Southport Shotokan Karate Club
Next Grading Friday 19th July 2024
Instructors
Sensei Alan Hughes (6th Dan)
Started training with the K.U.G.B. in 1974 under Sensei Steve Cattle. Gained all Kyu grades with Sensei Cattle except brown belt (3rd Kyu) with Sensei Kawasoe. In 1981 gained black belt with Sensei Enoeda. Joined Steve Cattle’s newly formed English Shotokan Academy and passed 2nd Dan under Senseis Dirk Heene and Ken Button in 1996. Passed 3rd Dan under Sensei Dirk Heene and a panel of the E.S.A. technical committee in 1999. Passed 4th Dan in 2002 and 5th Dan in 2008 under Senseis Mark Stevens and Ken Button. Was awarded 6th Dan by Sensei Button in 2019. Holder of the National Governing Body Coaching certificate and a member of the successful Southport Karate Team who won numerous competitions and gained 3rd place in the K.U.G.B. National Championships at Crystal Palace. Joined Sensei Ken Button’s Hara Shotokan Academy in 2000 and in 2023 rejoined the club with the English Shotokan Academy (E.S.A.) Also with the Kizuna Brotherhood.
Sensei Danny Hughes (4th Dan)
I began training at Southport YMCA Karate Club in 1998 aged 7 years old. At the age of 13 I progressed to the adults class and 2 years later achieved my First Dan Black Belt under Sensei Ken Button (7th Dan). I have competed in many competitions both in the UK and abroad including winning two bronze medals in 2009 in Belgium. In February 2010 I I gained my 2nd Dan again under Sensei Button. Later that year I moved to Newcastle for university and began training at a KUGB club. During this time I entered numerous competitions including the KUGB Nationals at Birmingham National Arena. Also while in Newcastle I regularly trained with Sensei Frank Brennan (8th Dan) and attended many courses with other high ranking KUGB members. In early 2015 I moved back to Southport permanently and continued my training back at the Southport YMCA dojo. In the October of 2015 I successfully graded to 3rd Dan under a panel of grading examiners which included Sensei Button, Sensei McDonald (7th Dan), Sensei Hughes (6th Dan) and Sensei Todd (5th Dan). Passed 4th Dan with the E.S.A. in August 2023. Also a member of the English Shotokan Academy (E.S.A.) and the Kizuna Brotherhood.
