A Brief History of Sensei Geoff Britton by Mike Pettifer.

Geoff was a 3rd Dan when I met him and is now a 6th Dan and head of Wado in Spain. He was an innovator, an inspiration to all who trained with him or were trained by him. Geoff came up the hard way by grading with the senior Japanese; he was a student with Tatsuo Suzuki and a member of the successful British team that beat Japan for the first time in the UK. He fought many times for various teams and was extremely successful in both kumite and kata. He trained all over UK with all top names of his time and went to USA to train with the legendary Bill Wallace. What Sensei Geoff brought to UK karate that was unique, was respect for the student by the Sensei, previously unknown under the mantle of the Japanese. He eventually broke away from all Japanese influence believing them to be both brilliant in their execution of technique and etiquette but too brutalistic towards their students. He also extrapolated from his training in USA new techniques that where prevalent to the 20 th century and changed the old Japanese way into what he called 'pragmatic karate', in short he was a genius of his time and I was honoured that I was taught by him. I hope that what he taught me about respect and practicalities of modern karate has rubbed off in part at least on my own students. Geoff believed that you made karate fit the man not the man fit karate an ethos many associations would do well to remember. I think his best eulogy would be the words on the back of all Kenbukai grading syllabuses..." Humility before honour".

Bob Breen Biography

Bob began martial arts training in 1966 and from early '67 began studying Wado Ryu under Tatsuo Suzuki. He continued in Wado Karate for a number of years and passed his black belt in 1970 and passed his second degree in 1972. He continued to study Karate and associated arts. Studying in Japan in 1974 where he trained under a variety of senior masters. Competing internationally in Karate on a number of occasions he was captain of the Amateur Martial Arts Association (AMA) team that beat the Japanese in 1974.

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