Sensei Jason Roe, 5th Dan (EGKA)
Sensei Jason
Training & Grading history:
1984 - Started training in Goju Ryu under Sensei Kim Roberts
1991 - Started training in Shotokan
1995 - Graded to Shodan in Shotokan (SEKU)
2003 - Returned to Goju Ryu
2004 - Shodan (crossover grading Shotokan to Goju Ryu)
2005 - Nidan Grading
2008 - Sandan Grading
2014 - Yondan Grading
2019 - Godan Grading
I started my Goju Ryu training under Sensei Kim Roberts at the East Point Centre dojo in 1984 at age thirteen. I trained with Sensei Kim for a number of years and graded to 2nd kyu (brown belt) A change of direction within the dojo combined with college commitments lead me to step away from karate for a short time in 1989.
In 1991 I returned to Karate with a local Shotokan club in Eastleigh as my previous club was no longer there. I chose to return to 10th Kyu (beginner) and worked my way through the grades once more.
In 1995 I graded to Shodan (1st black belt) in Shotokan. I trained for several years with the same club, but unfortunately the club numbers decreased and we seemingly lost direction over the years. I missed the level of training that I had once enjoyed and eventually this led me to look to Goju Ryu once again.
At the end of 2003 I started to train with a Goju Ryu club in Winchester called the HTKA. We were affiliated with OTGKA (one of the English governing bodies) and the IOGKF (Our worldwide association). Returning to Goju Ryu felt like coming home after many years away, and training with the IOGKF gave me the opportunity to meet and train under some of the world’s best instructors.
In 2004 I was invited to London to grade by Sensei George Andrews (8th dan OTGKA) to complete my crossover back to Goju Ryu, and over the next four years I was invited to return to London to successfully attempt my Nidan and Sandan grades.
In 2010 a number of dojos affiliated to OTGKA were accepted into the EGKA (English Goju Ryu Karate-Do Association) under Sensei Ernie Molyneux (8th dan). The EGKA is the largest IOGKF affiliated association in England and our chief instructor is one of the world vice chief instructors of the IOGKF
I was assistant instructor within HTKA until 2013 when I was granted permission by Sensei Ernie to open my own dojo in Eastleigh. In the April of that year Eastleigh Goju Ryu Karate Do opened it's doors for the first time. I am happy to be able to run the kind of dojo I always wanted to be a part of when I started training. I expect my students to work hard and respect the traditions of the art we study, but we do have some laughs along the way and the dojo is as much an extended family as it is a club.
In August 2019 I graded to Godan in Okinawa at the IOGKF 40th Anniversary Gishiki in front of Nakamura Sensei & Terauchi Sensei.
I continue my own progression by regularly training with Sensei Ernie at his dojo in Bournemouth. By training with Sensei Ernie, attending EGKA events and IOGKF courses to train with our seniors across the world, I endeavour to maintain the high standards expected by both the EGKA and the IOGKF.