Senior International Instructor (SC1):
Simon Keegan (5th Dan Renshi)
Chief Instructor (Shidoin): Hakuda Kempo Toshu Jutsu (Bushin Ryu)
Representative headteacher (Kyoju Dairi): Sakugawa Ryu
5th Dan: Shobukan (Shotokan & Budokan) - World Union of Karatedo Federations
4th Dan Renshi: Shoto Ryu Karate- Dai Nippon Butokukai*
4th Dan: Freestyle (Karate & Jujutsu) - World Karate Association
3rd Dan: Nisseikai Karate - International Martial Arts Federation
2nd Dan: Nihon Jujutsu - International Martial Arts Federation
2nd Dan: Kodokwan Judo - European Jujitsu Union
2nd Dan: Taiji Quan - United Kingdom Budo Federation
Simon Keegan Renshi is the eight generation inheritor of Sakugawa Ryu Toshu Jutsu and is one of the few westerners to head an hereditary martial arts tradition. His family tradition dates back to 1778, the time of the Okinawan master Tode Sakugawa.
Keegan Renshi has trained at a high level in several martial arts for decades, being awarded blackbelts in several different styles including Shotokan Karate, Shoto Ryu Karate, Nihon Jujutsu, Tai Chi and Judo.
He follows a lengthy family tradition in the martial arts. His great uncle was a notable blackbelt, his father and uncle blackbelts and even going back to his great-great-great-great grandfather's time, his family emigrated from their home in Sweden to Okinawa, home of Karate in the 1770s-1790s, working alongside Tode Sakugawa for a shipping company in Okinawa.
Simon began his martial arts training at an early age learning basic Jujutsu and Karate from his father and other relatives then joined his first club aged 10. As a teenager he dedicated himself to formal Karate and Jujutsu study. He was awarded his blackbelt in 1999 and commenced study of Chinese internal martial arts around that time too.
Keegan Renshi has trained with many of Japan and China's senior grandmasters and established the Bushinkai Academy over 12 years ago. Although he enjoyed a successful time in competition martial arts (Karate, kickboxing, Tai Chi, Iaido, archery) he has been focused on the traditional martial arts for the last 15 years.
In 2003 Simon was honoured as a member and subsequently regional director of Kokusai Budoin (IMAF), Japan's oldest martial arts fraternity. His grades were recognised by senior masters like Hirokazu Kanazawa (10th Dan Shotokan and student of Funakoshi), Shizuya Sato (10th Dan Jujutsu and student of Hironori Ohtsuka) and Tadanori Nobetsu (9th Dan founder of Nisseikai) and endorsed by the hereditary Shogun Tokugawa Yasuhisa. He was also a founder member of the English Karate Federation (World Karate Federation).
Simon graded up to 3rd Dan and 4th Dan Renshi under Kyoshi Reiner Parsons who was himself graded by Ikuo Higuchi (9th Dan Hanshi), the senior Shoto Ryu master in the world. *Simon's Renshi title was endorsed by the director of the Dai Nippon Butokukai. In 2012 Simon graded on the mat up to 5th Dan under Shihan Handyside.
Keegan Renshi teaches a Karate/Jujutsu system called "Hakuda Kempo Toshu Jutsu" and is regarded as a specialist in kata bunkai. He also teaches traditional Tai Chi and Jujutsu.
He has studied several Chinese martial arts to further his understanding of Karate's origins, including Hsing-I Chuan, He Chuan, Pai He Chuan and Tai Chi Chuan. His studies have culminated in his upcoming book, The Lost Book of Kushanku.
See Simon in the May edition of Martial Arts Illustrated.
Manchester Jujutsu classes:
Sunday 7:00pm-8:30pm (this class currently cancelled)
Manchester Karate classes:
Tuesday 8:00pm-9:30pm
Manchester Tai Chi classes:
Tuesday at 7:00pm-8:00pm
Classes held at Van Dang Martial Arts, Newton Street, Manchester.
