Tommy Kwan 7th DAN

I was born in China and arrived in England in 1959. I started practicing the art of fighting in the early 1960's beginning with Boxing, Wrestling, Judo and Kung Fu. In 1966 I joined Shotokan karate in the centre of Manchester within the Kita Nishi Kwan Judo club. The Karate club had a monthly visit from the great master Eneoda (head of KUGB), and I took my very first grading with him.

In 1969 I joined the Shukokai Karate Union headed by Sensei Roy Stanhope (one of England's first International competitors, Ex England Team manager, chief referee and British Coach.) During the early years I trained twice a week combined with private lessons from Sensei Stanhope, I was also fortunate enough to train with some of the well-known and highly respected instructors, amongst them were Stan Knighton (former Great Britain and England Karate international, Ex European Champion), Peter Consterdine, (former England and Great Britain international), Eddie Daniels, Eugene Codrington (former member of the British Team), Tommy Morris (the head of Scottish Shukokai), the late Danny Connor, Master Sken in Thai Boxing and Ticky Donovan (he and his Dan-grade panel graded me to 4th Dan).

I've also had the opportunity to train with many Japanese top Shukokai instructors, these include the late Master Tani (founder of Shukokai), Sensei Tomiyama, Sensei Nanbu (head of European Shukokai) and of course the late great Master Kimura who I trained with many times including a week full time in New Jersey USA, and eventually graded me to 3rd Dan. Master Kimura is the one who stands out in my mind whenever I think of Shukokai. My present grade is 7th Dan. I am the founder and chief instructor of Rising Sun Karate Association. I started my first club in 1973 and shortly after then I became a full-time Karate instructor and have been teaching Shukokai ever since.

I opened my purpose built Karate centre on Stand Lane, Radcliffe in 1998, which then became the new RSKA head quarters and I still teach at the old head quarters at Manchester Road Community Centre in Bury (opened in 1974)