the two instructors. Logan needed help tying his belt, so I helped him, and again, the instructors noticed.
I stayed to watch the training session and enjoyed the dojo’s atmosphere, but I didn’t mention my martial arts experience. The following week, I brought Logan to training and chatted briefly with the instructors. They commented on how I bowed when entering and leaving the dojo and noticed how I tied Logan’s belt. This led me to mention that I used to train in martial arts and my style was Wado Ryu. They suggested that if I still had my dogi, I should wear it and join them for some training, so I took them up on their offer.
The training didn’t pose much of a challenge; it felt quite easy, and after several weeks I realised Shotokan wasn’t really suited to me. Although I’d dabbled in it previously, full-time practice was a big shift—and frankly, I found the club’s standards lacking.
So, I set out in search of a Wado club. By November 2018, I discovered Tozai East West Wado Kai Gosforth, led by Mike Illderton—a member of British Wado Kai under Chief Instructor Gary Swift (9th Dan).
I contacted Mike and arranged to meet him on a Saturday morning. We quickly realised we had a lot in common, even having trained with some of the same instructors; Mike had also worked with Walter Seaton. The club itself had a robust membership, boasting around 70 students.
Dressed in my Dogi, I attended the Wednesday night session, which turned out to be fantastic—a proper, tough session reminiscent of those old days with Walter Sensei. After a couple more sessions, I applied for my British Wado Kai licence. Shortly after, Mike welcomed me into the group of instructors at Tozai East West Wado Kai. In March 2019, a Yudansha grading was held with numerous students going for their Shodan and Nidan grades, and Gary Swift, the Chief Instructor of British Wado Kai, came to Newcastle to oversee it. It was my first time meeting Gary Sensei, and I got along brilliantly with him. His seminar proved both rigorous and fascinating, reaffirming that this was indeed an excellent organisation and club to be part of.
As time passed, there were more opportunities to train, eventually increasing to three times per week. On Monday evenings, we would join the Wylam Karate Club, where I met Gary Simpson. Wednesdays and Saturdays were spent at our home dojos in Gosforth, Newcastle.
Hanshi Cup 2019
IMike Illderton had numerous connections within martial arts, so we often travelled across the country—like the Martial Arts Road Show in Doncaster, which was an enjoyable weekend mingling with Deadly Dicker, Bob Sykes, and many others. It was there we trained with Katus Sensei (Shotokan), a fantastic individual who later ran a seminar at our club. During 2019, I competed in several tournaments: placing third in Kata at the WUMA English Open, second at the WUMA European Championships, and first at the EWF – BWF Hanshi Cup. It was a wonderful year marked by intense training and new friendships.
Hanshi Cup 2019
Throphy
Martial Arts Road
Show Main Stage.
November 2019 Yudansha Grading
(Examiners Gary Swift 9th Dan, Mike Rapley 8th Dan, Mike Illderton 7th Dan)
In November 2019, Stephen Coulson and I had the opportunity to pursue our Sandan grade. We trained diligently, motivated one another, and both succeeded. It was a significant milestone—ten years after receiving my Nidan, I achieved my Sandan, an accomplishment I was absolutely thrilled about. Battered and bruised, exhausted after two hours of intense physical and mental strain. It's a memory I won't forget.
The club continued to thrive, offering countless chances to train alongside dan grades such as Stephen, Gary, Jay, Rachel, Denis, and Nico, and to share my growing knowledge with many students. I believe Wado Ryu is like a jigsaw puzzle: your Kyu grading and Shodan form the border, while the centre is filled in with everything you learn post-Shodan. Yet, the puzzle never truly finishes, as there is always more to discover.
As time passed, 2022 arrived and my daughter began training. Early that year, Mike announced his retirement from the club and held a meeting with Stephen and me. Stephen wasn't interested in taking over as head of the dojo, so I volunteered to lead the club. Having managed one before and seeing its potential—even though it was already thriving—I knew it could go even further, so I seized the opportunity wholeheartedly. Later in the year, Stephen and I were promoted to Yondan (4th dan) sooner than expected. The promotions were presented by Mike Rapley, 8th Dan (Second in command in BKW). If memory serves, it happened around August 2022, when the club transferred leadership.
Gary Simpson and I spent considerable time watching Wado Ryu content on Facebook and YouTube. During this period, we discovered Roger Vickerman, who was then a 6th Dan Renshi with the Wado Academy, conducting open training courses in Birmingham. Gary and I made the decision to attend these sessions. The comprehensive training was excellent, prompting us to register for the next course scheduled a few weeks later.
Subsequently, issues related to club politics arose. Although I had not managed the club for long, I decided to step away and transferred leadership back to Mike Illderton. Sometimes decisions are meant to shape our future. I continued my training with Wylam Karate on Monday evenings. However, the political situation became increasingly challenging. In February 2023, Gary and I participated in an open seminar in Guildford organized by the Wado Academy under the instruction of Otsuka, the 3rd Grand Master.
This was meant to be my final training session. However, during the seminar, another political email arrived. Mike Illderton was planning to close Tozai East West unless someone would take it over. After consulting with Gary and Stephen, we arranged a meeting with senior dan members: Gary, Stephen, Kevin, Rachel, and Jess. We resolved to approach Mike Illderton about taking over the club, but unfortunately, he declined due to ongoing political issues between him and myself—he preferred to shut it down instead. The last training session in Gosforth took place in mid-March 2023. Stephen led the session, and we had already decided not to let the club close. After a meeting in the hall with students and parents, we founded Newcastle Wado Kai. We anticipated that not all students would join us; honestly, we didn't expect any to. As Mike controlled the hall hire, we had to find new dojos, and Tozai was subsequently converted into a Shotokan club. But our journey began.
In the last week of March 2023, we found temporary space at the Blue Flames Sporting Club. Even though we needed to return to Gosforth, we trained at Blue Flames for several weeks. With the support of Stephen, Kevin, Gary, Rachel, and Jess, we made an excellent start. I reconnected with Gary Swift Sensei and Newcastle Wado Kai was born.
The club began by searching for venues in Gosforth suitable for hall hire, ultimately establishing our home dojo at Daverson Hall, North Gosforth. Today, the club thrives. Wado Ryu fosters a sense of community—families support one another through all circumstances. The past has shaped my future, especially within my journey in martial arts.
Newcastle Wado Kai operates as a non-political dojo, welcoming outstanding students, including my daughter and stepson. Both students and instructors contribute to the club’s identity, and I am grateful for this collaborative environment. We regularly host courses with Gary Swift Sensei and open seminars with Roger Vickerman. Together with Gary, Kevin, and myself, we attend events across the UK, and both Gary and I have trained overseas. Additionally, we have participated in week-long training seminars led by Otsuka III. Newcastle Wado Kai fills me with pride; it is truly my club and my Wado family.
Colin Holmes
Newcastle Wado Kai.