Tsuru Budo-kan Instructors History

Keith Hammett Shichidan Kyoshi began training in Shotokai karate-do in 1978 and was a member of AMA and then BASKA as well as the local Shoto-Rei-Karate-Kai. He trained locally in south Wales with Sensei Wayne Taylor, including fortnightly with a Wado Ryu club in Swansea under Sensei Ray Haste. In 1983 Keith started training and teaching in Newbridge Leisure Centre on the day the centre opened both regular sessions and many budo courses over the years until they closed. Keith taught karate at Newbridge Leisure centre for over 20 years (as well as being a staff member and lifeguard there) as well as Cwmcarn School and Oakdale Comprehensive until they closed. A huge number of children (in the hundreds) and many adults passed through the club over the years and this continued at the Budokan in Abercarn.

In 1985 Keith joined the Tokushima Budo Council and was awarded Shodan. He was a member of the TBCI from its inception and for the next 20 years. He was awarded Doshi in 1994, Renshi in 1999 and Kyoshi in 2013 when he also received Shichidan 7th Dan. He was awarded 8th Dan on 1st August 2025 by Tsuru Budo-kan.

From the beginning of the Tokushima Budo Council International he participated in numerous courses in a variety of martial arts including with Sensei Tomio Otani, Kancho Alf Bates, Hanshi Jenkins, particularly Tenshin Ryu Iaido with Sensei Tudor Box, with whom he struck up a lifelong friendship. Keith has participated in a vast number of courses all over the UK including Aikido with Hanshi Pierre Chalmagne 8th Dan, one of the most senior martial artists in Europe, Judo with Hanshi Van Der Bruggen 9th Dan, Iaido, Judo and Tai Chi with Sensei Robert Bambam and other senior Belgian martial artists. Keith joined the Martial Arts Commission in 1991 and was a member of the Dai Nippon Butoku Kai from 2000 to 2006. He was part of the world martial arts exhibition in Wandsworth Town Hall in 1989 which was one of the first events in UK with such a huge variety of martial arts and participated in the Dai Nippon Millennium world training day in 2000. Keith also participated in the week long TBCI spring schools where as well as teaching karate he trained in a variety of martial arts including Iaido with Hanshi Box.

In 2002 the new Budokan dojo was opened in the Rechabite Hall in Abercarn. Keith taught karate twice weekly as well as iaido weekly, and also a variety of budo on many courses there until it closed and the building was sold in February 2021. During the Covid pandemic when the dojo was closed Keith continued to teach via Zoom meetings online. Keith was an original member of the Yodokan Budo Association from its formation in 2006 until its dissolution in 2021.

Keith instructed on and participated in many courses in the Budokan including aikido with Sensei Steve Fyffe and Sensei Byron Meek, Judo with Hanshi Tony Blake and Dan grades from his Yamabushi Judo club in south London, Iaido with Hanshi Box and Sensei Selvey. Keith was involved in all the charity fundraising events held in Newbridge and Abercarn dojos and also with the Royal British Legion both raising money for the Poppy Appeal and demonstrating at events held for the local Legion members.

Keith then moved to Treowen Village Hall where his club is Tsuru Budo-kan and he teaches shotokai karate do, jujitsu self defence and Tenshin Ryu Iaido.

Jim Richards Rokudan Renshi started his martial arts journey training in karate do in Newbridge Leisure Centre, Cwmcarn and Oakdale Schools in 1996 and joined the Tokushima Budo Council International in that year. Jim was training in Newbridge Leisure Centre, Cwmcarn School and Oakdale School. This was mainly karate and also self defence goshin jitsu, weapons and some judo training occasionally with Samurai Judo in Crosskeys.

Jim was awarded Shodan in 2001 by Wayne Taylor and Hanshi Leighton Jenkins of TBCI. In 2002 the new Budokan dojo was opened in the Rechabite Hall in Abercarn.  Eventually Newbridge club was moved to Abercarn completely, with karate on Mondays and Thursdays, Jujitsu on Tuesdays, Iaido on Wednesdays and judo on Fridays taught by Hanshi Leighton Jenkins. Jim continued to train in karate, iaido, jujitsu and judo and participated in many courses including aikido with Sensei Byron Meek, judo with Hanshi Tony Blake and Dan grades from his Yamabushi Judo club in south London, Iaido with Hanshi Box and Sensei Selvey. Jim taught the Jujutsu and judo classes in Abercarn for many years as well as assisting Sensei Keith Hammett with karate.He was awarded Renshi in 2013 and Rokudan karatedo in 2019.

