Metal Tiger Academy headteacher David Keegan
White Lion Academy headteacher Simon Keegan

1940s-1950s
Simon's great uncle Bill Nelson studied Jujutsu from 1945 under Gerald Skyner, a student of Mikonosuke Kawaishi in Liverpool. Simon's father David Keegan (now head of Bushinkai's Metal Tiger Academy also studied Jujutsu at school in about 1959. Pictured below is "Skyner's Jujutsu"


1960s-1970s

Simon's dad and uncles discovered the "new" art of Karate in the 1960s. Here is Simon's uncle John Barrie with his instructor Harry Cook (7th Dan Kyoshi). They were on the University of Durham Karate team. They studied under the likes of Shiro Asano, Keinosuke Enoeda and Andy Sherry.

 

Early 1980s- Early 1990s

David Keegan and John Barrie in China in 1987:




Bushinkai Chief Instructor Simon Keegan has been known for his Karate and Jujutsu for over 15 years but even going back 25 years he was always keen on martial arts. His first interests were in Kung Fu and Ninjutsu and later boxing, wrestling fencing and Spanish swordsmanship and Jujutsu.

Below: Simon aged 7 with his Nunchaku and a few years later with a sabre

  

Below: aged 10 on the speedball

Below: aged about 12 with his Chinese broadsword and aged 14 with Wakizashi

 
  

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From the Bushido Academy to the Bushinkai Academy... 1994 to 2002

 

      
Pictured (above left) in 1994 is Simon's first formal Karate teacher Sensei Stephen Bullough who taught Simon for over seven years, teaching him a system called Bushido Freestyle Karate based on Yoseikan/Budokan Karate with elements of Goju Ryu, Wado Ryu and some Judo and Ki Aikido techniques. Sensei Stephen Bullough is also pictured (above right) in Japan in 2000.


Simon age sixteen (right) fights the 3 time world champion in 1996, at George H Carnall Centre, Urmston
Note the club colours are still the same 14 years later. Below: from left Paul Fernay (Simon's best friend); Daniel Allen 1st Dan and Stephen Bullough (then 4th Dan) bring home the medals

 

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Simon executing a sidekick in 1996 and with greater control and flexibility ten years later in 2006

 
Simon with his sword in 1996 and 13 years later in 2009

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Western martial arts: Simon joined the Royal Mercian & Lancastrian in 1997 as well as L Keane's fencing academy.

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Above: Simon practicing Japanese sword kata in 1997

 

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Chinese martial arts training 1998 onwards

In 1998 David Keegan and soon after Barbara Lawrenson, Carol Stuart, Alan Horrocks and Simon Keegan joined a Tai Chi club in the Wigan area. The aforementioned group of friends still train together to this day.

The club had Professor Li De Yin as honourary president and several seminars with this Chinese national treasure were held.

Professor Li is a master of Yang style, Sun style, swordsmanship and has taught many famous students. He even helped train Hollywood stars Jet Lee and Donnie Yen (whose mother Bow Sim Mark was taught by Prof Li's uncle) 

Barbara and Carol now attend Dave's Tai Chi classes as assistant instructors and Alan Horrocks is now a senior student in a Yoga school.

Below: Dave teaching Simon the 88 form in summer 1999 in Britanny, France and training together at home.

 

 

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Below:  A 1998 promotional image of Simon (right) sparring with his teacher Sensei Stephen Bullough.

 
Above and below: Simon is awarded black belt 1st Dan by Sensei Stephen Bullough in 1999

Below: Simon before his last fight with the World Kickboxing Association in 2000 and a few months later with trophy (for Iaido) and Gold Medal for Karate and training at home for a full contact kickboxing match with the WKA.

 
    

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2001-2010
Bushinkai Academy of Martial Arts

Bushinkai Academy: Founded February 2 2001 by Sensei Simon Keegan with Paul Fernay 2nd Kyu as Uke.
 