For more information email Simon on kaicho@runbox.com
Manchester Regional Instructor (C3):
Dan Sanchez 1st Dan Karate, 1st Dan Jujutsu
Dan is a skilled and experienced member of Bushinkai and teaches alongside Simon at our Manchester headquarters where he is the Sempai (senior student).
Dan began his Karate training in Shukokai Karate before regrading in Bushinkai.
Training with Simon for the last five years, Dan has also attended many seminars with other leading instructors such as: Hanshi Allan Tattersall (9th Dan Jujutsu, Dai Nippon Butokukai), Robert Carruthers (7th Dan Karate), Reiner Parsons (7th Dan Karate) and Colin Hutchinson (5th Dan Judo). Dan has also attended BJJ/MMA and grappling training with a variety of coaches including John Dang and Chris Sibbald.
Dan is a serving police officer whose frontline experience brings valuable insight into Bushinkai self defence training.
Shotokan Karate International Instructor:
Kicki Holm 2nd Dan Shotokan Karate
Kicki is a guest blackbelt at our club while on a work exchange from Denmark. She is a world class competitor in kata and was graded 2nd Dan in Shotokan Karate by Hirokazu Kanazawa (10th Dan).
Kicki followed her parents into the martial arts. Her dad was a Taekwondo 2nd Dan and chairman of Copenhagen's Taekwondo Club for 10 years and also studied the Korean art of Hwarang-do including several Chinese weapons and also studied Tai Chi. Kicki's mum also studied Taekwondo and Karate. Her godparents are also martial artists including a European Champion (Taekwondo) who participated in the Olympics. Another of her godparents is Sabumnim Ko Tai Jeong (Master Ko) 8th Dan, a Buddhist monk from Korea. As a child, Kicki and her brother were chosen to hand out the medals at the medals ceremonies to several Taekwondo competitions dressed in Korean National costumes.
Kicki has practised Shotokan Karate since 2003 and been an instructor since 2008. She has participated in four Shotokan Karate Summer Camps and entered 24 competitions at a high level (Gold: 9, Silver: 7, Bronze: 4). She finished 4th place in the Shotokan World Championships in Athens, Greece 2009. She has competed in Denmark, Sweden, Germany, Italy, and Greece.
Club Instructor (C4):
Peter McHugh 1st Dan Karate
Pete is an extremely experienced martial artist who has spent many years studying Karate and other arts.
Pete began his training in Shotokan Karate with Sensei Barry Grundy (Karate Union Great Britain) and also trained to brown belt with the UKASKO organisation. Over the years Pete trained in many other arts including Muay Thai, Kali and competed on the national freestyle circuit in kata and weapons (pictured above).
He spent four years training in the Bushido Academy with Simon's former instructor Steve Bullough before joining Bushinkai. Since becoming a Bushinkai member, Pete has been awarded his black belt and club instructor's qualification. He is studying both Karate and Tai Chi in our classes.
Pete is hoping to open his own Bushinkai club, the Tiger Zan dojo in the Wigan area soon. His wife Gaynor is also an experienced Karateka and their daughter has also trained.
Club Photographer:
Jamie Tozer 1st Dan Karate
Jamie is one of the longest serving students in Bushinkai having joined the club around eight years ago. He was the first student to pass his blackbelt in Hakuda Kempo Toshu Jutsu and gained his club instructor's qualification. Jamie is a professional photographer and documents many of our courses and gradings.
Club Instructor (C4):
Ben Gaunt 1st Dan Karate, 1st Dan Jujutsu
Ben has trained with Bushinkai for around six years and has achieved black belt and his club instructor's qualification.
Ben also spent two years training with Sensei Alan Platt and also had the chance to train with other leading Karate Jutsu teachers such as Hanshi Terry Wingrove and the legendary Hanshi Patrick McCarthy (pictured above). Ben has an excellent array of Karate Jutsu techniques including pressure points.
