Instructors
Eric Krappinger | Ken Harrison | Michael Alford | Yvette Holyoake | John Grantham
Ken Harrison 5th Dan
Ken began his karate training in 1984 (at the age of 29) with the West Ham Gararge Busdrivers, with Club Instructors Chris Price 1st Dan & Bob Strong.
The Chief Instructor was Yoshi Shinohara (EKA - later BWKS).
Gradings - 1st Dan 1989
2nd Dan 1992
3rd Dan 1996 BWKS
4th Dan 2000 ELWK / NAKMAS 5th Dan 2008 ELWK / NAKMAS
He has trained in other Martial Arts & practiced Yoga & also is one of two assistant Chief Instuctors to the ELWK.
Judo (several Instructors / clubs, Upton Park) Grappling / Judo / Groundwork - Alex Livingstone (Mile End), Combat Ju Jitsu / Kickboxing - John MacKinnon (Dagenham), British Wheel of Yoga - Chadwell Heath, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu - Marc Walder (Dagenham) + many thanks to my friend Bill Hawkins (Jeet Kune Do) for our one - one sessions over the years & pointing me in the right direction in the grappling / groundwork arts (in the early 90's)
As a Club Instructor - Lenwood Karate Club 1988-89 with Mike Alford.
Plaistow Wado Kai 1989 - 90 with Mike Alford.
Guildhall Wado kai 1990 - present day.
Over the years Ken has organised/taken part in many Charity/School Fund raising Demonstrations with the support of his friends/students.
The largest raised amount was £750 for the Lord Mayor of London's RED Charity in 1993 in front of the Lord Mayor & his wife. The largest attended was at West Ham's Fun Day at Upton Park 1995 , two demonstrations that day ( thousands attended - to see the Players really!)
Though the most rewarding was for the friends of Ingfield Manor School - a voluntary group for Cerebal Palsied children (my friend Keith's son Gary- now 21- attended the school) 1991.
Over the years he has entered many EKA/BWKS competitions both in Kumite & Kata generally gaining either 2nd, 3rd or 4th placings, though winning a first in the Team Kata event in the Irish Karate Championships (INWKF) in Carlow, Eire 1993, a first in the BWKS Team Kata event 1994 & the first person to win the BWKS Vetran Kata event in 1997.
In Dublin in 1994 (while attending a competition) Ken was one of many Black belts 'hired' by Chief Instructor Fran Nangle, to work for Take That & Lulu for 2 hours - Ken remarked 'hundreds of screaming girls, ready to do anything (kill basically) to get to their idols - another toughie, really'.
In 1990 Ken began Judging then later Refereeing at Competitions & attended a National course with T.Pottage/D.James.
In 1992 he refereed at Ray Barrows London Open Competition, literally hundreds of entries, Ken was the ref for the heavyweight division - he said 'it was really tough, mentally/physically - little me trying to control these huge guys with attitude, an experience to remember'.
Ken has attended many seminar/courses with many 'top' rated martial artists and Japanese Wado Instructors from Japan, Europe & the UK, & still does to this day.
He remembers being one of about 12 lucky students to train with Royce Gracie & Marc Walder with John MacKinnon in Dagenham in 2000.
Ken has attended dozens of weekend camps over the years & 10 summer camps.
The summer camp typical training day would consist of a 3 - 4 mile run (6.00a.m. start) along the beach, perform hundreds of push ups, sit ups, etc.,races, physical games, sometimes stone breaking, then 3 - 4 miles run back for approx. 8.30 breakfast.
Then to a field somewhere to begin over 4 hours of karate training at 9.00 a.m. '& you would never, never be late for training'!
After 5 days of training you may be Dan Grading that week, which would be 2 hours of intense training + a written exam, begining at 11.00 a.m. on the Friday! (phew).
|