About Karate Budokan International

Welcome to the Karate Budokan International (UK) web-site. The aim of this web-site is to provide existing and new students with background information and knowledge of the traditional art of Budokan karate. It is also an information centre to inform practitioner with the latest news and update information about the forthcoming events in the United Kingdom and around the world. We are a non political and profit making organisation. Our motto is "Fair, Firm and Friendly with emphasis on good karate training and standards, ethics, moral and commitments". Our organisation is recognised by the Sport Council for Wales.

History of K.B.I. (UK)

Karate Budokan International was first brought to Wales in 1974 by Sensei Mike Tan. At that time, karate in Wales was not very popular with only a few black belts in the South Wales region. Karate Budokan Wales was established as an offshoot of the Karate Budokan International (KBI) based in Malaysia, where Sensei Mike Tan originated from. He was trained at the YMCA centre KBI headquarters in Penang, attaining his Dan grade at the age of 16. He came to UK in 1974 to further his education, and started his first class at Llandaff College of Technology, Cardiff.

In 1976, Sensei Mike Tan continued his higher education at the Polytechnic of Wales, Treforest Pontypridd. He opened KBI Wales second club in 1977, these classes were very popular and successful which lead to the formation of a third club at the University Of Wales College Of Medicine Heath, Cardiff.

Having trained with other styles of Karate in Cardiff for a few years, although still loyal to Budokan, Sensei Mike Tan decided to write to the late Grandmaster Chew Choo Soot (founder of Karate Budokan International), in Malaysia requesting permission to be affiliated to the Budokan Headquarters in Malaysia.
The late Grandmaster Chew replied only too pleased to inform him that there were other affiliated Budokan Clubs in Liverpool, Manchester, Isle of Man, and Stoke-on-Trent.

In 1981, Sensei Mike Tan decided to attain recognition from the Sports Council for Wales through membership of the Welsh Karate Federation, primarily to enable students to compete and participate at Welsh National and British karate tournaments.

Membership of the Karate Budokan International in Wales flourished under the leadership of sensei Mike Tan. Grandmaster Chew had seen visited Cardiff to undertake seminars and grading on numerous occasions in the early to mid eighties.

To-date Sensei Mike Tan has produced over forty junior and senior black belts of a high standard with students winning gold medals at national and international open championships.

In the early 1980's Sensei Mike Tan organised numerous successful Open Karate Championship in Cardiff, attracting KBI competitors from as far as India, Norway, Sri Lanka, Sweden and Malaysia. Sensei Mike Tan was chief referee for the KBI Norwegian Open Karate Championship held at the University of Bergen. Regular international training camps and tournaments were arranged between the Scandinavian countries and Wales.

On a local level, Sensei Mike Tan was elected as vice chairman to the Welsh Karate Governing Body (WKGB) for five consecutive years. He chaired various committees in the WKGB and was the Welsh and British representative for WKGB. In the competition refereeing circuit, Sensei Mike Tan had gained; Welsh, British and European refereeing qualifications and have represented Wales, officiating in European Karate Championships (EKU) on numerous occasions.

Sensei Mike Tan has always had a close friendship with Grandmaster Chew and his family. Outside karate they were very good family friend and enjoyed each others company. In 1997, sadly Grandmaster Chew Choo Soot passed away in Malaysia and Richard Chew succeeds his father as the new Grandmaster for KBI. In the following year Richard made a pilgrimage for his late father and visited majority of the KBI Association throughout the world. Richard Chew visited Wales for a week and undertook seminars in the Heath Dojo and Rumney Community Centre. As recognition for the devoted loyalty, commitments and dedication of Sensei Mike Tan, Grandmaster Richard Chew promoted sensei Mike Tan to 5th Dan. Sensei Wayne McDonald was made International Chief Instructor. Grandmaster Richard Chew had given KBI (UK) under the leadership of sensei Mike Tan, autonomy to KBI Headquarters' now based in Noorsa, Australia.