Meet the Instructors
CLUB INSTRUCTORS
CHIEF INSTRUCTOR
BRIAN WILLIAMS, 3RD DAN JKA
Sensei Williams has over 30 years of experience in Shotokan Karate. He started with KUGB/JKA and has been training at East London JKA for several years. He gained his instructor qualification at the prestigious International JKA Spring Course 2012 under Sensei Tomlin and Sensei Steward.
Additional qualifications/certifications include:
- Disclosure & Barring Service Enhanced
- First Aid level 3 / First aid for Martial Arts instructors L3
- NSPCC child protection in Sport
- JKAE/EKF Coaching License
- First Aid Certification
- First Aid for Martial Arts Instructors Level 3 (VTQ)
- NSPCC Child Protection Certification
- Safeguarding of Children (Child Protection) Level 2 (VTQ)
- JKA International Instructor License D
He is currently working towards attaining additional JKA License.
Sensei has previous competed in the veterans Kumite category at the JKA Open Championships 2017, 2018 and 2019 where he won gold every year.
ASSISTANT INSTRUCTOR
NIGEL RICHMOND, 1ST DAN JKA
Nigel (Ashley) Richmond has been practising Karate for twenty years. He regularly attends JKA England International and National courses, has studied Karate under many top instructors and has ample experience teaching alongside the Coach/Head Instructors.
Ashley passed his coaching qualification JKA/EKF at the International course in Crawley under Sensei Tomlin in 2014. He also holds Disclosure and Barring Service Enhanced.
He is highly thought of at the Club, extremely hard working and an asset to our Club. We expect great things from him Ashley is currently working towards his Instructors and Referees & Judges JKA license.
ASSISTANT INSTRUCTOR
AARON STOREY, 3RD DAN JKA
Aaron has been practising Shotokan Karate since 2011. He passed his black belt (1st Dan) grading at JKA Annual Spring International Course in May 2015. The following year, he was selected for JKA’s England squad where he has competed ever since. He has been JKA’s senior Kata Champion since 2019 and was a silver medallist in Kumite that same year.
Recently, he received a Bronze Medal at EKF’s E1 series in Manchester. He is training towards next year’s JKA European and World Championships.
His qualifications/certifications include:
- JKAE/EKF Coaching License
- Enhanced Disclosure (DBS)
- First Aid Certification
- NSPCC Child Protection Certification
- JKA instructors International License Level C
- JKA Referees & Judge International License D
In 2019, Sensei Storey took over the role of Chief Instructor at Stratford Karate Club and remains an instructor at East London JKA club.
ASSISTANT INSTRUCTOR
CLAIRE BERNABE, 2ND DAN JKA
Sensei Claire started her karate journey by chance as a PE option in Secondary School. After her 1st lesson, she was hooked and trained religiously, attaining Shodan within 4 years. After a break she returned to the dojo under JKA.
She holds a JKA Nidan graded by Ohta Sensei. Her qualifications and certifications include:
- JKA Coaching Licence
- Enhanced DBS
She regularly attends JKA England courses including International & National events, Referee and Instructor courses. She also had the privileged to train at JKA Honbu in Tokyo with her son and the infamous Naka Sensei in 2019.
Sensei Claire can be seen helping the students in the club (children and adults), supporting, and encouraging them to achieve the best of themselves whenever the opportunity arises.
CHAIRMAN / ORIGINAL FOUNDER
CARLOS BASTIDAS, 2ND DAN JKA
Sensei Bastidas founded East London JKA Karate Club in 2010. After stepping down from his role as chief instructor, he was appointed Club Charmain.
Sensei Bastidas will now perform the task of Chairman for the Club and will remain in the pool of Instructors. Sensei Bastidas has full Indemnity Insurance, Disclosure and Barring Service Enhanced Certification and a JKA England Coaching Qualification, (recognised by EKF English Karate Federation).
He has also successfully passed examinations with JKA England and holds grade 3 Instructors License and grade 4 Judges and Referee License.
He holds Grade D International JKA Instructors License.