Chief Instructor
Sensei Brunton 7th Dan JKF
Sensei Brunton has dedicated his life to Karate-Do. He first began studying Shotokan Karate in 1959. Sensei Brunton established the NIKW in the early 80’s and has been the chief instructor from this time. Sensei Brunton provided over 13 years service to the European & World Karate Federation Refereeing Committee.
He has been awarded various European & World Kata & Kumite referee awards. He is currently President of the Northern Ireland Karate Board, (NIKB), NIKB Representative/Vice chairman of the British Karate Federation (BKF).
Sensei Brunton reached qualification of 7th Dan, which was awarded by the Japanese Karate Federation (JKF) and in 2008 was given the title of “Shu-Ha-Ri” from the president of JKF Wado-Kai Mr Yoshito Kondo. A honour reserved only for those who have been through the lifetime cycle of learning in Martial arts on their path to perfection & a title achievable only from the highest authority in the art.
James Brunton 3rd Dan
James is one of our most successful competition Karate-Ka. He started Karate at the young age of 8 years old. He won much of his early competitions at local level, at the NIKB Championships, The North v South Open Championships, BKF Junior & Cadet Championships from 2004.
More recently however; he has moved up the ranks at International level retaining his titles at senior level at the British Karate Federation Home Nation & Open Championships. He is also European Wado-Kai Champion several years running.
He is a regular competitor on the international circuit and his experience culminated in 2007 was crowned USA Open champion – an incredible achievement. He used this experience to go on and impose himself in Japan, the home of Karate, where he took a bronze Medal in the Japanese Wado-Kai National Champioships in 2009.
James is an instructor in our Central Dojo in Belfast and passes on his vast experience of Kumite competition to all Karate-Ka.
Gary Patterson
Gary joined the NIKW Karate association when he was just 10 years old. He has become one of our most Senior Instructors and currently instructs students in the NIKW Antrim Karate club, which is run in the Antrim Forum Leisure Centre.
He helps to stage many local competitions and in particular the prestigious NIKW North v South Open Championships.
Violet Brown
Violet is one of our most experienced instructors. She has been training for over 20 Years. during this time she has traveled to Japan many times and in more recent years has made significant progress in becoming one of the most qualified Karate referees in Ireland. She is regularly invited to Referee in competitions in mainland Britain & Europe.
Violet is an official with the Northern Ireland Karate Board.
Andy McKee
Andy first started Karate training at 15, with a school friend, he re-started later in life at the age of 40 in the NIKW Carrickfergus club. He progressed through the grading system and began teaching a beginners class at Belfast High School.
He is now an instructor at the NIKW Ballysillan Karate Club & training for over 8 years. Both his children have become involved in Karate training.
“I enjoy the satisfaction I get after a Karate class, training my body to perform true effective techniques that will be successful if used in a dangerous situation on the street.
Karate has given me a sense of purpose, a goal to aim for and focus my mind. I would encourage anyone, young or old, to take up Karate training.”
Oliver Brunton (Jnr)
Oliver has been practicing Karate for many years now. He is the instructor of the NIKW Lisburn Karate club.
“I enjoy many aspects of Karate training, though I enjoy Kata & Kihon Gumite most. Karate gives me an opportunity to increase my fitness & flexibility as I get older; however more importantly gives me goals to work on and a sense of achievement when I can see myself improving. I enjoy the comoradre there is, in being part of a club like the NIKW.
The NIKW holds extremely high standards in the grading examinations and these are what makes the NIKW different. I enjoy being an instructor, which I take very seriously. Parents/members pay student fees for training and so, in return expect to be taught correctly.
I take pride in seeing those who start their Karate journey, growing and learning new aspects of Karate, that will also help them in other areas of their life, such as discipline, self confidence and facing their fears.”
Paul Geddis
Paul is the instructor at our Carryduff Karate club.
“Karate has something for everyone, but you need to see beyond just kicking and punching. I love its purity. You can either make a correct movement or not, there is no ambiguity or deception.
Karate forces me to look at myself; it always challenges me to do better.
I am the instructor at the NIKW Loughmoss club. I enjoy teaching & in particular when I help someone make a faster or more precise movement. They begin to appreciate the difficulty & perfection that is required in the art”
Eddie McConnell
I have always been interested in martial arts practicing Judo as a child and switching to Karate as a teenager but unfortunately I took an ‘extended’ break when I emigrated to England in 1989.
I returned to Ireland in 2000 and started training again with Keady Karate club in Co Armagh. My job takes me all around the world where I always try to visit some Karate clubs.
Ironically it was outside Ireland where I became aware of Sensei Brunton who kindly allowed me to attend the 2006 NIKW summer camp. I was immediately taken with his technical ability and incredible power and joined the NIKW after the camp.
I am now the instructor at the NIKW class in the Orchard Leisure Centre in Armagh.
All our instructors are assessed regularly by our chief Instructor Sensei Brunton 7th Dan JKF, to ensure their teaching of karate is correct and within the Wado-Kai principles.
Naturally all our instructors are cleared by the appropriate authorities to teach all members of the community including children & vulnerable adults and that hey have appropriate first aid training.
The NI Karate-Do Wado-Kai Clubs adhere to our child protection policy and enforce our rules and guidelines on safety in the Dojo.