Richard has trained and taught karate within the KUGB for over 50 years. His experience in Shotokan karate was developed whilst in membership of various karate clubs in Rhyl, Prestatyn, Buckley, Cardiff and the Red Triangle in Liverpool and through training and teaching on courses in the UK and overseas.
Richard graded 1st Dan in 1977 and at the 2018 KUGB National Championships was awarded his 7th Dan.
During his time in Cardiff University and after graduating, Richard won many titles and represented Wales internationally with the KUGB and also the Welsh All Styles Association in both Kata and in Kumite.
Following retirement from competition Richard undertook a number of leadership roles in karate nationally and internationally. These include:
Chairman of the KUGB in Wales (24 years).
Chairman of the governing body for Karate in Wales (6 years).
Chairman of the British Karate Federation (6 years).
Manager of the British All Styles Team – top competing nation in the WKF World championships in South Africa 1996.
Member – first Welsh Sportlot panel responsible for distributing lottery money to sport in Wales.
Member – referee commission of the European Karate-do Association (ESKA) 2008 – to date.
Member – referee commission World Shotokan Karate-do Association (WSKA) 20013 – to date.
President of ESKA 2008 – to date.
President of the WSKA 2009 – to date.
Richard was also the National kata coach for the Welsh KUGB team for several years and is also the most experienced international referee in membership of the KUGB with over 30 years service.
For 19 years Richard was chief instructor to the Cambridge University Karate Club and is very proud of their many team and individual gold medals at the KUGB nationals in both kata and kumite and the record number of consecutive varsity wins over Oxford University in addition to the victory over Keio University when on tour in Japan in 2007. With other KUGB members in 2022 he founded the Cambridge Karate Academy.
In 2020 Richard became the first ever KUGB grading examiner from Wales. He teaches at the Rhyl and Prestatyn Shotokan Karate club of which he was a founder member in 1974.
