Tokon Kai Karate Academy History
In 1995 Sensei Steve Roberts opened his own club at Corringham called Corringham Karate Club. The first lesson started off with only 28 students. In 1997 Sensei Steve Roberts opened another dojo, at this time they were an independent club part of Westwood Karate Club, run by Sensei Steve’s best friend Sensei Alan Parish and affiliated to the U.K.T.K.F run by Sensei Kawasoe at the time 7th Dan. In 1998 Sensei Roberts split from Westwood Karate Club keeping the clubs they had opened, Corringham & South Woodham Ferrers.
After Sensei Roberts was given another dojo to take over by Sensei Dave Vaughan called Canvey Island Karate Club, he decided to make a name for all the dojos. He created the name from a Japanese book that was leant to him from a old school training friend Debbie K.U.G.B and he called the new club TOKON KAI which means (fighting spirit) Tokon Kai stayed with the U.K.T.K.F in which Sensei S. Roberts took and passed his 3rd Dan under Sensei Kawasoe, 7th Dan & Sensei H. Shirai 8th Dan. Sensei Steve went to open more dojos in the Campus Lakeside, Elmwood School Woodham Ferres, Springfield Parish Centre and Beehive Lane Primary School with Sensei Sue Wood. He also opened other dojos such as Basildon sports centre, Tiptree, Mildmay School, Great Berry in Laindon, Bromfords Sports centre, APU University, David Lloyd, Great Baddow, Lee Chapel Primary School, Larkrise School, Markhams Chase, Saint Peters School Burnham, Riverside Ice and Leisure, Waterside Farm, Baddow Hall School, Barns farm School, Moulsham Junior School, Heybridge Primary school, Blackwater Leisure Centre Maldon, Boswells School and ARU. In 2001, Tokon Kai Karate Club competed at the World Championships in New York. Sensei Steve won 3 Silvers.
Also in 2001, Tokon Kai left the U.K.T.K.F and joined S.A.S.K.A. In 2003 Tokon Kai moved to B.M.A.K.G. in October 2003 Sensei Steve Roberts passed his 5th Dan under K. Funakoshi then went on to the World Championships alone in Las Vegas to win gold in Kumite becoming a World Champion. In 2005 Tokon Kai Karate became their own association. In 2009, whilst still their own association with nearly 1000 members, Sensei Steve took and passed his 6th Dan under Sensei K Funakoshi and joined and affiliated to Funakoshi Shotokan Karate Association F.S.K.A. And has stayed affiliated with F.S.K.A In 2011 Sensei Steve Roberts renamed his club TOKON KAI KARATE ACADEMY to focus on the growth of developing Instructors as well as teaching students.
Today
In recent years, Sensei Steve Roberts, after attaining his 9th Dan, has focussed on training instructors around the world. He regularly visits Poland and India and has developed a number of instructors to pass on what he has learnt over his illustrious career.
