Alex has been training in Shotokan karate for over 20 years. His foundation was built at a club with a strong emphasis on kihon (basics), giving him the technical grounding that underpins everything he does today. Joining the World Shotokan Karate Federation (WSKF) marked a significant shift in his development — the standard expected of every student is high, the physical demands are real, and the goal is not simply to maintain your level but to continually exceed it.

A key part of that growth has come through training under Mitsuoka Sensei, Chief Instructor of WSKF England, whose decades of experience and precise, exacting feedback have shaped Alex’s understanding of what karate can be. One insight that has shaped his approach and philosophy to karate performance is that a judge cannot feel your technique, only see it. In this case the power communicates through speed and sharpness, not tension, and that shift in thinking changes how you approach every movement. Alex has twice travelled to Tokyo to take part in WSKF World Championship events and training with other organisations in the city — experiences he values for the perspective they brought, as much as anything else.

For students joining the club, that philosophy translates directly into their training. You will be pushed to develop strong basics, given honest and constructive feedback, and introduced to the full picture of karate — kihon, kata, and kumite working together. Whether you are a complete beginner or an experienced practitioner, the goal is the same: to keep improving.