Sensei Bentham Full Profile
Sensei Brain Bentham started his karate training in the 1970's at the age of 23 under the instruction of Sensei Billiy Higgins (6th Dan), a world class instructor with the K.U.G.B.
At school Brian had always taken a keen interest in the more physical sports such as circuit traiing and gymnastics. He worked hard to improve his performance and develop his gymnastic ability, this stood Brian in good stead for some of the trickier karate techniques.
Brian was soon fully commited to karate and training 4 times a week with Sensei Higgins, this saw him progress through the gardes and represent the club team at the K.U.G.B National Championships at Crystal Palace.
After training for 6 years with Sensei Higgins Brian decided to take a break from karate to concentrrate on work commitments and during this time got into weight training. Brian built himself upto around 15 stone and could squat over 500 pounds!! In doing so he built up enormous legs (not good
for karate) and Sensei Fred Harrison still calls him 'Heavy Legs' to this day!
After 2 years away from the Dojo Brian decided it was time to return and a friend introduced him to a club at Golborne High School run by Sensei Jimmy Pritchard (3rd Dan). It was here that Brian met a young Sarah Foster now a fellow instructor at Ryu Do and Rebecca Whitehead, who has since become a senior dan grade under Brian's tuition. Jimmy was a member of the Mirai Shotokan Group based in and around Wigan and run by Chief Instructor Alec Laurie (6th Dan). After training with Jimmy for 2 years Brian took the decision to loeave and set up his own club.
That's how Lowton Shotokan Karate Club came into being. The Club became a member of the British Karate Association and Brian attended squad selection and training sessions along with senior students Phil Barnes (1st Dan) and the late Sean Slater (3rd Dan) and successfully gained places on the association national team.
At this time the B.K.A was run by the late Danny Connor (7th Dan) with Sensei Brian Seabright (5th Dan) general secretary and national squad coach. In 1995 at the invite of Sensei Fred Harrison Brian took up the position of B.K.A National Squad manager and set about organising the squad's competion campaign. After Sensei Harrison stepped down in 1998 Brian bacame B.K.A National Squad Coach.
Brian was delighted to be given this prestigious appointment and was assisted by close friend Adrian Ward (3rd Dan Tae Kwon Do).
In 1999 Brian was presented with a special award by Sensei Danny Connor for his services to karate and the B.K.A Squad. Sadly, Danny Connor has now died after loosing his battle with cancer and will be greatly missed by all. Brian recalls what a privilege it was to have met Danny and to have recveived his advice.
After piloting the B.K.A to National and International success Brian decided to resign the position and concentrate on his own club. Lowton Shotokan Karate Club was then relaunched with a change of venue and reborn as Ryu Do Shotokan Karate Academy in 2002. The club has since gone from strength to strength and enjoyed a great deal of success under his expert instruction.
Brian also has his son Andrew training with him and Brian is incredibly proud to have seen him achieve his junior 2nd Dan. Andrew is a talented athlete with many tournament titles to his name in both kata and kumite and puts 100% into every training session.
In 2003 Brian was further honoured with an 'Instructor Profile' feature in Traditional Karate Magazine and he was then invited by the editor of Combat/Traditional Karate/Tae Kwon Do Magazines - Paul Clifton, to attend the Comat Hall of Fame Awards Ceremony at which he received an award in recognition of his achievements.
As well as teaching, coaching and officiating Brian continues to study and train to improve his own practice of karate. Brian has achieved his Blue Belt in Fudoshin (weapons) under the tuition of Sensei Dave Macintyre and continues to invite guets instructors to Ryu Do Shotokan so that instructors and students alike can benefit from their experience and knowledge.
