Meet Eddie

5th Dan Black Belt

Eddie began his karate career as an 18 year old at the Kobe Osaka Club under Scotland’s first ever black belt, Tommy Morris. He has approximately 43 years experience in karate- both as a competitor and coach. He gained his 3rd kyu brown belt in his first 3 years under Mr. Morris, but then had a 2 year break from karate for work commitments. He then joined Chikara Karate Club on his return and has been with the club for over 30 years. He reached 5th Dan black belt over this period but would be nowhere near that, probably not even at karate, if he had not met and trained with our Head Coach, Lawrence. In the early years of his time at Chikara he was not meeting the standards necessary to be a black belt (which was his number 1 goal), but with the encouragement and many one to one sessions with Lawrence, he was able to reach his goal and gain his 1st Dan black belt; Eddie says that this is why Chikara is such a big part of his family. He also puts his ability to have been Head of Sport for North Lanarkshire Leisure for 18 years down to the confidence gained over his 30 years at Chikara.

Meet Jason

3rd Dan Black Belt

Our coach Jason started Karate aged 3, following in the footsteps of his Dad, Lawrence.

He’s currently a 3rd Dan Black Belt and has experience competing with the national team. He has won a team gold medal at both the Scottish and British championships.

Having spent a month in Japan training in the Shitokai World Headquarters, Jason is highly experienced and a favourite with all members.

Meet Lorraine

3rd Dan Black Belt

Lorraine started her karate journey when she was at primary school, joining Chikara Karate Club 18 years ago. She says that Chikara was such a welcoming and supportive club, and she has been privileged to have been coached through her grades by Sensei Lawrence – all these years on she has now achieved her 3rd Dan Black Belt. She has been coaching for the past 15 years and loves seeing the kids developing in their confidence and ability. Coaching our competitive students is always a highlight for Lorraine, and she has had the pleasure of seeing the kids’ hard work and effort being rewarded at these competitions. 

Meet Abbie

1st Dan Black Belt

Abbie has been a member of the Chikara Karate family since she was 5 years old. As a shy and nervous child, karate was great at pushing her forward to be more confident and outgoing due to the overwhelming support and encouragement she felt from the coaches. This inspired her to aim for her black belt and to do the coaching at the club in order to help other kids like her. She believes achieving her black belt and becoming a karate coach are her greatest achievements and something which would not have been possible without the amazing and kind family at Chikara Karate.

Meet Colin

2nd Dan Black Belt

Colin started training at Chikara in 1992 when he was 10 years old and has enjoyed his journey over the years.

Karate helped Colin a lot as he moved from Primary to High School with his confidence and self esteem.

Throughout Colin’s journey with karate he has enjoyed participating in competitions at a younger age but also learning discipline and improving his health. As a teenager Colin was seriously ill with meningitis where there was huge concerns over his future from medical staff. Colin made a full, and much quicker recovery than anyone expected and this was in a large way put down to his personal fitness levels and strength that he had developed through karate.

Colin had to take time off from karate for around eight years due to family caring responsibilities, however returned in 2018 and stated it was like “coming home”.

Colin’s children are both members of the club where he sees them following his journey and developing in confidence and building relationships that will help them in their futures.

Meet Nikki

2nd Dan Black Belt

Nikki has been with the Chikara family for 19 years. She started training with Lawrence when she was 8 years old when she would go to the YMCA after school care in Motherwell. That’s where she started her karate journey.

Nikki says she remembers seeing all the kids with their karate suits on go upstairs and straight away was curious. So one night she mentioned it to her parents and within 1 week she joined.  She remembers at 8 years old telling her parents that one day she would be like Lawrence; be a black belt and then coach kids and help them. 19 years later she is a 2nd Dan black belt and a fully qualified coach. This isn’t just a hobby for Nikki, this is a massive part of her life and always will be.

Meet Kieran

1st Dan Black Belt

Kieran started with Chikara over 20 years ago on the Saturday morning Cleland class – based in Cleland boxing club, where you had to pray the caretaker had switched on the storage heater the night before. He has come up through the junior and adult grades with the club through various venues over the years. He’s hoping to be able to do the splits before retirement age.