Renshi Andy Plumb (6th Dan)
1st Dan - 1997 (SKF)
2nd Dan - 2001 (BKA)
3rd Dan - 2007 (SSKU)
4th Dan - 2012 (SSU)
5th Dan - 2018 (SSU - Graded in Japan)
6th Dan - 2024 (SSU)
Andy began training in Shukokai Karate in 1986 alongside his dad, at a club taught by Dave Roberts (4th Dan) under the late Kimura Sensei and the SKF.
Andy was soon training 5 nights a week for many years, across 4 of Dave's clubs. Andy competed at National level under Dave, winning various competitions, including Welsh and UK titles.
In 2001, Andy formed his own club and and later the same year he was invited to a Seminar with Soke Yamada Sensei and Denis Casey Sensei, in Manchester, by the Shito-Ryu Shukokai Karate Union.
Andy was blown away by the incredible experience of training with top Japanese and UK instructors, and the professionalism and closeness of the UK group, his passion for karate had been reignited. A meeting with Denis Casey Sensei was arranged and the club was immediately welcomed into the SSKU group, under the guidance of Denis Casey Sensei & Tony Grainger Sensei.
Andy has competed at national and international levels with the SSU with the pinnacle being on the Men's UK Team in the 2007 Shukokai World Cup, where they took gold place.
Andy has been fortunate enough to travel with other members of the SSU to train in Japan at the Honbu Dojo with the highest ranking Japanese instructors and has also travelled to Okinawa to train with several Okinawan Masters.
in 2018 Andy graded to 5th Dan in the Headquarters in Japan with his student Marco Wong as his grading partner. Andy was awarded the title Renshi in 2019.
Andy is also the UK Association General Secretary and Member of the Exec Committee.
"Karate has given me the opportunity to travel to places I could have only dreamt of, training and competing. I have making lifelong friends from across the world. To share this knowledge and experiences with some of my students is very rewarding. I will forever be grateful for the warm welcome Denis Casey Sensei and the Instructors at the SSU gave me, and the path with my life has taken as a result"
Favorite quote "If you leave the main stream, your river of knowledge will dry up" (Denis Casey Sensei)
Favorite kata Gojushiho
