Imperial Instructors

Simon O'Brien - 5^th Dan - Chief Instructor

Simon started training at the age of 12 in Cardiff, he represented Wales in the National Team for 7 years before relocating to Bristol. Some achievements to date are Higashi Black Belt Champion, Higashi Kata Champion, Welsh lightweight champion, English Championships Team Gold Medallist, British Championships Team Gold Medallist, Budo Nord World Open Kata Champion and 12 years as member of the Higashi National Team. Simon is now England AMA National Squad Head Coach.

        Peter Jefferies - 4^th Dan - Senior Instructor    

Peter has started training in 1985 in Bristol and was a member of Higashi National Team for 5 years. Some achievements are English Championships Individual Silver medallist, English Championships Team Silver medallist, Higashi National Champion and Higashi Kata Medalist. Pete now is now AMA National Squad Coach.

Adrian Williams - 5^th Dan - Senior Instructor    

Adrian has been training for over 30 years in Bristol and was a member of the Higashi National Team. Some achievements are English and British Championships Team Gold Adrian is our Child Protection Officer and is also a qualified English national level referee.

Dave Cockram - 3rd Dan - Club Instructor

Dave startied training under Dave Wheatley in Totterdown dojo in the 1980. After a long break hereturned to Karate when Imperial Higashi opened in Brislington in 1995. Dave was a purple belt and demonstrated that you are not "passed it" in your 30's as he worked hard over the next few years and achieved his Black Belt 1st Dan. Not content with this he continued to train hard and graded to 2nd Dan in 2002 and his 3rd Dan in 2005. Dave is every inch the "Traditionalist" and ensures we keep to traditional values.

Melaine Phillips - 2nd Dan - Club Instructor

Mel started training Shotokan in 1980 and won her Black Belt in 1986 under the legendary Sensei Keinosuki Enoeda. After giving up to raise a family she started back and joined Imperial in 2003. As well as instructing and being the head of Imperial Imps Club she still regularly competes and has won BKF British Ladies individual Gold and English Silver. Mel is also Budo Nord World Open Championships triple indiidual Gold medallist. Mel not only proves that women can compete in Karate alongside the men, but also that they can beat them!
Mel is now a proffesional Karate Instructor with the Imps Club program, spreading it across North Somerset Schools.