EKK

Enzo Quirino

Position: Chief Instructor of E.K.K. (Association)
Grade: 4th Dan
Clubs: E.K.K. (New Malden), E.K.K (Coombe)

Profile:
The content of this website forms the basis of my achievements in karate; the development of my students in the dojo and in competition, the growing number of senior grades, instructors and clubs, and England Karate Kan’s status as an Association. These successes demonstrate a good standard of karate and a commitment to karate also.

Since EKK was established in 2003, I have been fortunate to have such good students and instructors – together we have been able to make EKK the success it is today. I would like to thank all those people, both past and present, for their efforts over the years. We have ensured that EKK is on the map; a current landmark in English karate.

Our aim at EKK is to maintain our strong standards, within both the dojo and the traditional side of karate, and in competition and the sports side of karate, whilst remembering to follow the ethos of karate-do always.

Sayonara!!!!!!!!!!!

Anthony Everitt

Position: President of E.K.K. (Association)
Grade: 4th Dan
Clubs: E.K.K.

Profile:
My Interest in Karate began back in 1985 thanks to the Karate kid movie.

I was bullied in Junior school and wanted to do boxing but my parents said no, at the time Judo was big so I went to a Judo club and there was some 2 year waiting list. It wasnt until i saw Ralph Macchio in the Karate kid that my interest in Karate began, and thanks to my mum watching the movie and liking Mr Miyagi i was allowed to do karate!

What amazes me is the diversity of the EKK, Kata champions & Kumite champions at various levels including England National Squad Members and the development of their coaching staff and at grass root levels. Plus a great family atmosphere, the balance is right and Sensei Quirino's heart and soul of Karate is within the EKK and its members.

I would like to wish everyone at the EKK the very best in their Karate Career!

Emma Vaughan

Position: Instructor
Grade: 2nd Dan
Clubs: E.K.K. (New Malden)

Profile:
I have always had an interest in Martial Arts having always been a big fan of Bruce Lee, the Shaolin Monks and of today’s talent, Jet Li.

My physical path into martial arts all started with Judo and then after my family moved home I discovered a Karate club grading in a local leisure centre. I was so intrigued I went along to my first class that week and sure enough that was it, one class of Shotokan Karate was enough to get me hooked. I trained 6, sometimes 7 times a week and I attended week long intensive courses twice a year, held by 6 British instructors, 6th Dan and above, I’ve also had the privilege of being taught by two of the best Japanese instructors in Shotokan based in England i.e. the late Sensei Enoeda 9th Dan and Sensei Ohta 6th Dan.

In 1993, after my studies, I decided to take a year out to live and work in Italy at which time I was a 5th Kyu. I continued with my training and managed to double grade. I then returned to Wales for a short time before moving up to Scotland where I lived for 4yrs. Here I achieved both my 1st and 2nd Dan, but the best thing was to be chosen for the Scottish Squad. I went on to represent Scotland and won numerous medals in many competitions but the best has to be the World Championships held in Los Angeles and the European Championships in Austria where I did Kata, Team Kata, Kumite and Team Kumite.

...and now 15yrs on I’ve stumbled across an instructor by the name of Sensei Enzo, he asked me to become a member of his EKK Team, which I accepted in May 2008 and I’m really glad I did, it’s a great team and family to be part of and it works really well simply because of the dedication and drive Sensei has for what he wants to achieve.

I am a bit of stickler for the rules/etiquette, both in and outside of the dojo…I really respect what Karate stands for and the discipline that's involved which I think is an important attribute and can be implemented into everyday life, whether that be at school or work.

‘Fast and Strong’

Howard Wise

Position: Instructor, Squad Coach, Club Secretary.
Grade: 2nd Dan
Clubs: E.K.K. (New Malden)

Profile:
Howard first started karate back in 1979 doing Kyokushinkai for 2 years. He then had a short break of 21 years, and it was only after taking his kids along to train at the Malden Centre with Sensei Enzo, and watching them train for a few months that he decided to start training again himself.

