Sensei Mark Searson

Mark Searson ALCM, 4th Dan Karate-Do is chief instructor and founder of Seishan Karate Club.

I was born in Poplar, East London in 1957. Growing up in this 'rough' area, together with my natural dislike of bullies meant that I was constantly getting into scraps. When I moved out of inner London into the suburbs, the Kung Fu (Bruce Lee) boom was in full swing. This, and the fact that I was a teenager still clashing with local bullies, made me decide to improve my self defence skills in a more constructive manner. I therefore looked at different martial disiplines, ie Kung Fu, Judo etc. When I saw how fast, powerful and dynamic Karate was, I decided there and then that this was the martial art for me. With this in mind I joined the Ishin Ryu Karate Club and trained at the Dagenham and then the Barking Dojo with the inspirational Ticky Donovan OBE.

In 1987 I moved to rural Essex and joined the local Wadu Ryu Club; South East Schools of Karate, training under Ray Leaver Sensei. In 1989 I achieved my 1st Dan in Wado Ryu and first started running classes. 2nd Dan was passed in 1992 and later in the same year I founded Seishan Karate Club which was affiliated to Shi Kon through the Roding Schools of Karate.

It was under Roding's Ray Barrow Sensei that I passed my 3rd Dan in 1995. Seishan Karate Club has been a full member of Shi Kon Budo Kai since 1996. In 2009 I achieved 4th Dan from the Shi Kon Technical Committee headed by Steve Rowe Sensei.

Seishan Karate Club has gone from strength to strength and the talented team of Yudansha (Black Belts) have helped to produce a friendly, hard working and successful outfit with high standards and a strong leaning towards the traditional Wado Ryu Karate. The club also enjoys success in the competition arena with a long list of England medallists. It's a club that all members can be proud of - I know I am.