INSPIRED LEARNING

ABOUT OUR SENIOR INSTRUCTOR

Simon Bligh

Simon Bligh was born in 1960 and has been training in Shotokan karate since 1974 where he started in his hometown of Liverpool.  His early ambition was to be just like Bruce Lee, but since there were no kung fu clubs, reluctantly he began karate.   Luckily, he was from Liverpool which was well served by Shotokan karate clubs.   He trained at all the famous Liverpool dojos; The Red Triangle, Terry O'Neills Samurai Dojo but was most influenced by Steve Cattle Sensei of Kirkdale SKC who he trained with until Shodan.

He moved to London in 1987 and joined Enoeda Sensei's famous Marshall Street Dojo.  In 1990 he moved to Japan and trained at the JKA Hombu Dojo in Ebiseu Tokyo, and a local dojo Wado Kai dojo in Urayasu.   Returning to London in 1991,  he remained at Marshall Street until its closure in 2001.  

​

Whilst in Japan he won a silver medal in the JKF Chiba-Ken Championships.   

​

He moved to North Nottinghamshire in 1999, met Scott Langley Sensei in 2002 and has trained and been associated with Scott ever since.   Simon has made three visits to Japan; one in Tokyo for kangeiko (cold weather training) at the JKS Hombo Dojo, the second time for the JKS World Championships in Okinawa and in October 2015, training at Keio University, the JKF Veterans Kumite Squad and in Okinawa with Senaha Sensei Goju-Ryu.

​

All Simon Senseis dan grades up to 3rd Dan were taken under Enoeda Sensei, he passed Yondan (4th Dan) in 2005 with Kagawa Sensei and Godan (5th Dan) with WTKO John Mullin Sensei 8th Dan in February 2016.  In 2014 he joined the WTKO following Scott Langley Sensei before helping found Hombu Dojo Karate International; Scott Sensei's own association in March 2017.  In August 2021 Simon graded to Rokudan (6th Dan) with Scott Sensei in Dublin.

Simon continues to train, teach and follow his maxim of 'karate for all your life'.