It was not long until Howard was hooked, and since his humble beginnings in 2002, he graded to 2nd Dan Black belt in July 2008.

Howard now helps coach the junior fighting squad and is the competition coordinator, as well has handles other administrative duties.

Howard says "My goal, if my aching bones and joints will allow me is to grade to 3rd Dan, by which time I'll be to old to do anymore and it will be back on the side lines watching my kids and grand kids. Karate has been a way of life for me, and I have enjoyed every minute of it.

Ooosssss!!!!!"

Claire Read

Position: Instructor
Grade: 2nd Dan
Clubs: E.K.K (New Malden),

E.K.K. (St Joseph's), E.K.K.(Surbiton)

Profile:
Claire began karate in 2002, grading for 1st Dan in 2005, and 2nd Dan in 2009.

Competing for England Karate Kan between 2003-2005, Claire medalled twice at the British Championships for Team Kata.

Teaching with Sensei Enzo for many years, Claire started her own club E.K.K. (Surbiton) for the association in 2008.

Having recently been awarded an EKF Coaching certificate, Claire plans to attend more competition and is particularly interested in judging.

Claire’s ambition is to reach 3rd Dan with the EKK.

Michael Kates

Position: Instructor
Grade: 2nd Dan
Clubs: E.K.K. (Croydon)

Profile:
Michael began studying karate in 1991 aged 7; he was inspired to begin martial arts like many children of the early 90’s because of Television programmes like ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’ & ‘The Karate Kid’.

Michael studied the Wado Ryu style for many years under various instructors and gained his Junior black belt in 1998, during this time he dabbled in various styles of karate & many other martial arts studying under a variety of masters, these martial arts included: Judo, Aikido, Jujitsu & Tai Chi, he later gained his Adult Shodan in 2000 aged 16.

Michael joined England Karate Kan in 2003 & began to study the Shito Ryu style under Sensei Enzo Quirino. Michael is a current member of the England Karate Kan squad & competes on a regular basis; In 2006 Michael & his father Dan opened up a karate club in Croydon which was always one of Michael ambitions.

In July 2008 Michael achieved his 2nd Dan, Michael’s ambitions are to enjoy Karate, train hard & give back what he has learnt & experienced both in the dojo & outside of the dojo to his students.

Dan Kates

Position: Instructor
Grade: 2nd Dan
Clubs: E.K.K. (Croydon)

Profile:
Danny’s first taste of martial arts was when he was in his early teens where he studied Judo.

Then at the time of the ‘Bruce Lee Boom’ Danny began to study Wu Shu Kwan Kung Fu after being like many people at this time heavily influenced by the legendary Bruce Lee.

He then began to study Wado Ryu Karate in 1992 & achieved 1st Dan Black Belt in 2000, of which during this time had the experience of training under many instructors in various styles of Karate.

Danny joined England Karate Kan in 2003 and began studying Shito Ryu Karate.

In 2006 Danny opened up a Karate club in Croydon with his son Michael and in 2008 Danny achieved his 2nd Dan.

Paolo Di Mambro

Position: Instructor
Grade: 2nd Dan
Clubs: E.K.K.(Westbury),
E.K.K.(Clapham),
E.K.K. (Corpus Christi)

Profile:
Karate re-entered my life late on, when many other activities had run their course.
First was football played at amateur level throughout most of my youth .
Judo though, as a martial art, was introduced to me by some practitioners in my teenage years and kept me forever wondering about these martial arts with incomprehensible names, landing in Europe.
In practice I started karate about 20 years ago and after a few visits to various clubs settled for a popular style, shotokan, which I followed all the way to shodan (1st dan). There were times when just to find a dojo close to home I joined a kyokushinkai club where I graded and got certificates. Wado ryu helped also to give me a more complete vision of the world of karate but it wasn’t until I started to practice our present style of shito-ryu that I found a really interesting and absorbing activity that I follow with real enthusiasm. It is with this frame of mind that I achieved nidan (2nd Dan) and hopefully will be able to instill into my students, as I did with my daughter, the same appreciation and affection for this top class sport.
A recently established karate club is run & managed by me in the Clapham area. I also help Sensei Enzo with teaching at his clubs when possible and necessary.

