Instructors
All Yudansha (Black-Belts) are recognised worldwide within registration of the International Wado Federation (IWF).
The Chief Instructor
Our instructors will only teach the historically authentic Suzuki-Ryu Wadoryu syllabus as introduced into the UK by Ohtsuka Hironori Meijin in 1963.
Club Instructors
Richard House (5th Dan) Renshi
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Harry Barton (3rd Dan) Tashi
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Steve Pritchard 2nd Dan
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Senior Members & Assistant Instructors
About the Instructors of the Plymouth Karate Schools of Wadoryu.
All British Wadokai Dojo Instructors are fully DBS Certified!
About Gary Swift Hanshi.
Gary E Swift Hanshi. The President & Chief Instructor of British Wadokai (BWK).
Gary Swift was born in Leigham Terrace, Plymouth, Devon, in 1956. He started training in 1966, just prior to his 10th birthday, while he was at his junior school.
Upon his arrival to Surrey in the South of England in 1972, from the southwest, he started training in Guildford, Leatherhead, Croydon, London and Bisley, as a member of the United Kingdom Karate Federation (later to be known as the United Kingdom Karate-do Wadokai), under the Chief Instructor Tatsuo Suzuki Hanshi.
Regular and visiting Japanese club instructors at this time onwards included; Ohtsuka Hironori 10th Dan Meijin, Ohtsuka Jiro 10th Dan Saiko-Shihan, Suzuki Tatsuo Hanshi, Maeda Tadayuki Shihan, Shiomitsu Masafumi 9th Dan Hanshi, Shinohara Yoshitsugu 8th Dan Shihan, Arakawa Toru 9th Dan, Kobayashi Katsumi Shihan, Sakagami Kuniaki 8th Dan, Yanagawa Masahiro 8th Dan, Ohgami Shingo 8th Dan, Sugiura Kengo 8th Dan, Hakoishi Katsumi 8th Dan, Ashihara Mizuho 8th Dan, Takamizawa Toru 7th Dan Kyoshi, Okumachi Koji 7th Dan, Sugiura Daisuke 8th Dan.
Alongside his Wado, he studied numerous other forms of Karate, as well as Shorinji-Kempo, Muay-Thai, Malaysian Taekwondo (Thoi-kuen-do), Korean HoSin-Sul Hapkido, various weapons systems, as well as a variety of other Japanese, Korean, and Chinese martial-arts.
Gary Swift Hanshi has also trained and was graded under the Founder of Wadoryu, Ohtsuka Hironori (10th Dan) Meijin, in 1976.
Holder of numerous titles and ranks within martial-arts including 9th Dan (IWF/BWF Wadoryu) and 8th Dan (BWK Wado-ryu), 2nd Dan in Korean HoSinsul Hapkido and 1st Dan in Malaysian Taekwondo (Thoi-Kuen-Do).
Gary E Swift Hanshi. The President & Chief Instructor of British Wadokai (BWK).
Gary Swift was born in Leigham Terrace, Plymouth, Devon, in 1956. He started training in 1966, just prior to his 10th birthday, while he was at his junior school.
Upon his arrival to Surrey in the South of England in 1972, from the southwest, he started training in Guildford, Leatherhead, Croydon, London and Bisley, as a member of the United Kingdom Karate Federation (later to be known as the United Kingdom Karate-do Wadokai), under the Chief Instructor Tatsuo Suzuki Hanshi.
Regular and visiting Japanese club instructors at this time onwards included; Ohtsuka Hironori 10th Dan Meijin, Ohtsuka Jiro 10th Dan Saiko-Shihan, Suzuki Tatsuo Hanshi, Maeda Tadayuki Shihan, Shiomitsu Masafumi 9th Dan Hanshi, Shinohara Yoshitsugu 8th Dan Shihan, Arakawa Toru 9th Dan, Kobayashi Katsumi Shihan, Sakagami Kuniaki 8th Dan, Yanagawa Masahiro 8th Dan, Ohgami Shingo 8th Dan, Sugiura Kengo 8th Dan, Hakoishi Katsumi 8th Dan, Ashihara Mizuho 8th Dan, Takamizawa Toru 7th Dan Kyoshi, Okumachi Koji 7th Dan, Sugiura Daisuke 8th Dan.
