Dave Kershaw

Dave Kershaw is a Shotokan karateka born on the 18th of October 1955 in the Town of Grimsby, Lincolnshire. He was an international competitor, representing Great Britain at European and World Championships between 1982 and 1998, and was British Kata Champion (Shotokan Karate International of Great Britain) for a record six consecutive years, from 1987 to 1992. He is a senior SKI (GB) Instructor and Examiner.

He began his karate training in 1972, with the late Brian Woods, at his dojo at Nunsthorpe School in Grimsby. In 1974, he joined the newly formed Shotokan Karate International of Great Britain, and began training with Hanshi Shiro Asano.

In 1978, he setup his own club called Konjaku Shin (literally meaning "Ancient and Modern Spirit"), at a photography club in Cleethorpes. Later, he was running clubs in Grimsby, Cleethorpes and Immingham Leisure centres.

In 1981, he was captain of the SKI (GB) A-Team, winning the English Karate Federation All Styles Three Man Kata title.

His international competition career began in 1982, when Hanshi Asano chose him to compete in a four nation, European competition in Munich; his team came second. In 1991, he was an individual kumite finalist in the SKIF World Championships, Mexico City. In 1998, at the SKIEF European Championships in Sheffield, he took silver medal in the Men's (40-44) kata, and his team took gold medal in the veteran three man team kata.

In 1992, Hanshi Asano awarded him the Wilkinson Sword of Honour, for services to karate-do.

In 1993, he opened the club's new premises in Lower Spring Street Grimsby.

In 2001, he was invited to teach in Amritsar, India, by the Punjab Karate Association, and became their Chief Technical Advisor.

In August 2011, he was graded to 7th Dan (Nanadan) by Hanshi Shiro Asano.

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