Ben is a professional music teacher and this academic approach also comes across in his Karate studies both in his teaching and in his research essays.
Assistant Instructor (C5):
Joseph Coyne 3rd Kyu Karate
(2nd Dan Shukokai Karate)
Joseph already held a blackbelt in Shukokai Karate, studying under Sensei Tommy Kwan 7th Dan, when he joined Bushinkai. As well as continuing to train in Shukokai, Joseph has also worked his way through the grades and re-learnt his kata in our style and has now reached the grade of 3rd Kyu brown belt. Joseph also trains in Kyokushin Karate when he goes to Sweden every year, including a workshop with the Japanese world heavyweight champion (who knocked him out!) and also trains in MMA with Van Dang coach Ozzy Haluk.
Assistant Instructor (C5):
Kevin Dyke 4th Kyu
Kevin Dyke 4th Kyu
Kev joined the Bushinkai Academy around five years ago having previously studied Tang soo Do and Muay Thai. He also currently trains in Muay Thai with Giorgio Zappone and has attended many of our seminars including Jujutsu with Hanshi Tattersall and Escrima with Grandmaster Tongson. Kev runs his own survival course company, his adventures taking him to places like the North Pole and he has also competed in Tough Guy challenges. Kev visited China and proudly represented Bushinkai at the Shaolin Temple.
Assistant Instructor (C5):
Graham Winstanley 4th Kyu
(previously 1st Dan Jujutsu)
Graham is an extremely experienced martial artist by anyone's standards. He began his martial arts training approximately 50 years ago training with a Salford Judo instructor (BJA). He then studied Karate with instructors like Steve Powell before training in Aikido. He moved over to Jujutsu training under the World Jujitsu Federation and was awarded blackbelt 1st Dan. Shortly before he was due to take his 2nd Dan he left the style because he was looking for something more practical. He joined Bushinkai around four years ago and has worked his way up to purple belt and an assistant instructor's qualification. He also trains in our Tai Chi classes.
International Instructor (Thailand):
John Dang
John Dang is skilled in many different areas of the martial arts, especially Muay Thai, Kung Fu, Taekwondo, Jeet Kune Do and Jujutsu. John is frequently a guest instructor in our club and is currently in Thailand where he has been competing in Brazilian Jujutsu. He has trained in the martial arts since childhood, beginning with his family's Kung Fu tradition, before training in Taekwondo and Muay Thai with teachers such as Grandmaster Sken and Grandmaster Krin. He has also attained the equivalent of blackbelts in Jeet Kune Do and Taekwondo. Simon and John used to run a regular class together which focused on the common principles within Karate, Kung Fu, Muay Thai and Taekwondo.
C1 International Instructor:
Steve Chriscole 3rd Dan Iaido, 2nd Dan Karate
3rd Dan: Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu Iaido (IMAF)
2nd Dan: Shotokan Karate (International Martial Arts Federation)
Steve Chriscole began his martial arts training in 1978, with early study in styles such as Wado Ryu where he was able to train with masters like Tatsuo Suzuki and Masafumi Shiomitsu.
While serving in the RAF he had to move around a lot and resumed Karate training in 1999 where he joined the Bushido Academy, where one of his instructors was Simon Keegan.
When Simon left Bushido in 2001 with the launch of Bushinkai, Steve went with him and was one of the first ever Bushinkai students.
Also training with the likes of Steve Lowe in Shotokan and Kirkby Watson in Aikjujutsu he and his son Sean progressed through the grades and in 2003 Simon and his teacher Bob Carruthers Sensei graded Steve 1st Da, becoming the first ever Bushinkai blackbelt.
He also trained diligently in Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu Iaido under Roshukai and then Renshi John Lovatt and set up a study group in Wigan which also included Bob Carruthers and David Keegan. This group became Wigan Bujutsu Kai, one of the UK's top Iaido (or Iai Jutsu as he prefers) schools.
