Senior Instructor:
Adam Cockfield – 4th Dan
Adam was born in Luton in 1982 and was always fascinated by Martial Arts films and stories from his Dad of his brief experience with Karate in the 1970’s. Adam began training in a small working men’s club hall in January 1992, after a bad start (his Dad’s quote on watching his early Karate lessons “he was rubbish, completely un-coordinated”) Adam’s enthusiasm for training shone through and his instructor at the time, known only as “Noddy”, suggested Adam go and train with his original instructor, Sensei Jamie Harrison.
Adam trained with Jamie and SEKU (Shotokan of England Karate Union) for 4 years until Jamie and his wife moved away to Devon. Prior to his departure Jamie contacted Malcolm Phipps Sensei (8th Dan) and suggested that his existing students train with SSKI (Seishinkai Shotokan Karate International). Adam joined SSKI in March 1996 and has gone on from brown belt to achieving the grade of 4th Dan in April 2008.
Adam is an accomplished competitor winning both the Kata (forms) and Kumite (fighting) at the SSKI nationals on a number of occasions, and has taken medals at established Shotokan events around the country for several years such the The Legend open (Competitor of the Day for two years running), The Shobu-Ippon International Open, WTKO Open and The SEKU Invitational.
Adam has also competed in Romania, France, Holland, Belgium and in the USA, winning medals at major International events, culminating in winning the 2011 WJKA World Championships in Kata. In 2004 Adam was made the SSKI squad coach and the squad has now seen its best run of results for several years. Adam has also trained in Ju-Jutsu and Goju-Ryu Karate during his time at university, where he achieved a 2:1 (Hons) in Sport Science.
Adam has been privilaged enough to train with many senior and well-respected Karateka, mainly due to the open attitude of SSKI and Malcolm Sensei in particular. Adam has learnt a great deal from Dave Hazard Sensei, Aidan Trimble Sensei, Richard Amos Sensei, Steve Ubl Sensei, John Mullin Sensei, Terry O’Neill Sensei & Simon Staples Sensei . Adam also recognises the contribution of his own Sensei within SSKI; Macolm Phipps Sensei (8th Dan), his main sensei for over 15 years and Tony Bunting Sensei (6th Dan), and continues to train with them on regular basis.
In April 2008 Adam Sensei passed his Yondan (4th Dan) grading in front of Phipps Sensei and Bunting Sensei, having to perform the Kata Meikyo and demonstrate its Bunkai (applications) in depth, write a thesis on any aspect of Karate and teach a lesson based on that thesis.
Read Sensei Adam’s Yondan Grading Thesis: The Impact of Competition on Modern Shotokan Karate
Assistant Instructors:
Nick Ross-McCall – 2nd Dan
I began training in 1997 with Sensei Mark Birkbeck in Plymouth. I have since trained with several Sensei including Sensei Ohta in Oxford and joined SSKI in 2004 under Sensei Thurlow.
I was awarded Shodan in 2005 by Sensei Phipps and I now attend the SSKI Kings Cross club. I find karate an excellent way to stay fit and particularly enjoy kata. I was lucky enough to be graded first Kyu by the late Sensei Enoeda.
Kaan Yarcici – 2nd Dan
I was working in The City and a colleague of mine suggested that I come and see a demo at the London dojo, which was very close to my office. Upon seeing the demo, with the many moves on show, I decided to attend some training sessions. I ordered my Gi after the second session!! For the next 4 years I trained under Sensei Kevin Thurlow, with additional help from senior grades Azeem Ahmad, Richard Kerr and Sheila Thurlow.
In June 2006 I took and passed my Shodan examination and became a black belt. I am now training under Sensei Adam Cockfield.
Interestingly Karate for me becomes more fulfilling with every year that I train, especially as I continue to develop a deeper understanding of techniques I’ve been practicing for the last 5 years, for which I may have believed there was nothing more to learn. It’s even more satisfying to then be able to impart that knowledge on those who are new to the club, and to those who are following the same route I took to get my black belt. It’s great to train, and train hard, with a group of friends who are outside of your normal social circles.
