Chief Instructor, Sensei Kumar 6th Dan
Our highly experienced chief instructor, Azad Kumar, was born in Punjab, India and emigrated to the United Kingdom in 1969. He first studied Judo in 1973, and he joined Sensei van Weenen’s ‘English Shotokan Karate Association’ (E.S.K.A) at the Bunyan Centre, Bedford in 1978.
In 1989, he gained his 1st dan (level) black belt. In 1991, he attained his 2nd dan, and most recently, he attained the level of 6th dan in 2009.
Sensei Kumar also referees at a number of national and international competitions, and although tournaments only represent one facet of the art form that is Karate, he enjoys meeting other instructors and students from all over the world at these events. He first qualified as a FEKO referee in 2000, became an ‘A class’ EKGB referee for kata and kumite in 2005, and was recently promoted to WUKF Continental Chief Referee at the 4th Asia Intercontinental WUKF Karate Championships held in New Delhi in December 2012.
Azad, along with other members of the Association, has also raised thousands of pounds for various charities, travelling to Albania with Task Force Albania and Sri Lanka with Mission Direct following the 2004 tsunami, and also raising funds for Kettering Hospital Cancer Ward.
Senior Instructor, Sensei Lombardo 4th Dan
Marc Lombardo attended secondary school in Malta and completed his education in the UK. He obtained a degree in Accountancy and Finance and proceeded study for a professional accountancy qualification. He was subsequently admitted to the Chartered institute of Management Accountants and currently works as a Finance Director of a clothing retailer in the UK.
Marc took up karate training in 1991 under Sensei Kumar and was awarded his 1st dan black belt by Sensei Van Weenan in 1995. Several gradings later he was awarded his 4th dan black belt in 2011. After over 20 years of training Marc still retains a strong passion for karate and trains regularly at his local club locations of Kettering, Higham Ferrers, and Rushden.
Senior Instructor, Sensei Purcell 4th Dan
Sensei Purcell’s profile is coming soon…
Senior Instructor, Sensei Bone 3rd Dan
Sensei Bones’s profile is coming soon…
The Association of Shotokan Karate 