Shihan Robin Whale

It was late 1970 when I first started training in the martial arts. At that time the club instructor held a green belt, and we had a visit from a black belt from Plymouth (90 miles away) every two weeks. At first, I studied traditional Japanese Wado Ryu karate and after a few false starts got my first belt in December 1973. I continued with Wado Ryu and reached 1st Kyu brown belt, and then my sensei (teacher) decided to form his own style - Bujinkai Karate. On August 12th 1978 I passed my grading examination for Shodan - Black Belt (first Dan/level). 2nd Dan followed three years later, and my 3rd Dan three years after that.

During that time I opened and ran a few clubs in Cornwall, the main ones that continued being the Penzance and Helston dojo (training halls). Apart from an assortment of trophies from a number of competitions both locally and nationally, I am proud to say I have fostered a number of some of Cornwall's best Karate exponents. Men, women and children, able bodied and disabled, have all benefited from the study of the martial arts.

After a growing dissatisfaction with my progress within Bujinkai Karate, I resigned in November 1991, and formed the Sandokai Karate Association with my senior grades in West Cornwall. 18 months later I was presented with my 4th Dan by Sensei Willie Thomas, the then World Karate Champion, and in May 1998 I was awarded my 5th Dan from the Federation of English Karate Organisations. 2004 saw a big step in my karate career when I was awarded my 6th Dan, the title of Shihan ("master" or "teacher of teachers") and hung up my black belt in favour of a red and white "block" belt.

I have no particular preferences for one technique or aspect of Karate over any other, but as an "older" person I do still get considerable pleasure from Kata, especially Saipai, Nijushiho and Unsu. I have had my time in kumite squads, represented Redruth Karate Club, Bujinkai Karate and Sandokai Karate at both local and national levels, and now focus my fighting skills through refereeing (FEKO National Referee).

I now gain vicarious pleasure from guiding my students to their own successes, both in Karate and life itself. I could fill pages and pages of this web site with tales (funny, sad, heroic and just plain daft ) of the antics and exploits of myself and my students, but suffice it to say that I have got a lot more out of Karate than I could ever put in. Karate has been a constant in my life.

Partners, friends, family, and fortunes have come and gone, but my Karate has always been there, as have life long friends scattered around Britain and the world.

Shihan Robin Whale demonstrates Pinan Godan Kata
(11.6 Mb MOV movie)

Shihan Robin Whale demonstrates Unsu Kata
(15.3 Mb AVI movie)