Alongside his Wado, he studied numerous other forms of Karate, as well as Shorinji-Kempo, Muay-Thai, Malaysian Taekwondo (Thoi-kuen-do), Korean HoSin-Sul Hapkido, various weapons systems, as well as a variety of other Japanese, Korean, and Chinese martial-arts.
Gary Swift Hanshi has also trained and was graded under the Founder of Wadoryu, Ohtsuka Hironori (10th Dan) Meijin, in 1976.
Holder of numerous titles and ranks within martial-arts including 9th Dan (IWF/BWF Wadoryu) and 8th Dan (BWK Wado-ryu), 2nd Dan in Korean HoSinsul Hapkido and 1st Dan in Malaysian Taekwondo (Thoi-Kuen-Do).
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About Richard House (5th Dan) Renshi.
Richard House began karate training in Warwickshire back at the start of 1983, aged 12, under Sensei Barry Tatlow. His club was part of the Tera Karate Kai organisation with chief instructor Toru Takamizawa Sensei.
He stayed with Tatlow Sensei to become part of the newly formed Phoenix Karate Organisation where he began teaching and graded to 1st dan in 1986 and 2nd dan in 1989.
A move to Plymouth followed, where there were no Wado clubs so he briefly transferred to Shotokan. However, he decided that it wasn't right for him and set up his own training sessions with other like minded students. He also studied fencing, competing in a number of national competitions and practiced Ki Aikido under Sensei Geoff Flather for several years.
He resumed formal karate training under Gary Swift Sensei and, along with the Chief Instructor, took over the Plymouth University Karate Club before becoming the lead instructor at the Pomphlett dojo in 2020.
Over the years he has had the opportunity to train with many respected karateka including Peter Spanton (founder of Higashi Karate Kai), Robin Whale (founder of Sandokai Karate) and Chris Thompson (Technical Director of English Karate Federation).
Richard House began karate training in Warwickshire back at the start of 1983, aged 12, under Sensei Barry Tatlow. His club was part of the Tera Karate Kai organisation with chief instructor Toru Takamizawa Sensei.
He stayed with Tatlow Sensei to become part of the newly formed Phoenix Karate Organisation where he began teaching and graded to 1st dan in 1986 and 2nd dan in 1989.
A move to Plymouth followed, where there were no Wado clubs so he briefly transferred to Shotokan. However, he decided that it wasn't right for him and set up his own training sessions with other like minded students. He also studied fencing, competing in a number of national competitions and practiced Ki Aikido under Sensei Geoff Flather for several years.
He resumed formal karate training under Gary Swift Sensei and, along with the Chief Instructor, took over the Plymouth University Karate Club before becoming the lead instructor at the Pomphlett dojo in 2020.
Over the years he has had the opportunity to train with many respected karateka including Peter Spanton (founder of Higashi Karate Kai), Robin Whale (founder of Sandokai Karate) and Chris Thompson (Technical Director of English Karate Federation).
About Harry Barton (3rd Dan) Tashi.
I’ve always been fascinated by martial arts, and was a keen, but not very talented Judo student until I turned 14. I was first introduced to Shotokai Karate while studying in Durham in the 1980s, and as a tall and lanky person this suited me far better than Judo. But it took quite a journey, including several years of Tai Chi and flirtations with other martial arts before I finally discovered Wado in the late naughties. A huge step forward came when I moved to Devon ten years ago and stumbled across not only a brilliant Wado club here in Plymouth but the best sensei in the business. I’ve been incredibly fortunate to train with Sensei Gary Swift ever since, learning sword and knife defences, how to break wooden blocks (rather than knuckles) and plenty of other techniques as well as the standard but varied Wado syllabus. Being awarded my 3rd Dan back in 2019 was one of my proudest ever achievements, but the more I study the more I realise I’ve hardly started.
