White Crane Karate School
BARNET AND FINCHLEY
Japanese Shoseikan Gojuryu Karate
Steve Duffy is the Chief Instructor of the White Crane Karate School. He started his karate training in the early 1970's under former KUGB British International Team member Sensei Jim Wilson. He was also a student of Sensei Enoeda and Sensei Tomita at the Shotokan Karate Centre in London and attained 2nd Dan Black Belt in the Shotokan style. In 1981 he won the South of England Kata Championships and gained third place in kumite at Sensei Enoeda's Dojo Championships. In this period, he was also a member of the Toyakwai 'A' Kumite Team.
In 1984 he started training in Japanese Gojuryu Karate and was a founder member of Shuji Tasaki's Great Britain Goju-Ryu Karate-Do Seiwakai group . In 1989 he was a member of the first British team to enter the Japan Karate Federation Gojukai Championships in Takamatsu, Japan. It was at this time that he first trained with Katsutoshi Ishihara, Grandmaster of the Shoseikan.
On the passing of Shuji Tasaki, Steve affiliated his school to Kancho Ishihara's World Shoseikan Karatedo, with headquarters in Chiba, Japan.
Steve has trained under many other teachers over his career including Goju masters Goshi Yamaguchi, Akira Shiomi, Kesakatsu Kiyohara,Takeshi Uchiage and Tadamitsu Matsuo (Ritsumeikan University). Others include Leo Lipinski, Wally Jay, Richard Kim, Don Warrener and Don Jacobs.
Steve has been a professional karate instructor since the early 1980's teaching thousands of students in North London.
SHOSEIKAN GOJURYU KARATEDO GRANDMASTER
KATSUTOSHI ISHIHARA 9TH DAN
Kancho Ishihara was born in Chiba, Japan. He started learning Karate in 1963 under Grandmaster Gogen
Yamaguchi, one of the most famous Karate teachers of modern times. Through his natural talent, discipline and hard work, Kancho Ishihara achieved the Black Belt 3rd Dan in 1968 and became an Instructor of the All-Japan Karate-Do Goju-Kai.
In the same year, he established the first Shoseikan Dojo in his hometown of Chiba, Japan. Since 1971, Kancho has travelled around the world promoting Goju-Ryu Karate. He has branches in Hong Kong, England, Canada, India, Taiwan and the United States. Today, there are over 50 Shoseikan Dojo throughout the world.
1963 Started learning Goju-Ryu Karate with Gogen Yamaguchi
1968 Made an Instructor of All-Japan Karate-Do Goju-Kai HQ
1968 Established Shoseikan in Chiba, Japan
1971 Achieved 4th Dan All-Japan Karate-Do Goju-Kai
1975 Achieved 5th Dan All-Japan Karate-Do Goju-Kai
1978 Achieved 6th Dan All-Japan Karate-Do Goju-Kai
2002 Achieved 8th Dan All-Japan Goju-Ryu Karate-do Ass
2006 Achieved 9th Dan All-Japan Goju-Ryu Karate-do Ass
Level A Instructor of Japan Karatedo Federation Gojukai
Executive Director of Japan Karatedo Federation Gojukai (Kanto)
Assistant HQ Chief of Japan Karate-Do Federation Goju-Kai (Kanto area)
Permanent Director and Advisor of Chiba Province Karate-Do Association
Director Sosa City Karate-Do Association
Chief Representative All-Japan Goju-Ryu Karate-Do Association
Director World Shoseikan Karate-Do