Instructors

JKSK Chief Instructor - Sensei Gabriel Tan 6th Dan

Sensei Gabriel Tan 6th Dan is the Chief Instructor and Founder of JKSK, Jishin-Kai Shotokan Karate.

Originally Gabriel sensei came from a little island called Labuan in East Malaysia (Borneo).

Like many of us, his childhood idol was the great Bruce Lee. The power and influence of Bruce Lee inspired him so much that he started learning Wing Chun when he was 12. He studied Wing Chun for many years until 1979 when he left his home town for further education in the UK. At present Gabriel sensei lives in Stotfold and has been living in Stotfold, Hertfordshire since August 1994.

Gabriel sensei started his karate training in 1998 with Roy Hazelwood sensei, Chief Instructor of TSKAGB. After four years of hard training, he achieved his black belt 1st Dan. Two and a half years later he achieved his 2nd Dan. In the past association's national championships he'd won many medals and trophies for 1st, 2nd and 3rd places in both team and individual kata and kumite events. In his last black belt competition in 2007 he took gold in Kata (Nijushiho and Gojushiho Sho) and also gold in kumite.

Gabriel sensei successfully graded to 3rd Dan in September 2008, under the watchful eye of the late Sensei Cyril Cummins 8th Dan (BHSKC). In September 2012 he received his 4th Dan award from NAKMAS NGB and achieved his 5th Dan in September 2017. In October 2023 Gabriel sensei achieved his 6th Dan, awarded by BMABA (British Martial Arts & Boxing Association).

Gabriel sensei's favourite katas are Nijushiho, Sochin and Gojushiho Sho (Dai for SKIF under Kanazawa group). He is a strong believer of progressive training. Over the years Gabriel sensei has trained with many top UK and Japanese shotokan karate instructors. He was particularly inspired by the late Hirokazu Kanazawa sensei, Nobuaki Kanazawa sensei and Naka Tatsuya sensei.

One of Gabriel sensei's passions is the study of the practical interpretations of kata movements (kata bunkai and oyo). He also believes that everybody should train in a friendly and safe environment whilst maintaining the value and discipline of traditional shotokan karate.

Dan Grades 黒帯は決してあきらめなかった白いベルトである

"a black belt is a white belt who never gave up"

JKSK Chief Instructor: Gabriel Tan 6th Dan

JKSK Yudansha (Black Belts)

JKSK REGISTER OF QUALIFIED BLACK BELTS

6TH DAN

Gabriel Tan, Oct 2023

3RD DAN

2ND DAN

1ST DAN