Assoc,clubs

Ishinryu training has taken place in the Woodlane Dojo since the mid 1970's. Wood Lane is based in Dagenham on the East London / Essex border and comes under the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham.

The first Ishinryu club was established at Woodlane by sensei Fred Kidd. Sensei John Walton ran the club from the mid 1980s until his retirement from karate in 1991 - at that time John handed the club over to sensei Chris Vant.

The next major change occurred in 2003. At that time the other major Dagenham Ishinryu club, based at Goresbrook and led by sensei Lee Smith, merged with Woodlane. Goresbrook had formed in the early 1990s from ex-Woodlane students, so this change was really just a unification of the original Woodlane club.

Sensei Tony Smith started karate at the age of five, with sensei Steve Quinn 5th dan, Basildon Ishinryu and received his black belt at the age of ten, selected for England national squad at the age of sixteen and at the age of 23 is still a current national squad member.

Tony holds titles for: English national champion in both disciplines Kata and Kumite.British champion in both disciplines Kata and Kumite.

Tony has also competed in several European and World championships in both disciplines Kata and Kumite and attained a European 4th ranking.

Tony's aim is to help all students from the beginner to the more advanced reach their goals in karate. To build confidence and fitness to help all students reach their full potential in kion, kata, kumite.

It’s easy to see when you watch Tony in action why he is as respected as he is and why he holds so many titles.

Sensei Jonathan Mottram is the Chief Instructor of Barking Abbey Ishinryu and his club is turning out many Kata Champions under his technical direction and they are all amazingly down to earth thoroughly nice Karate-ka.

His philosophy is ‘Quitters never win and winners never quit, Live the Dream.’ Wise words indeed.

Jonathan has an impressive track record.
He holds 12 English Kata Champion titles, 4 English Kumite Champion titles, 2 Commonwealth Kata Champion titles, 7 British Kata Champion titles, 11 Ticky Donovan 8th Dan O.B.E. Annual Open All Styles Summer Course Champion titles and 7 Ishinryu Kata Champion titles.