Sensei Harrison

JSKA 5th Dan

Sensei Stevan Harrison first started his training at the KUGB karate club in Basingstoke in 1986. At this time he was working as a security guard in the town centre and would often have to swap and change shifts so that he could make sure he didn't miss his training. On average his attendance would be 90% plus. At this time sensei David Graham and Sensei Pickering were the main instructors who would take charge of the training and development of the students. The club was also lucky to have many high Dan grades over the years who also took lessons. After sensei Harrison passed his shodan he was invited to join the instructors list and teach at the dojo. Sensei would like to thank all those who helped him on his way and will never forget the support they gave.

Sensei Harrison passed all his kyu grades under the KUGB with Sensei Ohta. (1986 to 1989)

In 1990 he won the KUGB southern area championship

He has also won with the Basingstoke SKC at Alencon France in the 90's competing in individual Kumite and team Kumite, where they won the overall team championship.

He  competes both in Kumite and kata, 1989 to date, but only at big events. Sensei believes that training for just competitions is not good and that students should just train but occasionally test their skills in a less friendly environment. Students who compete each weekend should take up sport karate, not Shotokan.

Passed Shodan in 1990 under Shihan Enoeda.

Passed Nidan in 1992 again with Shihan Enoeda

1992 Opened his own karate dojo, SLFoC Dojo, now called HSK Basingstoke. (2005)Since the closure of the KUGB club a Basingstoke, the HSK train in the same dojo where sensei Harrison was taught. The dojo was started with the encouragement and the support of sensei David Graham who saw his keenness to teach and his wish to do as Funakoshi sensei had in mind, that of spreading the teachings and to popularise Shotokan karate. His desire is to have his students go through the ranks and eventually to open their own dojos and for as many possible to take up Shotokan karate.

Passed Sandan in 1998 with Shihan Abe. This grading was conducted at the 11th JKA World Karate Championship in Interlaken / Bern, Switzerland. The grading panel consisted of three areas each one having 4 examiners. Table 1 had Shihan Abe as the main examiner, table 2 had Shihan Yahara as the main examiner and table 3 had Shihan Asai as the main examiner. Shihan Kagawa was also one of the examiners. After all the Dan gradings had been completed and sensei Harrison had passed his Sandan, he then went on to be graded for his JSKA international "D" class grade for Instructor, Judge/Referee and Examiner under Shihan Abe, Shihan Yahara, Shihan Asai and Shihan Kagawa.

2001 he gained 3rd place in the JKI Championship in the masters Kumite event.

2002 he passed his Yondan with Shihan Abe, course held in Scotland.

May 2002 to celebrate 10 years of the HSK sensei Harrison goes to Tokyo Japan, during his 10 days he stayed in a traditional ryokan, a capsule hotel and the best hotel on Tokyo, Tokyo Dome Hotel.

June 2002, Sensei Harrison awarded National "B" class, Examiner, Judge, Referee and Instructor, by Shihan Sidoli JKA 6th dan

2002 he passed his JSKA international"C" class instructor, judge/referee and examiner under Shihan Abe. This grading was conducted at the JSKA World Championship in Lubeck, Germany. Sensei had to wait until all the dan gradings had been completed before he and another student from the USA could both attempt their grading. Sensei was asked to do his favourite kata and was then asked questions about the application of some of the moves, he also had to demonstrate these. There after he was told to perform a kata and again answer questions about the application of some moves and then demonstrate them. The grading panel consisted of Shihan Abe, Shihan Mitsuru Nagaki and Shihan Dieter Flindt.

September 2002, sensei Harrison conducts his first JSKA shodan grading.

2005 he passed JSKA Godan

2006 he passed JSKA international "B" class instructor, judge/ref and examiner under Shihan Abe. The grading was held during the JSKA World Championship in New York USA. The grading panel consisted of, Sensei's Abe, Matsunami, Pretorius, Muller and Amos.

For further details on sensei Harrison's activities, check out the HSK history page.