7th Dan KUGB Karate / 5th Dan JKA Karate / 1st Dan BJA Judo
Mike born inside Chester’s City Walls, a true Cestrian, believes he has had many ancient privileges and privileges in his Martial Art career.
Starting with judo, aged 11, under sensei Miriam Thomas 3rd Dan, of Connah’s Quay BJA Club. This was about half an hour by train and a mile walk, hence getting to training was an effort, but he felt well worth it.
Around 1964 sensei Mick Edwards 2nd Dan opened a new BJA Judo club in Handbridge and Mike was delighted to be able to bicycle to training. Sensei Mick took the Club team to train with sensei Osaka of the KNK Manchester and to private classes with sensei Higgashi who taught Atemi waza (Dim Mak) and also taught Mike rare sword drawing techniques. Mike taught Judo at nightschool, Chester College FE, from 1967 to 1969.
It was in early 1967 that sensei’s; Geoff Wilding and Mike Cotgreave both 1st Dans of Karate asked sensei Mick if they could use the top end of the Judo dojo for private karate training, he agreed, and a great friendship developed between the two groups. In mid 1968 sensei Mick had joined the Royal Marine Commandos and the original mats were sold.
Sensei Geoff suggested that he and Mike run a temporary Karate Club whilst saving for new mats, sensei Poynton licenced the new members from Jan 1969. However two things happended that year, firstly the cost of new mats would be £410 way over what had been saved, and sensei Geoff introduced Mike to sensei Enoeda. This convinced Mike that the way forward was Karate not Judo and so on the 4th May 1969 the Handbridge Shotokan Karate Club was formed as a totally non profit making dojo by sensei Geoff Wilding with Mike as assistant and treasurer.
Mike followed sensei Enoeda, but also trained under sensei Sherry, passing his Shodan under sensei Enoeda, who presenting Mike with his own spare Black Belt. That was the start of a very special friendship with sensei Enoeda that lasted right up to his death , with many one to one and master-classes at the Handbridge dojo and elsewhere.
In 1980 HSKC members Colin Evans and Neil MacKay joined Mike on his regular “holiday” to Crystal Palace for Enoeda’s Summer School, Colin and Neil passed their Shodan , Mike passed his Sandan and because they were staying over in the residency managed with Enoeda’s help to have a private session of several hours with that years guest Masatoshi Nakayama, who signed Mike’s books as “Enoeda’s strong student” and also stated that he would let Mike grade for 4th Dan on his return. That return was cancelled many times but finally going to be May 1987, very sadly Grandmaster Nakayama died 14th/15th April 1987, out of respect Mike did not grade.
Always keen on Martial weapons, Mike found an ally in sensei Kase who on private lessons over several Courses showed Mike the link between Bo and Sai to kata, teaching him Unsu Sai and Gojushiho-Dai Sai finally explaining the unusual hitso-sashi ippon nukite, Kase sensei also the original Tekki prior to it’s split into 3 kata.
Mike became a KUGB Competition judge in 1976 and referee in 1979 and even becoming an EKB referee in 1986.
Sensei Enoeda was surprised Mike had not graded since the death of Nakayama, now 13 years a 3rd Dan. He spoke with Sensei Sherry and upon returning to morning training at the Red Triangle, passed. For his 5th Dan he was already attending morning classes, but Sensei Terry O’Neill said he would come over to Chester and do some weekend kumite training. With this training and the great help and encouragement from all his seniors in the morning classes Mike passed 5th Dan with sensei Enoeda commenting that he had obviously trained very hard in preparation. ( Sensei Terry and the morning classes were all free, just very hard ).
Mike has admitted that he is still saddened by the early death of sensei Enoeda in March 2003 and that sadness was compounded by the early death of sensei Geoff Wilding in 2008. Mike believes their spirit remains in the Dojo.
Also In 2008 Sensei Sherry told Mike he could try for 6th Dan. Attendance at the morning classes increased and with great encouragement and help from Sensei Frank Brennan and Sensei Garry Harford, Mike passed his 6th Dan under Sensei Sherry in 2009.
In 2014 a year from retirement Mike accepted a long standing invitation to teach in California USA, from his former student and now 5th Dan Kevin Little, this led to a series of 5 more yearly visits to teach in the USA . About the same time a German engineer Thomas Lang working with co- chief club instructor Dave Roberts entered the dojo. Mike taught Thomas up to Shodan before being invited to Germany to teach. Mike would go on to teach Thomas until he passed his Ni-Dan under now Hanshi Sherry
At the June 2024 Special Prof Dr Jorga Brothers Course in Steinen, Mike was presented with the Fudokan Gold Medal for 10 years of visiting and teaching karate in Germany.
At the KUGB Nationals 2018, Mike was awarded his 7th Dan by Hanshi Sherry 9th Dan.
In 2021 Mike was made a KUGB Kyu grading examiner which he believes is a great honour, though the club retains Sensei Frank Brennan as the main grading examiner.
On the 4th May 2026, The Handbridge Shotokan Karate Club will celebrate 57 years of being a totally non profit making club, Mike thinks that is indeed a privilege.
Mike is booked to teach at the Budo Fest in Steinen Germany in September 2026. Mike continues to be a very staunch supporter of the KUGB.
You may also wish to read Mike’s 5th Dan Thesis.