Mike started Wado-Ryu in 1986, after moving to Worcester, training under Humphrey Sensei.
He originally started Karate in 1984 by training for two years in the Shotokan style of Karate whilst at University.

Mike achieved 1st Dan Black Belt under the late Takamizawa Sensei, 7th Dan Kyoshi, who was Humphrey Sensei’s original instructor.

His current grade is 3rd Dan, awarded to him by Shiomitsu Sensei, 9th Dan Hanshi Shihan, Chief Instructor of the Wado-Ryu Karate-Do Academy.

Whilst being University students in Japan, both Shiomitsu Sensei and Takamizawa Sensei were direct students of the founder and first Grandmaster of the Wado-Ryu style of Karate, Otsuka Hironori Sensei.

Mike's trained under the second and the third Grandmasters, Otsuka Jiro Sensei and Otsuka Kazutaka Sensei - respectively the son and grandson of the first Grandmaster - at various courses in the UK and abroad, and at the 3rd Grandmaster’s former dojo in Montpellier, France, when he used to live in that city prior to assuming the role of Grandmaster and moving back to Japan after his father’s passing.

Mike's has a deep heartfelt commitment to this club and it's students.