Russell Garrard 4th Dan Wado Ryu.
Chief Instructor of Britka Karate.
Britka Karate was founded in 1991

I started training in 1965 aged 5 at Caedmon hall, learning Judo under the instruction
of Brian Ferrant.

In 1975 I walked into former Mr Universe, Roy Perrott's, Estuary gym, in Southend, discovered bodybuilding and was hooked, spending the next 6 years pumping iron.
In 1981 I moved on to Progress House Gym, Hadleigh. Training under Roy Duval.

It was around this time that John King, an instructor at Progress house, invited me and my training partner, cousin, Steve Cook along to
his karate Dojo, this was my first taste of
Goso kempo.
I loved the adrenaline filled sessions, which
always started with 30 minutes of intense
sparring, which usually ended up with
chairs around the hall being welded, eyes being gouged and if you didn't have a black eye or
hadn't spilt at least a small amount of blood,
then you felt as if you hadn't had a good session.
And that was before the line work and pairs work had even began : )

Two years later in 1985 my cousin and training partner sadly died.
Feeling disheartened I stopped training
and apart from the odd workout I had
5 years off.
In 1990 I started training with the NKA
studying Wado Ryu.
In 1993 I moved to Tengu Dojo
training under Sensei Tony Newman.
After an intense training regime and
many hours of private lessons,
on 19th November 1995 I gained my
1st dan black belt.
A year later, due to Sensei Tony Newman
retiring from teaching karate, due to work commitments. I was generously given the opportunity to take on the role of chief Instructor of Britka karate.

During this time Britka karate has grown
from strength to strength, having clubs in Shoebury, Leigh-on-Sea,Hadleigh and Hawkwell

Russell Garrard