Dartford Shotokan Karate Centre - Sensei Enoeda Profile

Keinosuke Enoeda was chief instructor to the Karate Union of Great Britain and JKA Europe for almost forty years. He lived in southern England for most of this time and for nearly thirty years taught daily at his world famous Marshall Street dojo in London's West End. He was later based at the Budokwai dojo in Chelsea, the oldest Japanese martial arts club in Europe where he was the chief instructor of Karate.

He was born on the 4th July 1935 into a family descending from that of ancient Samurai warrior. He was born and raised in Nogata, a small town in northern Kyushu, an island off of southern Japan. Like many Japanese children, he was introduced to the martial arts through Judo and proved particularly adept, reaching 2nd dan black belt by the age of 16.

Enoeda Sensei Gallery

After a chance visit to a Karate demonstration at the renowned Takushoku University, he enrolled there with the sole intention of taking up Karate. Within two years he had not only gained his black belt but had also been elected the university's captain. One of his teachers at this time was the grand master and founder of modern Shotokan Karate, Gichin Funokoshi.

Enoeda Sensei graduated with a degree in economics and then joined the famous Japan Karate Association instructor programme, where he was taught by the original masters of Shotokan Karate. His main instructor at the JKA was Masatoshi Nakayama. He also trained regularly under Hidetaka Nishiyama and with many of the top sensei from other schools and styles of Karate. This quality of instruction, combined with his own fearsome determination, earned him the nickname `Shotokan Tiger'. Completing the intense 3 year instructors course served as an amazing apprenticeship for Sensei Enoeda, moulding him into one of Japan's finest ever competitors and instructors.

In 1963 at the Metropolitan Gymnasium in Tokyo, he won the highly prestigious JKA All Japan Championship beating Hiroshi Shirai in the kumite final with a powerful front kick and lightning fast reverse punch. Master Nakayama described the bout as `one of the finest there has ever been'. Following the championships, Sensei Enoeda was invited to Indonesia by the president of the country, Mr Sukarno. The president had been so impressed by the new JKA champion that he requested Sensei Enoeda instruct his personal bodyguards, his military and the national police service.

Following four months in Indonesia with Master Nakayama, Sensei Enoeda was sent on a world tour by the JKA to introduce and demonstrate karate across the globe. The now 5th Dan Enoeda visited South Africa, Hawaii, many states in the USA and also Europe, including Germany, Belgium, France, Holland and England. Sensei Enoeda moved to England permanently in 1968 and was appointed chief instructor to the KUGB. He quickly developed a strong affinity with his new students and after a year long stay in Liverpool he moved down south, where in 1973 he founded the Shotokan Karate Centre in Marshall Street, London. This soon became recognised as a world centre of excellence, and those who trained with him communicated his enthusiasm for and dedication to Shotokan Karate to all parts of the globe.

At the time, the KUGB was a small organisation with only a handful of clubs. However, Sensei Enoeda quickly developed a team of dedicated instructors who travelled around the country opening new dojo's. He proudly watched as his `Karate family' grew to become Britain's largest single style association, with more than 400 clubs and nearly 12,000 members. Under his inspired teaching the KUGB squads enjoyed overwhelming success in national and international competition, achieving many British, European and World titles.

Over the years, the Marshall Street dojo was equally as successful and become an institute in it's own right. Sensei Enoeda trained ladies and men's teams that went on to win many KUGB nationals and Southern Region championships. Just a few of the names to emerge from the renowned dojo include Dave Hazard, Ray & Pauline Fuller, Sue Waughman, Craig Raye, Gary Stewart, Roy Tomlin, Rod Butler, Lupcho Apcevski, Paul Herbert, Robert Richards, Elwyn Hall, Achene Moussaoui, Assai Adjadj, Roy Cudjoe, the Watkiss brothers, Paul Steadman, the list is endless and goes on and on.

In 1974 whilst on a short visit to Japan, Sensei Enoeda was awarded 7th dan by the JKA. By this time Sensei was teaching annually throughout the world on international courses, seminars and master classes. Including his own twice-yearly and renowned Crystal Palace courses at London's national sports centre. A tradition that lasted from 1963 to 2003 and saw many of the JKA's most senior instructors teaching in the UK. Names like Tanaka, Yahara, Tabata, Osaka, Kase, Kawazoe, Shirai, Ohta, Ueki, Mori, Miyazaki, Tabata and Tomita all instructed at Crystal Palace as guests of a very proud Sensei Enoeda.

In 1990, the KUGB under the leadership of Sensei Enoeda reached its peak. At the JKA world championships in Sunderland, the KUGB England team beat Japan in the final to become World Champions. Sensei Enoeda's commitment to Karate was legendary and it was impossible to be in his presence and not be motivated and inspired by him. He was constantly in demand as a teacher and was technical advisor or chief instructor to many international bodies, including JKA Europe.

In 1995 Sensei Enoeda was the founder and pioneer of JKA England. Each year he would select JKA England teams and travel with them to the JKA European championships. He would also select a JKA team to represent England at the `International Enoeda Cup' held at Crystal Palace during the bank holiday course every May.

Although Sensei Enoeda spent a considerable amount of time teaching outside Britain, he had a love for the British people and their culture, which made him feel completely at home. He had a great passion for golf, and loved the British sense of humour.

Sensei Keinosuke Enoeda passed away on Saturday 29th March 2003 in Tokyo, Japan after a four month battle with cancer. It is said that throughout his treatment, he did not complain once about the pain or discomfort. That he was a real fighter through and through and that the Shotokan Tiger never gave up his fight against his illness until the very last minute. As a mark of deepest respect the JKA posthumously awarded Sensei Enoeda the rank of 9th Dan.

For many, Sensei Enoeda was more than just an instructor or friend, he was the driving force in their life and an inspiration to all.

To read more about Sensei Keinosuke Enoeda, please click on the following link to Rod Butler's excellent book `Enoeda ~ Tiger of Shotokan Karate'