From 1998 Jim participated in a number of courses every year around the UK including from 2001-2005 the week long TBCI spring budo schools in Tenby in which he trained in a number of martial arts – karatedo, aikido, judo, jujitsu - judo taught by Kancho Bates, Sensei Derek Joyce and many other TBCI senior Dan grades as well as Jujitsu with Soke Kevin Pell from Ishin Ryu Jujitsu, Aikido with Sensei Vince Thompson and Sensei Mick Rowley.  At the Budokan Abercarn Jim participated in and taught in many courses and always played a significant part in the Royal British Legion Remembrance events and wreath laying ceremonies.

Jim was an original member of Yodokan Budo Association and now Tsuru Budo-kan under Sensei Keith Hammett.

Paula Scadgell Yondan Renshi began martial arts training in karate-do at Tenshin Ryu club in Howdens Sports Centre, Beckenham with Sensei Paul Houston under the guidance of Sensei Tudor Box in 1996.  She joined the Tokushima Budo Council International in April 1997. Paula struck up a great friendship with Tudor, who gave huge encouragement (especially with her spinal fusion scoliosis surgery) and ‘took her under his wing’. It was a friendship which lasted until his passing. It was at this event that Paula first saw a demonstration of Tenshin Ryu Iaido performed by Tudor and Geoff Murray

Paula moved down to south wales in February 1998 and started training and teaching in Newbridge Leisure Centre, Cwmcarn School and Oakdale School. Paula was awarded shodan in 1999 by Sensei Taylor and Hanshi Leighton Jenkins of TBCI. In 2002 the new Budokan dojo was opened in the Rechabite Hall in Abercarn. Paula trained in karate on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, Jujitsu on Tuesdays, judo on Fridays taught by Hanshi Jenkins and Iaido Tenshin Ryu on Sundays and then Wednesdays. Hanshi Box, while he was able, alongside Sensei Selvey and his club also visited to teach several times. Paula was awarded Doshi in 2002 and Sandan in 2005. Paula joined the Dai Nippon Butoku Kai International Division as a general member from 2000-2005 and participated in the Around the world Millennium training session in Bromley in 2000. Paula was awarded 1st Kyu Judo in 2008 and Shodan Jujitsu in 2019. Paula was awarded Yondan Karatedo, Sandan Budo, Nidan Iaido and Renshi in 2021.

From 1998 Paula participated in a number of courses every year around the UK including from 2001-2005 the week long TBCI spring budo schools in Tenby in which she trained in a number of martial arts – karatedo, Iaido taught by Hanshi Box as well as Iaijutsu, kobudo – jo and bo. She was fortunate to be taught Tai Chi by Sensei Ray Wood; Judo was taught by Kancho Bates, Sensei Richard Raymond and many other TBCI senior Dan grades as well as Jujitsu with Soke Kevin Pell from Ishin Ryu and also with Sensei Rick Roberts; Aikido and Shiatsu with Sensei Vince Thompson and Sensei Mick Rowley.  Annually there were demonstrations to the local community and mayor, at which she demonstrated the two-man forms of Tenshin Ryu Iaido with bokken, iaito and with tanto for Hanshi Box.

In 2002 Paula visited Japan, taking in Tokyo, Hakone to view Mount Fuji, Kyoto and Nara and stayed in Sekishoin Buddhist temple on Mount Koya, a holy mountain of shrines. She visited the Butokuden in Kyoto, home of the Dai Nippon Butoku Kai and was invited to watch an impressive practice of Kendo and Kyudo (archery).

In 2003 Paula joined Akai Ryuu kendo club in Cardiff and joined the British Kendo Association. She was honoured that Tudor had given her his kendo bogu (armour) bearing the Otani dragonfly which she could wear for training. She was taught by Japanese instructor Sensei Keith Kawata and was awarded 4th Kyu in 2004. Also in 2003 Paula attended the weekend summer school in Stoke on Trent to train in Tenshin Shoden Katori Shinto Ryu (bokken, iaito, bo, naginata) with chief instructor Hatakeyama Goro Menkyo Kaiden Tenshin Shoden Katori Shinto Ryu (9th Dan), assisted by Frank Brownsword Mokuroku shoden.

Paula was an original member of Yodokan Budo Association and now Tsuru Budo-kan under Sensei Keith Hammett.