World Referee ‘A’ European Referee ‘A’ Former British Karate Federation Assistant Chief Referee Jason Ashcroft has been training in Karate for many years.

Jason started Shotokan Karate with the Karate Union of Wales, whose Chief Instructor is Mike O’Brien. Jason attained his 1st Dan Black Belt at the age of sixteen, then his 2nd Dan two years later and in early 1993 he attained his 3rd Dan. Jason was then presented with his 4th Dan in February 1999.

In 2007 Jason was presented by the Directors of the Welsh Karate Governing Body his 5th Dan. 8th June 2014 Jason was awarded by the Directors of the Welsh Karate Governing Body his 6th Dan.

Jason has won many Championships with well over a hundred trophies, he is 9 Time Welsh Champion, K.B.I. International Champion and B.S.K.U. World Champion. Since the age of sixteen and every year since Jason has represented Wales fighting for the K.U.W. Welsh ‘A’ Team and has also fought for the W.K.F. Welsh ‘A’ Team. Sensei Jason K. Ashcroft Karate, Coaching, Refereeing & Competition Accreditations at a Glance 

Karate Governing Body Competition History : 1980 – Started competing with Mugendo, winning many local competitions 1987 – KUW Welsh Shield Champion 1987 – KUW Welsh National Champion 1987 – KBI International Champion 1988 – Represented the Welsh Karate Federation ‘A’ Squad 1988 – KUW Welsh Shield Champion 1988 – KUW Welsh National Champion 1988 – BKI International Champion 1990 – Represented KUW Welsh Senior ‘A’ Team and every year up to 2000 1990 – KUW National Team Champion 1990 – WKB Men’s Team Champion 1993 – BSKUI Worlds Shotokan Team Champion 1st Place 1993 – KUW Senior Men’s Kata National Champion 1994 – KUW Senior Men’s Kata Shield Champion 1995 – Bebb’s Cup Senior Men’s Kata Champion 1995 – KUW Senior Men’s National Kata Champion 1995 – Represented KUW Welsh Team at the BSKUI 3rd World Shotokan Championships, 2nd Place 1996 – Retired from Individual Competition 1996 – 2000 Continued to compete with the KUW Welsh Senior ‘A’ Team I have won 226 Medals and Trophies in my Competition Career.

I have been training in Karate for many years, first started training at an early age of six. At this time I started Shotokan Karate with the Karate Union of Wales, whose Chief Instructor is Sensei Mike O’Brien.

I attained my 1st Dan Black Belt at the age of 9, then my 2nd Dan, 7 years later and in 2002 I attained my 3rd Dan. I then attained my 4th Dan in December 2011 with Sensei Bo Channon under the WKC. I joined the WSKO in May 2015 and was a Referee in the Welsh Open Championship. I have won many Championships he is 5 Time Welsh Champion, K.B.I. International, North Wales Open Champion, and 2 time WKA Champion. Since the age of 23 I have represented Wales fighting for the WKGB Welsh Team in the Paris Open and the Dutch Open. Grading 1988- Attained the level of 1st Dan 1995 – Attained the level of 2nd Dan 2000 – Attained the level of 3rd Dan 2011 – Attained the level of 4th Dan 2023 – Attained the level of 5th Dan Coaching 2002 – Qualified as NVQ Level II Refereeing 2008 – Qualified as Judge ‘A’ with the Welsh Karate Federation 2016 – Qualified as Referee ‘B’ with the Welsh Karate Governing Body 2017 – Qualified as Referee ‘A’ with the Welsh Karate Governing Body Competition History :

1986 – Started competition , winning many local competitions 1986 – KUW Welsh Open Champion 1987 – KBI International National Champion 1993 – KUW Champion 1996 – BEEB Champion 1988 – KUW Welsh Shield Champion 2002 – WKA National Champion 2003 – Maesteg Champion 2004 – Vale Champion 2005 – Vale Champion 2007 – Welsh National Champion 2008 – Welsh Open Champion 2008 – North Wales Open Champion 2009 – Welsh National Champion 2010 – Welsh Team Champion 2011 – Retired from Competition Due to Injury

I have been learning the art of Shotokan since 1999. I started at a club in Cwmbach Aberdare under the Karate Union of Wales by Sensei Jayne George. On the 3rd October 2000 I joined the Ferndale Shotokan Karate School with Sensei Jason K. Ashcroft.

