Matlock Karate Club was established in the mid 1970’s, and is a traditional Japanese Wado-kai Karate-Do. Affiliated to Aiwakai Karate-Do, Wado-Kai England and JKF Wado-Kai and under the guidance of the noted Japanese instructor Sensei Sakagami (8th Dan). The karate club was founded in the mid 1970’s by Sensei Ray Taylor. Ray gained his Black Belt grade in 1982 and successfully led the club until a shoulder injury forced retirement in 1988, when Sensei John Redfern took the reins. In 1989 Matlock Karate Club was asked to become an associate of the Wado Aiwakai Karate-Do Federation. This was an exciting opportunity which enabled students to train with Sensei Sakagami (7th Dan), one of the best Wado instructors in the UK — and advantage our students benefit from to this day.
