Instructors

Sensei Alan Woodhouse 6th Dan Goju-Ryu Karate

1st Dan Okinawan Kobudo

Alan Woodhouse started training in Goju-Ryu Karate in 1979 under the instruction of John Lawrence, a student of well respected karate instructor Sensei Mike Lambert 5 th Dan.

In his younger days Alan competed in a number of karate tournaments, his highest achievement being  kumite 2nd place in the British All Styles National Championships in the mid 1980s. Alan achieved his 1st Dan under Mike Lambert in February 1987, followed by 2nd Dan in 1988. In 1989 he was introduced to Sensei George Andrews and joined the E.G.K.A. (English Goju-Ryu Karate Association) A few months later he was introduced to Sensei Ernie Molyneaux and regularly trained in Bournemouth and London.

Alan achieved 1st Dan I.O.G.K.F in 1990 and 2nd Dan I.O.G.K.F in 1991. 3rd Dan I.O.G.K.F 2005 4th Dan I.O.G.K.F 2008 and 5th Dan I.O.G.K.F 2014 He has attended International seminars for many years with I.O.G.K.F (International Okinawan Goju-Ryu Karate Do Federation) in Europe and Okinawa Japan.

Alan left EGKA in 2020 and now the karate club runs under the British Martial Arts and Boxing Association. (BMABA). He achieved 6th Dan in 2024. To further develop Alan was graded to 1st Dan Kobudo (Traditional Okinawan Weapons) by Okinawan weapons master Hiroshi Akimine and an International grading panel in August 2024 at the International Kobudo gasshuku held in Liverpool.

Sensei Alan is the lead (Chief instructor) of HSGK and has the following qualifications.

BMABA level 2 is for lead instructors.

Sensei John Fernandez 3rd (San Dan)

Sensei John has been a karateka since 1988, started Goju Ryu Karate in India at the age of nine. He has been training under Sensei Alan since 2008. He has won various tournaments in Kumite and Kata. In July 2011, He won 1st place in the EGKA Southern England Kata competition for 2nd Dan and below.

He does enjoy his sparring and an especially his Mawashi Geri, watch out for it, if you are ever sparring with him. He has been an assistant instructor for the last 12 years and helps out with all the major gradings and tournaments. Sensei John is fully insured, he has enhanced CRB checks and first-aid certificates.

Sensei Paul Walbridge. 3rd Dan (San Dan)

Sensei Paul has been training in Goju-Ryu karate for 15-plus years. He has attended many National seminars hosted by top Goju-Ryu karate instructors.

He regularly teaches junior classes and assists with conducting adult classes.

Sensei Paul teaches adult and junior classes when Sensei Alan can not attend.

He has an enhanced DBS certificate, First aid certificate, Instructor insurance,

Safeguarding certificate. He is also qualified to teach first aid.

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Sensei Molly Foulkes Ni Dan

Sensei Molly has been training in karate since she was about seven years old. 

She has won many trophies for kata and kumite (Sparring).

She regularly teaches at the club and is very popular with the junior students. Being very supple and an excellent kicker her teaching is very vibrant and the juniors really aspire to her.