TokueiKan Aiki-jujutsu London

I would like to echo Chris's words and extend my sincere thanks to everyone who helped make this achievement possible.

Firstly, my deepest gratitude to Shihan Kevin McKane for conducting such a thorough and challenging grading, and to Sensei Lee Paine for organising the event. Thank you also to Sensei Lindsay Comens for his patience and expertise in teaching us Kendo no Kata and the Itto Ryu Kata over the past 18 months.

A special thank you to all the students and training partners who travelled to support us and acted as Uke throughout the day. Your effort, commitment, and encouragement were greatly appreciated.

I would also like to thank Shihan Chris Lacy. We started our London Ju Jitsu journey together many years ago, and despite now following different paths, we have remained training partners and good friends. When I was hesitant about attempting 7th Dan, Chris encouraged me to take on the challenge, and I am grateful for his support throughout the preparation and grading process.

Achieving 7th Dan is a significant milestone, but more importantly it is a reminder of the many teachers, training partners, and students who have contributed to my development over the years. I am humbled to have reached this level and look forward to continuing the journey of learning and teaching.

I’m incredibly proud to share that Shihan Salur Onural and I both passed our 7th Dan Gradings yesterday. Thanks so much to Shihan Kevin McKane of Waregachi Ju Jitsu for grading us and Sensei Lee Paine also of Waregachi for organising it. Huge thanks also to Sensei Lindsay Comens of Hakuho Ju Jutsu for teaching us Kendo No Kata and the first 10 Itto Ryu Kata which were part of our syllabus over the last 18 months! It was a very tough grading but that’s the way it should be! Thanks also to all of the students who came a fair distance to Uke and also to those who were injured but still made the trip to be there! Finally for me it is a huge honour to have achieved this grade as my original teacher Soke Billy Fenner held this rank when I started my Ju Jitsu journey in 1985 so to have reached this level is truly humbling.