Shotokan coaching at Edinburgh University Karate Club covers a broad traditional syllabus that incorporates kihon (basics), kata (forms), kumite (sparring) and bunkai (application of kata). The content of sessions varies week-to-week, suitable for all levels of experience in karate.
We are coached by a number of JKAWFS (Japan Karate Association - World Federation Scotland) Sensei who have served the club for the past twenty years. You can find out more abut their karate background below.
Our sessions are beneficial for anyone looking to get fit or flexible, with the extra incentive of earning a new colour of belt at the end of term. Gradings are held once a semester, with additional opportunities to grade out-of-term, and are hosted by Sensei Kenny Taylor 6th Dan. With dedication and determination you can earn your first black belt during your time in Edinburgh.
Our Coaches
4th Dan
JKA Level D Coach
Sensei
Tim Bungey
Tim has been training in traditional Shotokan karate for approximately 27 years, starting when he was a student at St Andrews University. He initially trained under the instruction of Sensei Paul Dempsey as part of the JKA (Japanese Karate Association) organisation in the UK with gradings taken by the late Sensei Enoeda. Following his time in St Andrews, Tim moved to England and continued training under the same association, obtaining his Shodan grade in 1997.
On moving to Edinburgh in 2001, he registered with the UK Traditional Karate Federation under Sensei Kawasoe's leadership and joined the Edinburgh University Shotokan club as a non-student member, where he has trained ever since. Following the departure of our previous Sensei in 2011, he took over the coaching duties, along with Thierry. Over the last decade Tim has regularly competed at the national championships, winning medals of all colours in both individual and team traditional shobu-ippon kumite. He also trains regularly with the national squad and competed as part of the Scotland team at the JKA Afro-Eurasian championships in 2013 and 2015.
Tim achieved his Yondan grade in 2017 and also holds current JKA level D coaching and referee qualifications.
4th Dan
SKGB Level 2 Coach
Sensei
Thierry Giroud
Thierry started training karate at the age of 9, in awe of a certain Bruce Lee. He trained in his original club in France for about 12 years, where he managed to win the French championship in team kata two years in a row, in 1983 and 1984.
He then had a break for 10 years but joined the Edinburgh University Shotokan Karate club in 1999 as he missed karate immensely, and decided to do his Shodan grading a year after joining. In France, the Shodan grading is a two-stage process, and while Thierry had obtained his ‘technical’ Shodan he hadn’t completed the full kumite part of the grading, where you have to win about 10 fights to be awarded the Shodan grade.
He trained under Sensei Nick Shaw at the University’s Shotokan club for quite a few years and ended up taking over from him, along with Tim, when Nick moved on. Thierry obtained his 4th Dan in the summer of 2018, and has completed all his Dan grades under Kawasoe Sensei as chief instructor.
2nd Dan
Sensei
Kylie Barnard
Kylie started her karate journey at the age of 13 when she joined her local Kyokushin karate club on the North Shore in New Zealand, under Sensei Stephen Takiwa making her way through the Kyu grades. She trained under her Sensei very much focusing on kumite competition where she regularly won local and national tournaments, and also represented New Zealand and the World Champs.
In 2000 Kylie moved to Scotland and shortly after she joined the Edinburgh University Shotokan Karate Club under Sensei Nick Shaw, she found Shotokan completely different so put on a white belt and started again. Kylie has taken all her Shotokan gradings under Sensei Masao Kawasoe as part of the UKTKF and then the JKA where in 2012 she was awarded her 1st Dan and then in 2015 her 2nd Dan.
During her time at Edinburgh University she has regularly competed in Kumite and Kata taking Scottish and UK tittles on numerous occasions, she has also medalled at the JKA European Champs and represented Scotland at the World Champs. Kylie enjoys imparting her knowledge and experience to the students and has a keen focus on self-defence in the real world.
5th Dan
SKGB Level 3 Coach
Sensei
Robert Redpath
Robert has been training and teaching in Edinburgh since 1978. He was awarded 1st Dan in 1983 and currently holds the rank of 5th Dan. He has held coaching/ refereeing qualifications for many years at the international level.
Robert had his own club in Edinburgh (including the university club at one point) for nearly forty years. Although he no longer runs his own karate school, he is pleased to be coaching at the university club again.