Paul Taylor

Position: Instructor
Grade: 1st Dan
Clubs: E.K.K.(New Malden), E.K.K. (Banstead),

E.K.K.(Coombe), E.K.K.(Robin Hood) E.K.K.(Green Lane)

Profile:
After the usual of my generation, I watched the Bruce Lee, Chuck Norris & David Carradine in Kung Fu movies. I marvelled at their skills and was drawn to the Eastern way of Combat.

I began training in the Shotoan Style in 1988 Influenced by a Japanese Sensei Keinosuke Eneoda 9th Dan, his Assistant Sensei Ohta 5th Dan and other inspiring Sensei from the Marshall Street Dojo. We trained within the major Shotokan Organisations at the time known as the Karate Union Of Great Britain and The Japan Karate Association UK. I was a bit younger then and after 6 hours a week training, numerous courses and a few memorable Gashku's later I was graded Shodan in 1992. During this time I co-founded a local club The Robin Hood Shotokan Karate club in which I continued to train for another 2 1/2 years.

I was forced to stop training after developing pnuemonia from bacteria present in some Scuba Diving equipment I had been using. Diving was something else I was very much into at the time. Recovering health I found myself drawn toward Wado-Ryu Karate with it's body evasion & Ju-Jitsu techniques probably because one of my neighbours was yet another Japanese 5th Dan Sensei Fumio Sugasawa. For a couple of years I continued to train at the Shi Ku Kai Dojo in Sutton. To be honest I found myself training less and diving more and by 1997 I had decided to hang up my Gi and commit myself to diving as the two no longer mixed. Diving was getting quite deep and technical involving mixed gases and medical issues that are raised when you dive with circulation impaired, bruises and other physical injury. This the readers of this profile will know happens in Karate from time to time. So I spent the next few years with my head underwater as far away as The South China Seas at every opportunity I could get & afford.

All of a sudden out of the blue, (no pun intended) 1999 came and everything, absolutely everything including my commitment changed. Along came Nathan my son. Most of you will know Nathan by now. Anyway after immersing Nathan in a swimming pool 4-5 times a week for 5 1/2 years I thought it was time to challenge him with something else. I recall thinking at Nathan's birth that "Karate is on the cards for you my son" and with that thought in mind I began looking for a Dojo. Finding EKK at New Malden and after a few visits watching Sensei Enzo's Karate skills & teaching abilities, I soon realised that Nathan would be on the right path. After a few years as a parent blocking up the front of the Dojo, being inspired by Sensei Enzo, Howard, Paulo and my son, I found myself in my old Gi, in the Dojo and training again.

After a shaky start I was once again hooked and back on the path of a Karateka, training under Sensei Enzo, supported by his dedicated black belts, all willing to share their knowledge and skill. I guess my attitude toward Karate comes from a very strong Japanese influence and the Sensi that trained me initially and it's that spirit that I try to enter, train and leave the Dojo. Sensei Enzo is also strongly in favour of maintaining the values of Traditional Karate. My teaching experience comes largely from 20 years as a Diving Instructor and as this requires a layered repetition approach, it suites Karate instruction well. After undergoing a period as an Assistant Instructor under Sensei Enzo's continuing guidance I feel privileged to be called an Instructor for the EKK Association and learn the Shitoryu style under such expert a Sensei.

It's funny to think that what I sought out for my son Nathan training in Karate, alongside good peers and role models. I have once again found for myself. I envy those youngsters of ours who have learned so much and yet have so much more to learn.

As do I.

James Witt

	Position: Assistant Junior Coach Grade: 1st Dan Clubs: E.K.K. (New Malden) E.K.K. (Coombe)
Profile: Waiting for Profile details.