We were his sixth school to open and in 2002 our name changed to Welsh Shotokan Karate Organisation. I had a break from 2002 – 2006. When I started back I achieved the trophy for 2007 best motivated and outstanding overall student for the WSKO. While mastering the skills of Shotokan Karate I have learnt integrity, modesty, confidence, to be direct, honest and a sense of humour, the ability to relate to different kinds of people and personalities. Most of all I found that special something that I was looking for “ A life dedicated to the discipline of Shotokan, a sense of calmness, a technique to aid in my understanding to all these great and inspiring qualities.” In September of 2010 I started doing my NVQ in coaching and took it very solemn. I am now a qualified instructor and grading examiner to the Welsh Shotokan Karate Organisation. To do this I had to be consistent, respect everyone on and off the mat. Care and concern for developing students and challenging them to improve and grow, the capability to communicate the Shotokan technique in such a way students can understand it, retaining enthusiasm and a sense of continued discover, to be honest, fair, and to accept other opinions without loosing my personal strength, self-awareness, wisdom, respect and dignity. Karate * 2007 Attained the level of 1st Dan * 2009 Attained the level of 2nd Dan * 2011 Attained the level of 3rd Dan Achievements * 2000 Attained R.S.K.S. champion in Junior Kata 4th Kyu & below. * 2000 Attained 2nd place in Junior Kumite 4’10’ below. * 2000 Attained best student in the F.S.K.S. For attendance, punctuality and best motivated student for the year. * 2001 Attained 3rd place in Junior Kata 4th Kyu & below. * 2001 Attained best student in the F.S.K.S. For attendance, punctuality and best motivated student for the year. * 2002 Attained best student in the F.S.K.S. For attendance, punctuality and best motivated student for the year. * 2006 Attained most outstanding student 5th Kyu & above at the November Grading & Seminar. * 2006 Attained best Brown & Black belt in the F.S.K.S. For attendance, punctuality and best motivated student for the year. * 2007 Attained best Brown & Black belt in the F.S.K.S. For attendance, punctuality and best motivated student for the year. * 2007 Attained best-motivated and outstanding overall student for the W.S.K.O. Other Achievements * 2011 Attained my HSE First Aid Certificate * 2011 Attained my Child Protection Certificate * 2011 Attained my NVQ in Coaching

BIO To Follow Shortly

Sensei Robin Short 6th Dan Instructor and Grading Examiner to the Welsh Shotokan Karate Organization USA.

USA Representative for the WSKO based in Texas. General Secretary to the ISOK (International Society of Okinawan Karate)

I began my training in Shotokan Karate with Sensei Haydn James in Cornelly in June 1982 with the KUW, during that time I was afforded the opportunity to train with many great sensei’s of differing styles and technical abilities not to mention, Mike O’Brien, Dave Hazard, Richie Noblett (RIP), Ticky Donovan, Dominic Valero, Chuck Norris, Vince Morris, Hirokazu Kanazawa, Chuck Merriman, and Bill ‘Superfoot’ Wallace. I participated in many competitions and won team and individual rankings at multiple venues throughout Wales in the 80’s, and I was always ready to attend the next seminar and gleam and learn from the next sensei and was graded to Shodan by Enoeda Sensei in 1986. Due to travelling for my job and leaving the UK, I arrived in the USA and trained in the Kenpo system of Karate, as I was unable to locate a solid Shotokan Karate club in the area of California where I was living, and I obtained my 1st Degree Black Belt April 1996. During this time I felt like a nomad looking for a club and a style that I could relate to, as many clubs were a mix mash and were not teaching what I knew as real karate, and were teaching a lot of their techniques without any understanding of the Bunkai and no real quality applications. It was during this time I was introduced to the likes of Sensei’s like Vince Morris and Chuck Merriman who had an infinite understanding of karate and more so the Bunkai and applications associated with this, I believe this is the moment when my karate just started to click. Still unable to find a style and home for my karate that I could relate too, I reached out back to Wales and started to converse with Sensei Jason Ashcroft, and this is when my association with the WSKO began its journey.

Bio to follow shortly

Bio to follow shortly