This event is open to all martial artists, no matter which art you practise or what grade you hold. Below are biographies of the 3 instructors.
Claudio Regoli
Claudio Regoli is one of the most experienced martial artists in Europe, having practised a variety of Japanese, Chinese and other Asian fighting arts in a career spanning seventy years. He began practising Judo in 1955 at the age of 12 as part of a warrior education that also included fencing, shooting and horseback riding. The list of instructors with whom he has trained over the years reads like a veritable ‘Who’s Who?’ of Japanese Budo. To name but a few of the most well-known: Abbe Kenshiro (Judo & Kendo); Nakakura Kyoshi and Tahara Hironori (Kendo); Shirai Hiroshi and Kase Taiji (Shotokan Karate); Takeda Tokimune (Daito Ryu); Ichikushii Mikyo and Kobayashi Hirokazu (Aikido); Mochizuki Minoru (several arts!) and Sugino Yoshio (Tenshin Shoden Katori Shinto Ryu).
While continuing with Judo he became a pioneer in Aikido, Iaido and Kendo in Italy, training and engaging with the famous masters of these disciplines named above and other, less well-known, European instructors.
As the editor of two martial arts magazines, he deepened his knowledge through numerous trips to the East, studying various Chinese arts and participating in Thai Boxing and Full Contact matches.
Claudio is the author of numerous books on Karate, Kung Fu and Kendo and his latest book, ‘The Japanese Sword – History, Technique & Culture’ is proving to be an indispensable resource for all those with an interest in Japanese sword arts.
As the leader of the martial arts school ‘Tengukan’ in Milan and a former member of the Italian national team he has won numerous international Kendo competitions. He holds the rank and title of 7th dan Renshi in Kendo and still maintains his vigorous practice to this day.
In 1987, to deepen his appreciation of Kendo, he introduced the Kobudo school Tenshin Shoden Katori Shinto Ryu (TSKSR) to Italy. TSKSR is one of the oldest Japanese martial arts still in existence. Claudio is the official representative for Italy for the Sugino line of TSKSR and holder of a 6th dan award.
An expert in arms studies (hoplology), he continues his journey of teaching, study and research.
Shane Riley
Shane started his martial arts training in 1972, practising Wado Ryu Karate and achieving Shodan in this art. He also studied Shotokan and Shukokai styles. Whilst practising Wado Ryu he came across an Aikido Dojo and thought that practising Aikido would enhance his Karate as there were locks and throws in Wado Ryu, as well as kicks and punches.
After a few months he attended a course by Midlands instructors Gary Williams and Brian ‘Skippy’ Whipps. They had a down-to-earth style of Aikido, which Shane appreciated, and he followed these two instructors for several years. He was practising Aikido and Karate 4/5 times a week at this time and travelling to courses at weekends. In September 1979 he started private training sessions for four friends in Huddersfield and by the following month this had become a formal class and the White Rose Aikikai was born.
Since 1975 Shane has received tuition from many Japanese and home-grown instructors and still enjoys the experience of being educated. Both Terry Bayliss Shihan and William Smith OBE have visited the White Rose Aikikai many times and, along with other renowned instructors, have helped him formulate his own practice and teaching philosophy.
For over 25 years Shane had a strong bond with the late Ken Cottier Shihan, a direct student of O-Sensei Ueshiba (the Founder of Aikido) and Principal of the Hong Kong Aikido Association. Shane sought tuition from him whenever he returned to the UK. He also followed him to Holland and Hong Kong for tuition and was privileged to be asked to teach at Cottier Sensei’s Dojo when he visited him for the Hong Kong Aikido Association’s 25th anniversary celebration.
Alongside his traditional Aikido practice Shane has been involved in conflict management training for many years and is a registered door supervisor trainer with the Security Industry Authority. He has personally supervised at many varied venues over the years, including ring security at televised boxing events.
Shane has taught his brand of practical Aikido all over the world, including twice in Japan and, more recently, has authored two books on his life in Aikido: ‘Aikido – A Different Journey’ and ‘Aikido – With a Little Bit of Yorkshire Relish’.
Kirby Watson
Kirby practised Judo at school and took his first grade in 1965. In 1973 he took up Shotokan Karate under Terry O’Neill and Cliff Hepburn at Salford University and progressed to become a member of the University team which went on to win the British Universities Championships.
In 1977 Kirby went to live in France. There he met Shihan Roland Maroteaux and was introduced to a modern form of Aiki JuJutsu which Shihan Maroteaux had named Goshin Do. He received his Black Belt in this art in 1979, shortly before returning to live in Britain.
The core art of Goshin Do was Hakko Ryu JuJutsu, an art in which Shihan Maroteaux had become the first westerner to gain a Shihan licence in Japan. Kirby went on to study Hakko Ryu with Shihan Roy J Hobbs, an American Air Force Colonel who was stationed near Ipswich at the time. He also trained in Hakko Ryu with Shihan Antonio Garcia from Belgium and graded to Yondan (4th degree Black Belt) in this art in 1989.
Shihan Hobbs had spent time in Japan and Okinawa and had become the highest graded westerner in the Okinawan system of Seidokan Karate Kobudo under Soke Shian Toma. Kirby studied this art with Shihan Hobbs also and received his Shodan (1st degree Black Belt) in 1985.
Kirby’s main art, however, and the only one he studies and teaches at the moment, is Kaze Arashi Ryu (Wind Storm School). This is a complete Samurai system using both weapons and empty hand techniques. The empty hand arts of the system are Aiki JuJutsu and Atemi Jutsu. He has been studying this system since 1985 and in 2022 attained the rank of Menkyo Kaiden (Licence of Full Transmission / Everything Passed), the highest award possible in Kaze Arashi Ryu. His teacher is Henri Robert Vilaire Sensei who lives in the USA. In the same year Kirby was also recognised as 9th dan Hanshi by the Nihon JuJutsu Kobudo Renmei
Kirby has had articles published in all major British martial arts magazines and for several years wrote a column in Traditional Karate entitled “As I See It!”
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