 
2001 and Simon (then 1st Dan) applies a rarely used Kokyu Nage Aikijujutsu throw on Paul Fernay 2nd Kyu.

Below: Training in Jujutsu, Iaido and Kenjutsu at the first ever Bushinkai Dojo in 2001

    
    

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Below: the first ever Bushinkai annual seminar. Although Simon was still training with the Bushido Academy in 2001 he also joined the Kiai Yamabushi Ryu and studied (and taught) on this course at Smarmore Castle, Ireland. On the front row are (from left) Jaimie Lee-Barron, Joe Carslake, Carol Scarrott, Terry Hall, Bob Carruthers and George Scarrott. Among those on the back row are Simon Keegan (centre) to Simon's right is Bob Carruthers' senior student Mark Webster and to Simon's left is MMA heavyweight champion and UFC star Tom Blackledge. Most of the others are Jujutsu students.

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Below: David Keegan and Simon Keegan in a Japanese garden with our Chinese branch officers Mei Kwan and John Barrie

In 2001 John gave this Chinese broadsword and white linen Kung Fu suit to Simon. The sword is carved from a single piece of jade. At this time Simon founded the Bushinkai Academy and soon after, left the Bushido Academy.
   

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Class of 2001: with guest instructor Sensei Robert Carruthers 4th Dan (now 7th Dan), instructor Simon Keegan 1st Dan (now 4th Dan) with Andrew Russell 1st Kyu, Steve Chriscole 4th Kyu (now 1st Dan), Sean Chriscole 7th Kyu (now 1st Dan) and Mike Jolley 7th Kyu

Seiki Juku Karate: Bob Carruthers began his Karate training with Shotokan and Taekwondo in 1972 before joining John Smith Bujinkai school in 1974. Bujinkai was founded by Shihan Smith and Danny Connor as a blend of Wado Ryu Karate and Praying Mantis Kung Fu. In around 1980, Bob converted to the Shobukan school, a blend of Kanazawa's Shotokan and Chew Choo Soot's Budokan.   

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Above: Simon and Dave at a Tai Chi contest

Below: Dave  is awarded a trophy by the Mayor of Shanghai
    

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Simon awarded his 2nd Dan in Jujutsu in 2002 by Jaimie and George. This was a seven hour grading in London. Simon was tested in all areas of the syllabus including Jujutsu, Aikijujutsu, bladed weapons, stick weapons, outdoor breakfalls, climbing and stealth, boxing and conditioning. 

Simon with his Karate teacher Bob Carruthers, Hakuda master Joe Carslake, Ju Tai Jutsu instructor Jaimie Lee-Barron and Aikijujutsu instructor George Scarrott in 2002

      
The Bushinkai class of 2002 including Simon Keegan (then 2nd Dan), brown belts Steve Chriscole and Andrew Russell and purple belt Sean Chriscole. Also pictured yellow belts Sarah and Helen and White Belt Ryan.

 
Simon and Ryan in the old Wigan College Dojo and Iaijutsu kata for a magazine article

 

In 2003 Simon, his students and his teacher Sensei Bob Carruthers were invited to train with Bob's former teacher Shihan Phillip Handyside 7th Dan. Mr Handyside was trained by such masters as Hirokazu Kanazawa, Sadashige Kato, Cyril Cummins and Chew Choo Soot. At this course he was celebrating 40 years in martial arts and 30 years teaching. Pictured below is Shihan Handyside and Sensei Carruthers:

 

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In 2003 Simon, then 2nd Dan was inducted into the Japanese organisation Kokusai Budoin. He was recognised as a 2nd Dan in Sato Ryu Nihon Jujutsu with his grade endorsed by the founder Shizuya Sato 10th Dan. Sato was a Judo student of Mifune and Ito and studied Aikido and Aikijujutsu under Kenji Tomiki and Wado Ryu (Karate/Jujutsu) under Hironori Otsuka. Simon enjoyed learning Nihon Jujutsu from various instructors including 80-year-old Jack Hearn (8th Dan Jujutsu, 8th Dan Judo) and Ray Walker

  
Below: Simon attended a memorable 2003 seminar with Mitsuhiro Kondo 9th Dan, a personal student of grandmaster Minoru Mochizuki and one of the pioneers of Karate/Aikido in Europe.


