Kombatkids Japanese Connections

The Japanese Connection

In 2002, Chief Instructor Steve Moore 6th Dan and Paul Cicarella 5th Dan started to train regularly with Sakagami Kuniaki 8th Dan.

Sakagami Kuniaki trained under the founder of Wado Ryu karate Grandmaster Ohtsuka-Hironori 10th Dan Meijin (1892 – 1982). Sakagami Kuniaki is one of the original Japanese Instructors who left Japan to teach in UK and Europe in the 1970’s.

Steve and Paul have since trained weekly under the tuition of Sakagami Kuniaki for over 20 years with Instructor Jamie Donaghy joining this class during this period focusing on the study of Wado karate to the highest standard. 

Sakagami Kuniaki is President of Wadokai England. Kombat Federation has previously held affiliation with Wadokai England with Steve Moore was a Wadokai England Kata coach for a number of years. Wadokai England is an organisation that brings Wado member groups together and offers students the opportunity to compete at JKF Wadokai European and World level events.

Steve, Selina and family have attended the Wadokai World Cup in Japan 2005 and 2015.

Chief Instructor Steve Moore and a number of Kombat Federation Instructor grades are registered at the JKF Wadokai headquarters Tokyo, Japan. 
Kombat Federation organises regular courses for their Instructors with Sakagami Kuniaki. Instructors are graded by Sakagami Kuniaki.

In the early ‘00s, Chief Instructor Steve Moore, Selina Moore and Paul Cicarella began the study of Ryukyu Kobujutsu, a traditional weapons system from Okinawa covering the weapons of Bo, Sai, Kama, Tekko and Tonfa.

In 2019, Steve Moore achieved his Black Belt status graded by Julian Mead 7th Dan, Head of the Ryukyu Kobujutsu Association of Great Britain. Steve still continues to attend courses and trains weekly under private tuition.

Chief Instructor Steve Moore:

“Learning the ancient weapons system of Kobujutsu has benefitted greatly to my understanding and given more depth to my years of karate study”