Sensei Barry Wilkinson 8th Dan

Chairman and Chief Instructor of England Wado-Kai Karate-Do Renmei
Vice President Federation of Wado-Kai Europe (FWE)

The founder of England Wado-Kai, Barry Wilkinson, has an impressive pedigree - starting Wado-Kai Karate in February 1968 and training all his Karate life in only Wado-Kai Karate, initially starting as a member of The United Kingdom Karate-Do Federation (later changed to UKKW).

Barry has been taught Wado karate by many of the leading exponents of the style - Master Toru Arakawa 9th Dan, Sensei Tatsuo Suzuki 8th Dan, Sensei Katsumi Kobyashi, Sensei Tadayuki Maeda, plus many more prominent Wado-Kai Senior Sensei's.

In 1999 he attended the Wado World Cup in Japan with Sensei Sir Brian Hayes, where they both acted as judges and referees and trained under various Japanese masters, including Master Toru Arakawa.

Barry is also a founding member of The Executive & Technical Committee of The Federation of Wado-Kai Europe (FWE). He is currently the FWE Vice President and a Technical Committee member.

Dan Grade Gradings and Promotions

• Sandan (3rd) – 1977, Graded under the UKKW (one of the first British 3rd Dans at that time)
• Yondan (4th) – Autumn 1981, Awarded by the EKA (English Karate Association) 
• Godan (5th) – October 1987, Awarded by the BKW (National Body for Wado-Kai in the UK)
• Rokudan (6th) – September 1997, Awarded by the EKGB (English Karate Governing Body)
• Nanadan (7th) – June 2002, Awarded by the EKGB Technical Committee
• Hachidan (8th) – November 2013, Awarded in Hungary by the Federation of Wado-Kai Europe, during the 41st European Wado-Kai Championships.