Sensei Stephen Parkinson

My karate journey at Kobushi began in the 1990s as a teenager, fueled by martial arts movies like the Karate Kid. Earning my Shodan under Sensei Karen Eastham with ESKA, I began teaching new students, which deepened my appreciation for karate. My journey continued with demos, board breaking, competitions, and achieving Nidan under Sensei Keith Callaghan. However, work and life took me away for a couple of years.

After the pandemic, seeking an activity for my daughters, I returned to Kobushi, now affiliated with SKKIF. Having trained with Soke Kanazawa with Kobushi pre-millennium, I knew this was a perfect fit.

The return presented a mental challenge. I relearned past katas with new adaptations and honed my techniques through partner work. Technology and online resources (including SKKIF’s resources and Youtube) provided a global perspective on karate. With renewed focus and understanding, I was able to demonstrate the entire syllabus and train students of all levels. This culminated in a reassessment and regrading of my Nidan under SKKIF criteria by Roger Carpenter, 8th Dan Chief Instructor and Chairman of SKKIF.

Favourite partner work
Kihon ippon kumite Jordan 4 and Jiÿu Ippon Gyaku zuki 3

Favourite Kata
Kanku Sho