Teiki Benveniste – 2nd Dan
Ia Orana Tatou!
I have been training for about 20 years in Shotokan Karate with most of my training done with Sensei Philippe St-Val in Tahiti. As I had to travel for my studies I was lucky enough to have training spells in France with a short but great experience in Nice with Sensei Christophe Pinna. I also trained for a year in Shanghai with Sensei J-X Paulin opening up to other fighting styles in semi contact free-fights (Kyukioshin-Kai, Sanda, Brazilian-Jujitsu).
I was part of the Tahitian Team for the 2003 South Pacific Games (3rd Team Kumite, 4th Men Kumite under 75kgs) and the 2004 NZ open (2nd Men Kumite under 75kgs).
Even though my main focus is Kumite and competition karate, I believe that the best training is a good balance between Traditional, Competition, Self-defense and aerobics. This is the best way to get the full scale of how efficient Karate is to stay in control of your mind and body in everyday life and more extreme situations. I also think the values taught by Karate
are a great way to learn respect and humility.
I joined SSKI in May 2009 where I met great and friendly people training in
the way that makes me love Karate.
Seth King – 1st Dan
“I started Karate whilst studying for a Masters degree in 1993 at Aberystwyth University. This was with the KUGB and I graded to 7th Kyu (graded by Sensei Bob Poynton)
In 1995 I moved to Hemel Hempstead where it turned out I lived 5 minutes walk from the Seishinkai Dojo, I trained there on and off for 5/6 years with Sensei Malcolm Phipps (and also met Sensei Adam). Eventually, I moved to London where I joined the London Club training with Sensei Kevin Thurlow.
Unfortunately life has got in the way of Karate and training has been erratic at best over the years (although I did, finally, manage to get my 1st Dan in 2006). I started training properly again back in January 2008 with Sensei Adam at the London club and have really enjoyed getting back into it.
I find Karate a superb way to keep fit as I find going to the gym very dull! My favourite part of Karate is kumite although I like all the elements of it. I have now started doing more teaching, which I also enjoy.
At some point, I’ll try for 2nd Dan…”
Johnny Chiodini – 1st Dan
I first took up Karate back in 1999, aged 11. Most Karateka will tell you they were inspired by martial arts movies or wanted to learn to protect themselves: I took it up because I was rubbish at football (and still am).
Karate quickly got under my skin and has been an obsession of mine ever since, particularly Kata. I gained Shodan in April 2005, as part of the Traditional Association of Shotokan Karate.
I have trained with a number of instructors in the past including Sensei John Van Weenen, but can honestly say SSKI is the best association I’ve ever been a part of. Not only is the standard universally excellent, but the people are great, providing an ideal training environment.
I have particularly relished the opportunity to start instructing at the London Dojo, as it’s nice to be able to give something back after all my instructors have done for me.
…and if you’re curious about the photo, I’m the one getting dumped on my back.
Caspar Mahoney – 1st Dan
My older brother was the first to take up karate, and I followed him a few months later, starting my first classes when I was fifteen in 1997 at Carn Brea Karate Club in Cornwall, under the tutelage of Sensei Bryan Temby. It was an incredibly traditional club, with an emphasis on discipline, etiquette, and stances as long as you could possibly make them!
Eventually my brother went on to thai boxing, and my sister ended up getting a black belt in tae-kwon do, but I never really seriously thought of doing anything but karate, which has always felt like the right martial art for me, both psychologically and physically.
Going to university in a far flung land (London) provided too many distractions unfortunately, and I stopped karate for a few years so I could get very drunk and disturb the neighbours with late night music concentrate on my studies.
Eventually the taste for karate came back stronger than ever, and having happened upon Seishinkai’s London dojo I’ve been blessed to find what must be one of the best clubs in the country. I’m enjoying my few relaxing years without a grading to worry about now that I’ve got my 1st dan, which, to prove an old adage (if at first you don’t succeed…) I picked up at the third time of trying(!) in June 2010.