I’ve always been fascinated by martial arts, and was a keen, but not very talented Judo student until I turned 14. I was first introduced to Shotokai Karate while studying in Durham in the 1980s, and as a tall and lanky person this suited me far better than Judo. But it took quite a journey, including several years of Tai Chi and flirtations with other martial arts before I finally discovered Wado in the late naughties. A huge step forward came when I moved to Devon ten years ago and stumbled across not only a brilliant Wado club here in Plymouth but the best sensei in the business. I’ve been incredibly fortunate to train with Sensei Gary Swift ever since, learning sword and knife defences, how to break wooden blocks (rather than knuckles) and plenty of other techniques as well as the standard but varied Wado syllabus. Being awarded my 3rd Dan back in 2019 was one of my proudest ever achievements, but the more I study the more I realise I’ve hardly started.
About Nicholas Llewellyn 3rd Dan.
I started training in karate with the British karate association back in 1984 in shotokan but the club closed when I reached 2nd kyu, I then joined the KUGB where I gained 1st Dan in 1990 and 2nd Dan in 1994. I continued to train in Tai chi and also studied southern praying mantis Kung Fu for a number of years whilst living abroad I started training again in karate this time wado in 2018 where I was being prepared for 3rd Dan grading then because of the pandemic I returned to Uk in 2020 where I was lucky to find a wado club being taught by excellent instructors and being headed by Gary Swift Hanshi, it was like winning the lottery he is so selfless in his instruction and brings out the best in everyone. It's a good club where everyone helps each other. In 2022 I was so lucky and overwhelmed to be awarded 3rd Dan, I will continue to learn and improve from my instructors and fellow classmates.
I started training in karate with the British karate association back in 1984 in shotokan but the club closed when I reached 2nd kyu, I then joined the KUGB where I gained 1st Dan in 1990 and 2nd Dan in 1994. I continued to train in Tai chi and also studied southern praying mantis Kung Fu for a number of years whilst living abroad I started training again in karate this time wado in 2018 where I was being prepared for 3rd Dan grading then because of the pandemic I returned to Uk in 2020 where I was lucky to find a wado club being taught by excellent instructors and being headed by Gary Swift Hanshi, it was like winning the lottery he is so selfless in his instruction and brings out the best in everyone. It's a good club where everyone helps each other. In 2022 I was so lucky and overwhelmed to be awarded 3rd Dan, I will continue to learn and improve from my instructors and fellow classmates.
About Steve Pritchard 2nd Dan.
My interest in martial arts started as a teenager, doing Shotokan Karate at the age of 17, however I did not feel it catered for the smaller less powerful person and always assumed Karate had to be a “hard” martial art pitting strength against strength.
My journey over the years led me briefly through kickboxing and Tai Chi to Wing Chun Kung Fu, which taught me how clever use of a centre-line between opponents can give the smaller person an advantage.
I gained Brown belt before the club folded and I did Aiki-Escrima (Aikido with Philippine stick and knife fighting) for several years, which showed me grappling and disarming skills.
Finally I arrived at Wado Ryu Karate taught by the vastly experienced Sensei Swift and Sensei House. I have been delighted to find an art that has it all!
If you are looking for a martial art that has fitness, Japanese culture, skill and practical application - look no further.
My interest in martial arts started as a teenager, doing Shotokan Karate at the age of 17, however I did not feel it catered for the smaller less powerful person and always assumed Karate had to be a “hard” martial art pitting strength against strength.
My journey over the years led me briefly through kickboxing and Tai Chi to Wing Chun Kung Fu, which taught me how clever use of a centre-line between opponents can give the smaller person an advantage.
I gained Brown belt before the club folded and I did Aiki-Escrima (Aikido with Philippine stick and knife fighting) for several years, which showed me grappling and disarming skills.
Finally I arrived at Wado Ryu Karate taught by the vastly experienced Sensei Swift and Sensei House. I have been delighted to find an art that has it all!
If you are looking for a martial art that has fitness, Japanese culture, skill and practical application - look no further.