Steve Roberts - 9th Dan - Chief Instructor
World Championship Titles:
2001 - Silver kumite, silver team kumite, Bronze kata (New York)
2003 - Gold kumite and bronze kata (Las Vegas)
2004 - Gold kata and silver kumite (Las Vegas)
2005 - Gold kata and silver kumite (Las Vegas)
2006 - Silver kumite (Las Vegas)
2007 - Gold kumite and bronze kata (England)
THE KUGB YEARS 1977-1992
Sensei Steve Roberts started Shotokan Karate in 1977, aged 17years. He joined a club which was a KUGB (Karate Union of Great Britain) dojo on Canvey Island, Essex. The instructors at the time were Senseis Bob Waterhouse 2nd Dan and Dave Vaughan 3rd Dan. He was also taught regularly by Sensei Dave Hazard now 7th Dan and the late Sensei Charles Naylor 7th Dan. He travelled to London most weeks to train under the late Sensei Enoeda and Senseis Tomita and Ohta at Marshall Street. Sensei Roberts competed in every KUGB National Championship and Southern regional during the years he belonged to the organisation. He also competed in numerous All Style events. He has over 40 trophies from these events. He represented the southern regional K.U.G.B squad under the instruction of Gerry McCullicutt. All KUGB championships were large events with the contestants moving very quickly and hitting very hard. Unlike today where control is paramount. Sensei competed at the same time as the great Senseis Frank Brennan and Ronnie Christopher. Sensei Roberts passed his 1st Dan in 1981 and his 2nd Dan in 1983, both under Sensei Eneoda. During his time at the K.U.G.B Sensei Roberts has trained on many courses especially the twice yearly K.U.G.B courses held at Crystal Palace, training with great Shotokan masters including: Senseis Nakayama, Nishiyama, Enoeda, Yahara, Tanaka, Ohta, Osaka, Ueki, Tomita, Tsuyama Tabata, Shirai, Kawasoe, Kase and Naito. He was also training under the great British instructors Senseis Andy Sherry, Terry O’Neil, Frank Brennan and Billy Higgins.During his time with the K.U.G.B, he opened a club in Leigh on Sea, Essex, with a friend, Sensei Alan Parrish. He also became one of the main instructors at the Canvey dojo where he had first started Karate.
THE U.K.T.K.F YEARS 1992-2001
In 1992 Sensei Roberts and friend Sensei Alan Parrish opened additional dojos; and moved away from the KUGB. They joined the U.K.T.K.F (United Kingdom Traditional Karate Federation) under Sensei Kawasoe 8th Dan. Sensei passed his 3rd Dan under Sensei Kawasoe after a course in London in 1996. In 1995 he opened his own club in Corringham and in 1997 another club in South Woodham Ferrers. In 1998 these clubs were renamed Tokon Kai Karate.
THE TOKON KAI YEARS 2001 onwards
In 2001 Sensei Roberts split from Sensei Parrish and left the U.K.T.K.F. He joined S.A.S.K.A, where he passed his 4th Dan. In 2003 Tokon Kai moved to the B.M.A.K.G before finally becoming their own association in 2005. In 2003, Sensei passed his 5th dan under Shihan Funakoshi-9th Dan after a long grading. This was an amazing achievement to pass under one of the highest Shotokan masters alive today. From 2001, onwards Sensei began competing at World Class level. In 2001, Sensei travelled to New York for the World Traditional Karate Championships. The event was under the guidance of Sensei Abe-8th Dan. Here he won his first World Championships medals with Silver in the kumite, Silver in the Team kumite and Bronze in the kata. From 2002 onwards, Sensei travelled to Las Vegas for the Funakoshi Shotokan Karate Association (F.S.K.A) World Championships. In 2003 he won his 1st World Title for kumite and bronze in the kata. In 2004 & 2005, Sensei won Gold in the kata and Silver in the kumite and in 2006, he won Silver in the kumite. In 2007 the World Championships was held in England and Sensei won Gold in the kumite and bronze in the Kata. In 2009 Sensei passed his 6th Dan under Shihan Funakoshi. Tokon Kai also affliated to the FSKA. In 2011 Sensei Roberts split Tokon Kai and renamed as Tokon Kai Karate Academy. In 2014 Sensei was promoted to the rank of 7th Dan by the Polish Shotokan Karate-Do Congress for his work in bringing together English and Polish Karate as part of a special relationship between the two countries. Tokon Kai has continued to grow in size thanks to the hard work and vision of Sensei.
Stephen Troy - 3rd Dan - Assistant Chief Instructor
Stephen Troy began his Shotokan Karate journey with Tokon Kai in 2002. As a dedicated student, he was given the opportunity to support and teach lower grades during his brown belt training, a role that sparked his passion for instructing.
Stephen holds a 3rd Dan black belt, having graded for his 1st Dan in November 2008, 2nd Dan in May 2013, and 3rd Dan in October 2022, all under the instruction of Chief Instructor Sensei Steve Roberts, 9th Dan. Stephen teaches across four Essex dojos - Springfield, Maldon, Broomfield, and Great Waltham.
He has competed in club level competitions and is currently preparing for upcoming world championship events. His training also includes advanced courses with Shihan Funakoshi, 10th Dan, which have deepened his knowledge of traditional karate.
For Stephen, karate is a lifelong discipline that builds physical strength, mental focus, and personal growth. He is DBS certified and First Aid trained, committed to providing a safe and supportive environment for all students.