Shikukai Martial Arts & Fitness Association
Mumei Juku Dojo (Private)
Stephen Chamberlain
7th Dan Wado-Ryu Karate-Do
3rd Dan ZNKR Iai-Do
3rd Dan ZNKR Jo-Do
Stephen Chamberlain started his karate training in February 1973 at the T. Maeda School of Karate. Instructing was T. Maeda 5th Dan, 1968 All Japan Open Champion.
Steve spent the next 4 1/2 years training with Maeda Sensei.
In 1975 Steve with two other brown belts were asked to provide extra training to the first two students at the club to attempt their black belt. This they did with a relish for 6 months before their grading. Both passed with flying colours.
In February 1977 Steve attempted his 1st Dan at Crystal Palace in London at the end of the UKKW annual five day winter course. The two black belts returned the compliment and for 6 months worked him 7 days a week. He became the third black belt at the club.
At the end of 1977 beginning of 1978 Maeda Sensei returned to Japan to join the family firm.
At this time the club left the UKKW, so Steve went looking for another UKKW club. He started with a club run by Shinohara Sensei and met a new instructor who had arrived two weeks earlier and was to become a major figure in Steve's karate, Mr. F. Sugasawa. Not happy with the club Steve ventured further into London. Here the club instructor was Mr. T. Suzuki Sensei 8th Dan Hanshi and chief instructor of the UKKW.
Mr. Sugasawa later joined Mr. Suzuki teaching at the club and became his long term assistant.
Steve also became a long time student to Mr. Sugasawa that continues to this day.
1977 1st Dan UKKW.
1979 2nd Dan UKKW.
1987 3rd Dan UKKW.
In1989 along with Sugasawa sensei Steve joined the newly formed Wado Academy. This enabled him to train with the 2nd Grand Master H. Ohtsuka, when he came to the UK, following him around the country to attend his courses. This look his training and knowledge to another level.
1996 4th Dan Wado Academy.
In 1998 after discussing it with another long time Shikukai instructor, René Van Amersfoort who was also a senior teacher with the Dutch and European Kendo Federation, Steve joined the Eishinkan Dojo and started to study Zen Nippon Kendo Renmei Seitei Iai-do Gata and the koryu of Muso Shinden Ryu Iai-do and the Zen Nippon Kendo Renmei Seitei Jo-do Gata with the British Kendo Association. Along with his karate these arts were to become another passion.
2000 1st Dan Iai-do
1st Dan Jo-do
British Kendo Association.
2001 5th Dan Wado Academy.
2001 2nd Dan Iai-do
British Kendo Association.
2002 2nd Dan Jo-do
British Kendo Association.
2004 3rd Dan Jo-do
British Kendo Association
2007 Both Sugasawa sensei and Y. Iwasaki sensei left the Wado Academy. Y. Iwasaki went on to form the Karate-Do Kenshu Kai International. Sugasawa sensei expanded his groups of clubs to become Shikukai Karate-Do International due to a number of clubs from Europe wishing to join Shikukai and asking Sugasawa to be their sensei.
It should be noted that at this time of great upheaval not a single student left Shikukai.
2009 3rd Dan Iai-do
British Kendo Association.
2010 6th Dan Shikukai Karate-do International
2020 7th Dan Shikukai Karate -do International