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ABOUT WESTWOOD KARATE ACADEMY Chief Instructor of The Westwood Academy is Sensei Alan Parrish, training since 1974, he formed the Academy with wife Carol in 1993. The Academy has two other full time professional instructors, Lee Wiseman, and Jason Sanchez. All the instructors are fully licenced, insured, and CRB checked. Over the years, many students have successfully reached, and surpassed black belt level with the Academy. Some progressing to instructor level. In competition, a large number of both adult and junior students have also gone on to represent the U.K. in countries such as Italy, Slovenia, U.S.A. Portugal, Cyprus, and many more. We are affiliated to Traditional Shotokan Karate U.K. The TSKUK hold annual training courses with world renown instructors such as 8th dan Master Hiroshi Shirai, and New York based 6th dan Richard Amos. Two free training courses are held every year exclusively for members, along with National Championships for adults and children. Classes for beginners and experienced students are held 7 days a week in Shoeburyness, Westcliff/Southend-on-Sea, Rayleigh, Thundersley/Hadleigh, Hawkwell/Rochford, and Canvey Island. ABOUT OUR INSTRUCTORS Alan Parrish Carol Parrish Lee Wiseman Jason Sanchez Paul Parrish Dave Gilmore Derek Bower Other Assistants ABOUT KARATE The style of karate practised at the Academy is Shotokan. There are many different styles and fractions within karate, and Shotokan has proved to be one of the most popular and widely practised in the world.
It is a style developed from ancient Okinawan forms of empty-hand fighting by Master Gichin Funakoshi. Master Funakoshi, considered by many to be the 'Founder of modern karate', introduced karate into Japan in 1922. The name 'Shotokan' is derived from his pen name 'shoto' (pine waves), and 'kan', meaning hall, and was chosen by his students. Master Funakoshi died in 1957 at the age of 89 years. His teachings were continued by The Japan Karate Association and a program was started to spread Shotokan Karate throughout the world. It reached these shores in the early 1960s. Karate is an exciting activity for men, women and children, our training methods develop skills which can be used for self defence while also providing a good all round fitness work-out. The confidence gained can be channelled into other aspects of life, and children can particularly benefit from the discipline and concentration needed for karate practise.
Instructor Profiles Sensei Parrish started training in Shotokan Karate at the age of 14 in 1974. The main instructor at that first club was sensei Peter Waterhouse, and the Hadleigh Club were part of the Thames organisation. The following year the club joined the KUGB and by 1977 Alan had passed his 1st dan grading under Sensei Enoeda. 2nd dan followed in 1979, and 3rd dan in 1983. His final grading under Sensei Enoeda was 4th dan, in 1988. By this time he was training 3 or 4 times a week under Sensei Enoeda or Ohta at the Marshall Street Dojo, and was now in charge of the original Hadleigh club which had moved to Canvey Island, along with friend and training partner Richard Amos.
Throughout the 1980's & early 90's he was very active in KUGB competitions. Result highlights were finishing as runner-up in the individual kata at the Shotokan Cup, the KUGB's national black & brown belt competition, in 1983, and third place in '89 and runner-up in '91 in the individual kumite at the same competition. 1989 and '91 were also successful years at regional level, as Alan won the individual kumite and then the individual kata. During this period he received the honour of being invited to train with the KUGB British squad at the Liverpool red triangle dojo. One of the most memorable achievements was teaming up with Richard Amos and Gary Mills to win the KUGB National Championships Team kata event at Crystal Palace, three years in Succession, 1983, '84 and '85. By 1996 Alan had formed the Westwood Karate Academy (1993) with wife Carol, joined the UKTKF, and Richard had long since moved to Japan and completed the J.K.A. instructor course. At his invitation Alan and Carol had the chance to fulfil the dream of many Shotokan Karateka, visit Japan, and train at the JKA headquarters.. Although the trip was over all to quickly, it is an experience they will always treasure. Alan trained under Sensei Kawasoe at the UKTKF for 17 years. He passed his 5th dan examination in 2003, and the following year was appointed coach to the national team. He was invited by sensei Kawasoe to teach alongside him, and other such notable instructors as sensei Naito and Tsuyama on the UKTKF spring and summer courses, and also the summer course in Norway. A great honour, for which he is very grateful to sensei Kawasoe. As a competitor for the UKTKF, his highlights were winning the national individual kata title four times, placing 3rd in individual kumite at the European championships in 1993 and '96, and 3rd in individual kata in 1994. But without doubt, Alan's biggest competition highlight was at the combined ITKF/WUKO international world championships in Egypt, performing the gold medal winning Kata on an open air platform in front of the Spinx and Pyramids at Giza - In the rain!, while master Nakayama looked on holding a cushion over his head to keep the rain off. Carol started training in 1988 and passed her Kyu gradings as a member of the KUGB. In 1993 she formed the Westwood Academy along with husband Alan, and in 1994 passed her 1st dan grading under Sensei Kawasoe. Although a latecomer to competition, she became UKTKF National Kumite Champion in 1998, and has also won medals abroad in New York and Portugal at open World and European championships. She has coached many people to black belt level and beyond, and say's that her "greatest reward is helping our students achieve their goals". Carol's own training is still on going, she passed her 2nd dan grading examination in 1997 and 3rd dan followed in 2000.
Having had success in competition at club and national level, he was invited to join the national squad in 2008. His proudest moment in competition came in Cyprus the same year, when he won 3 gold medals in his first international competition. In 2010 he was part of the TSKUK World championship squad which travelled to Portugal, where he won bronze and gold medals in Team Kumite and Team Kata respectively. In 2010 Jason was employed by the Academy as a full time, professional instructor. He says that he enjoys all aspects of karate, the training, competing, and teaching.
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CONTACT e-mail: info@westwoodkarateacademy.co.uk Tel: 07749520268
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Jason joined the Academy in
December 1999, at the age of 7 years. He passed his black belt grading in
April 2003, and four years later passed his 2nd dan examination.
Paul
started training back in the early 1980's
Dave started
training in 1993, as one of the Academy's first students, and is now our
longest serving member. After reaching black belt level, Dave has been
content to continue his training and pass on his experience by helping to
teach our adult beginners.
Derek started
training at the Academy in 1994. He too continues to train, and 'give back'
by helping to teach our adult beginners.