The Chief Instructor at the Kazoku Karate Dojo, Adam W.(Wayne) Carter, has been studying, training and practicing karate for over 30 years, teaching since 1990. Currently ranked Godan (5th Dan) Black Belt.

Carter-sensei first began studying karate in 1976. He studied the Wado-Ryu style of karate in a local dojo under Tatsuo Suzuki just after the Bruce Lee boom. He felt, at that time, that Wado-Ryu was not for him and looked elsewhere. For the time being he continued to train in the techniques he had learnt from Wado-Ryu.

February 1982, he joined a karate dojo which taught Sankukai Karate under the instruction of Prof. R. Mills (8th dan) Hanshi, Dave Ireland sensei (4th dan), & Bob Sergent sensei (6th dan). Around 1985 his sensei changed to the Shito-Ryu style of karate under Kenji Kusano Soke (8th dan), of Kusano-ha Shito-Ryu Kenpo Karate-do.

Adam W. Carter

Adam W. Carter

In the 1980's and early 1990's Carter-sensei competed in many karate tournaments in kata and kumite winning and placing highly in many of these events under the direction of his instructor.

Carter-sensei completely immersed himself in karate and sought many instructors and Dojo and trained with sensei and students from other styles of karate, including Shotokan, Kyokushinkai and Goju Ryu.

Remaining with his original sensei until 1997 after spending 8 years as the Honbu Dojo senior Instructor. In August the same year, after re-assessing his position, his future goals and ambitions, he decided to resign from the association he had spent 15 years with to concentrate on his own Dojo.

The karate Carter-sensei had learnt for many years was mainly sport orientated, therefore he sought out many instructors throughout the UK, USA and Japan in order that he could return to the more traditional forms of karate.

Carter-sensei truly wanted to return to traditional concepts and methods of training with the aim of removing the sporting element, seeking a more self defence orientated karate and seeing karate improve the character ('Do') as well as the physical aspects of the participant, which was well written and documented by the father of modern karate-do Gichin Funakoshi.

Carter-sensei states that, "through our karate training we strive to improve our character and our ability to protect ourselves, family and friends, through technique, etiquette, discipline, hard training and the continuation of our learning. To practice and follow the way of karate is a life long study, a journey of self-discovery and improvement".

In September 2000 Carter-sensei was invited to join the Nippon Karate-Do Kai and the Shito-Ryu International Karate-Do Kai under Soke Kenzo Mabuni as his official UK representative. (Note: Carter-sensei is no longer a member of this organization but continues practicing and teaching the original Shito-Ryu syllabus of Ryuso Kenwa Mabuni.)

Carter-sensei has practised and attended seminars with many of the top Japanese Shito-Ryu karate instructors including Chojiro Tani, Yoshinao Nanbu, Kenji Kusano, Ryozo Tsukada and Keiji Tomiyama, but one of the highlights of his karate career was being graded by Kenzo Mabuni Soke, the son of the founder of Shito-Ryu karate, Master Kenwa Mabuni.

Teaching karate since 1990 Carter-sensei today enjoys sharing his experience gained over three decades in passing on this knowledge to his students. He is also the holder of a Criminal Records Bureau Enhanced Certificate and is South Central Ambulance Service (Berkshire division) First Aid trained.

If you have any comments, queries or you would like further information please do not hesitate to contact Carter-sensei.

Adam W. Carter

© Kazoku Karate Dojo 2006. All rights reserved.