Below: Simon is recognised as 2nd Dan Karatedo and 2nd Dan Nihon Jujutsu by Kokusai Budoin, Japan and David Keegan is recognised as 2nd Dan in the art of Taiji (as well as studying Iaido) a first for the Chinese art to be recognised by IMAF.

 
Simon with Tadanori Nobetsu and Dave with Japanese masters


Simon watches master Nobetsu

Steve Chriscole (right) became the first person to be awarded Shodan by the Bushinkai Academy. On the panel were Robert Carruthers 6th Dan (not pictured); Simon Keegan (then 2nd Dan, pictured seated) and Steve Brennan 3rd Dan (pictured left) who kindly acted as Uke. (The date on the bottom of this pic is 1 year out and should read 19/01/2004.)


Sensei Bob Carruthers 6th Dan, Sensei Steve Chriscole (3rd Dan Iaido, 1st Dan Karate) Sifu David Keegan 4th Dan and Bob's son Thomas all trained in the same Iai class. This actual Dojo was also one of Bob's first Karate clubs.

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In 2005 the Bushinkai Academy was officially dvided into two schools, the Metal Tiger Academy headed by Sifu David Keegan and the White Lion Academy headed by Sensei Simon Keegan


  
Dave performing Chinese sword at Van Dangs

 
Simon training on the beach and with Muay Thai instructor Tony Forde

 

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Simon and his teacher Bob Carruthers  and Dave with two of his female Iaijutsu teachers. Also pictured is Judo teacher Dave Wareing and cropped off on the right is Bob

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 Bushinkai left Kokusai Budoin and became part of the UKBF. We also became associated with Karate Jutsu International, Wu Shu International, International Jujutsu Federation and Aikido International headed by Hanshi Terry Wingrove.

 
Simon in Poland with masters Alan Ruddock and Terry Wingrove and UKBF Masters course in Wigan with Terry

 
Simon with the legendary Karate master Patrick McCarthy


Simon during his 3rd Dan grading with Reiner Parsons

 

Above left: Simon with Butterfly swords: the final weapon to be added to the system of Hakuda Kempo Toshu Jutsu
Above right: In 2007 Simon attended a seminar with an American Quan Fa master named Bruce Everett Miller. The course was sponsored and endorsed by Hanshi Terry Wingrove and Shihan Tony Christian. Bruce's style is called Quan Li Kan.

 

  
Bob Carruthers throws Simon
 

    
Simon with his two teachers Bob and Reiner and right, with  Allan Tattersall 8th Dan in 2008



Simon's party trick!



 
Julie applies a headlock on one of the lads and Jamie, Simon and Ben pass their gradings!

   
Above: Japanese branch officer Al in traditional kimono

Dave and Budo friends at Allan's Dojo in Rochdale

 
Those club colours are still looking good....

 

In 2009, Bushinkai's Chinese Branch officers John Barrie and his wife Mei Kwan who have residences in Ghuangzhou and Hong Kong visited the home of Toshu Jutsu. Here Taiji practitioner Mei Kwan is pictured in Gyokusendo Cave in Southern Okinawa. The cave is made of limestone. Nearby they found that Toshu Jutsu was still taught here under that original name.

Above:2009 TEMAA's 15th Anniversary course in Scarborough . Simon acting as Uke for Allan Tattersall 9th Dan as Jim Walker 6th Dan and Reiner Parsons 6th Dan watch on 

Below: Bushinkai's 10th annual seminar and grading on 10-10-10. Simon Keegan is joined by his Karate teacher Robert Carruthers 7th Dan, and the first student Simon graded to black belt, Steve Chriscole.

For pictures 2010 and beyond see the 2010 Galleries