The club was founded by Ian MacLaren and Josie Wynn in 1997. Both are highly qualified instructors of the Karate Union of Great Britain and hold Black Belt qualifications awarded by the prestigeous Japan Karate Association. Ian is a 5th Dan and Josie is a 4th Dan. Ian is also one of the country’s foremost teachers of Kobudo, the study of traditional Karate weaponry, and Josie is his senior student in this study. He is also recognised as a prominent Karate historian, and regularly teaches and lectures throughout the country. Ian is a qualified KUGB Assessor, and Josie is a qualified KUGB Instructor, both qualifications are recognised by Karate England. Our 'home grown' additions to the ranks of our Black Belts are Christine Vallins, who has been training with the Club since it started, Andrew Wardle, our first junior to achieve Dan rank, Nigel Shields who was also a founder member of Torashin, and more recently, Georgia Liddle who has recently passed her 2nd Dan, Alex Nottage who is a 1st Dan and will be leaving us to join the RAF, and Georgia's brother Adam who is 1st Dan.