Kodokai Karate club www.skkifwatford.co uk

The final one! Thank you everyone who attended our last session and joined after to reminisce.

OSS

A message from Renshi Leigh:
After much deliberation and consulting senior students, I have decided to retire from Karate and to close Kodokai at the end of February. After 50 years of pure dedication to the art this was an extremely difficult decision.

Our last lesson as Kodokai will be Wednesday 25th of February.

We would like to thank all those who have been a member of Kodokai, past and present as well as everyone who has attended the courses and gashuku that we have hosted over the years.

Our club website will remain live with the gallery so you can continue to look back over all of the fond memories dating back to 2000.

https://www.skkifwatford.co.uk

Renshi Leigh will remain as the technical officer for SKKIF UK for the remainder of 2026.

OSS

29.10.1939 – 19.01.2026

It is with deep sadness that we share the news of the passing of our father, Hanshi Shiro Asano.

He dedicated his life to spreading the art and discipline of Karate; shaping skilled Karate-ka, instilling spirit, values, and confidence, and leading and building the family of SKIF-GB.

To so many of you, he was more than an instructor; he was a role model, a mentor, a guide, a friend, and someone who stood tall. He brought energy, a sense of humour, humility, and a big heart into every room he entered.

He was larger than life, brave, honest, and always the life and soul of the party; someone who lived fully, laughed loudly, and gave generously. His legacy lives on in the countless personal memories each of you will carry: lessons from the dojo that stayed with you long after training ended, trips away, and conversations shared over a beer and a social after “hard training”.

This is very recent and as such there are no arrangements yet. Our family kindly ask that you respect our privacy at this sad time.

Thank you for being part of his Karate family, which he loved with all his heart. His spirit lives on in every student he taught and every life he has touched over the last 86 years.

We will forever love and miss him. In his own words:

“One life, must enjoy, Oss!”

OPEN ALL ASSOCIATIONS COURSE with Kanazawa Kancho
at Bamber Bridge Leisure Centre, Brindle Road, Bamber Bridge, PR56 6YJ Sunday May 10th at 12 noon
First two sessions 12.00 pm till 2.45 pm All grades
Third session Brown and Black Belts. 3.00pm to 4.00pm*

Further details from Andrew Sensei [email protected] or from [email protected]
* note for Brown and Black belt class the first two classes must be booked along with the Yudansha class

Merry Christmas to all of our karate friends and family.

OSS

Karate training has now concluded for the year. Thank you to all students and families for a great year of training and commitment.

Training will resume on Monday 5th Jan. We look forward to seeing everyone back in the new year!

Enjoy the break and stay safe.

Congratulations to the Kodakai students who passed their gradings tonight.

A lot of hard work and dedication shown.

Great training today for Kodokai students with Tanka Sensei in Windsor. Two Kodakai students completing a tough grading.

🥋 Happy World Karate Day! 🥋

Today we celebrate the art, discipline and spirit of Karate. A journey of respect, focus and self-improvement. Whether you’re perfecting your kata, teaching the next generation or tying your first belt, take a moment to honour the tradition that unites Karateka worldwide 🌎

Train hard. Stay humble. Keep the spirit alive 👊



*toryukarate