Steve graded all the way up to 3rd Dan in Iaido but still trained from time to time with Bushinkai, including on our 7th and 10th anniversary seminars. He then moved to the Philippines to live, having trained in Filipino martial arts, but has just recently to England where he has resumed his training in our Manchester Bushinkai class.
METAL TIGER ACADEMYTraditional Tai Chi:Senior International Instructor (SC1):Sifu David Keegan
Chief Instructor: Metal Tiger Academy
Technical Director (Chinese Martial Arts): TEMAA/UKBF
4th Dan: Yang shi Taiji Quan (Yang style Tai Chi)
David Keegan (Simon's father) is principal of Bushinkai's Metal Tiger Academy. He specialises in Tai Chi and Chi Kung. David was born in the Year of the Metal Tiger (1950) and when he was about 9 or 10, he and his twin brother Paul began their Jujutsu training under Sensei Bernie Blundell 6th Dan.
In the 1960s, the brothers discovered the "new" art of Karate and Dave trained with the north's first ever Karate club, the Red Triangle which was run by Sensei Andy Sherry and headed by Keinosuke 'The Tiger' Enoeda. Paul meanwhile studied Goju Ryu Karate and became a member of the To-Ken Society.
Dave's fondness for the Sherlock Holmes books caused him to discover the Edwardian martial art of Bartitsu which was a style of Jujutsu (Shinden Fudo Ryu) founded by EW Barton Wright in the late 1800s. Dave particularly liked the stickfighting forms (la canne) which reminded him of the Irish stickfighting (bata) of our ancestral home.
In the 1970s, Dave served as a rifleman (corporal) in the Duke of Lancaster's Own (cavalry), a regiment of which the Queen herself is colonel in chief. While serving with this regiment he met a drill sergeant who was a Kobudo expert who taught him to use the Nunchaku.
In the early 1980s, David began to share his knowledge with his young son Simon, showing him Jujutsu throws, hand conditioning, strikes and weapons and in 1988 Dave and his best friend John found themselves working in China, Macao and Thailand. They worked mostly in Hong Kong and Guangzhou, birthplace of Tiger style Kung Fu. David would later study the Shaolin Chi Kung forms including the five animals of Huo Tua. While in China Dave and John discovered the relatively unknown art of Tai Chi and John ended up marrying a Chinese practitioner of Yang style Tai Chi.
In the 1990s, when Simon was competing in Karate, Dave joined a Chinese martial arts academy and commenced 10 years formal study of the Yang and Sun styles, with two world champions who were students of the great Professor Li De Yin.
Training in this school he learned many forms including the Yang style short form (Beijing 24), Yang style long form (Beijing 88), Yang style sword (Beijing 32 and 56), Combined routine (Beijing 42) and Combined sword routine (Beijing 42). He was also taught the 5 fists of Hsing-I Chuan, Sun Style (72 and 97 forms) which are also derived from Pakua Zhang; and several Chi Kung forms including the Yang style Zhan Zhuang and the Ba Duan Jin.
Dave later broadened his horizons, studying the Japanese koryu art of Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu (training with several western teachers as well as grandmasters like Hara, Tose and Yoshida) and his studies came full circle when he became mentored by Dai Nippon Butokukai director Hanshi Tattersall, who, like Dave, began his own Jujutsu studies with the Blundells.
Training on a wide variety of seminars in everything from Goju Ryu Karate with Kyoshi Reiner Parsons to Filipino stickfighting with Rene Tongson, to learning Shaolin forms, Dave has gained an eclectic range of skills, and 53 years after taking those first breakfalls on the concrete floor of Southdene Community Centre, he is a Senior International Instructor and technical advisor in the Chinese internal martial arts.
Having studied many different martial arts, he considers himself primarily a Yang stylist and he currently teaches the 10 form (otherwise known as the Beijing 8 form) and the 24 form in the Wigan area.
For information on Manchester Karate and Tai Chi classes, contact Simon on kaicho@runbox.com for information on Wigan Tai Chi classes, contact Dave on: bushinkai-taichi@runbox.com