The Karate Podcast: Recent Episodes
Ben Richardson
This is The Karate Podcast in association with Kumitecoach.com, discussing all things Karate, Kumite, competitive Karate and the fighters journey.
Stella and Andrea are both E-Tournament Champions. Stella has held held the Sports Data World ranking number one spot for e-Tournaments, winning multiple events and was the Sport Data World Series Masters Champion in 2020 amongst other titles. Andrea is ranked 3rd in the world via the Sports Data World Ranking, as well as being the 2019 World Goju Ryu Masters Kata Champion. Both share their story and insight to the pandemic and the birth of the E-Tournament. Love them or hate them, they are here to stay and offer a whole new dimension to the competitor.
Matty Healy is the lead singer and frontman of supergroup "The 1975", he is a songwriter, producer and creator. A prominent figure in pop culture, he has a passion for martial arts which all started with his love for Karate. Get some unique insight to Matty's life and his journey so far.
Stanislav Horuna is a WKF European Champion and World Games Gold Medalist, he also won the European Games and has won numerous Series A and Premier One events in the WKF leagues. He is ranked number 3 in the men's -75kg Kumite and is renowned for his fighting flare. Certainly one to listen to and hear his story,
Tom Scott is an elite Karate fighter representing Team USA. He is a 6x Pan American Champion, 15x National Champion, 10x USA Open Champion, 3x Pan American Games Medalist (2011 Guadalajara Silver, 2015 Toronto Gold, 2019 Lima Gold) and has won multiple K1 and Premier 1 events in Karate. In 2015 he was ranked No.1 in the world and currently is ranked 6th in the world by the WKF at -75kg in Kumite. Hear his story now.
Steve Carless is a 6th Degree Black Belt and former competitor within FEKO and the SKI organisations, winning many national titles in Kata and Kumite. Now a senior instructor in JKS England, his focus is on producing great students at his purpose built Karate academy in Walsall, alongside developing his coaching and his knowledge of Karate.
Steve Payne is a 5th degree Karate Black Belt, former International for the AMA all-styles team, National champion and also a 3 x European Champion in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Steve is a coach and Black Belt in Kickboxing, BJJ, and JKD/Kali. Find out how it all began on the Karate Podcast.
This is the first part of an interview with Martial Arts Legend Guro Rick Young. One of a handful of people to be awarded the rank of Senior Full Instructor in Jeet Kune Do and Filipino Martial Arts by Dan Inosanto. Rick was also one of the first people in the UK to be awarded a Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu back in 2005, and now a 4th Degree Black Belt runs a successful academy of martial arts in Leith, Edinburgh. Rick is a 2nd degree black belt in Wado Ryu and a black belt in Judo among other arts that he has studied.
Natalie Williams is one of the UK's best, having won two Bronze Medals at the WKF World Championships, 2 Silver Medals at the WKF European Championships, 2 x World Student Games Champion and winner of multiple Commonwealth and National titles, her name is synonymous with success in Karate. Hear her story now.
Jed Thompson is just 19, training at the British Olympic Centre to support Jordan Thomas, Jed is an up and coming fighter committed to his game. A Bronze medalist in the Youth League and Cup, Jed is a member of the EKF National team and one to watch on the tatami.
Paul Newby - Head Olympic Karate Coach and former WKF World Champion, talks about the Olympics, his coaching ideals, rules, fighting, boxing and more...
Two times WKF World Champion, George Kotaka Sensei carries on his family tradition at his dojo in Oahu, Hawaii. From early beginnings, to winning the World's in 2002 and then coming back to achieve the same feat in 2008, discover George's journey, as he talks competition, teaching, and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.
Amazingly after 12 years Jordan Thomas was the first Britain to reclaim a WKF World Kumite Champion title, following on from Paul Newby, the now Olympic Coach. Jordan is also A WKF European Champion, a multiple national champion, and the only fully funded athlete training full time at the Olympic training centre in Manchester.
Interview with top female athlete Lauren Salisbury, Bronze Medal winner at the Junior Olympics, COVID may have put her senior career on hold but she has a story to share so far...
In this episode we interview the legendary Bob Breen. Guro Breen started his journey in Wado Karate, fighting in Japan and captaining the British Team. He is also known as the "Godfather of Jeet Kune Do in Europe", has captained and coached the British Stick Fighting Team to victory, and been a pioneer in British Martial Arts for 50 years. He's also a great character with epic stories - Enjoy!
In this episode I interview top British Fighter Amy Connell. One of two athletes to be selected for the European Games as part of Team GB, a European Bronze medalist, and Silver Medalist at the Paris K1, Amy has her sights set on Tokyo in 2021.
An interview with current EKF Northern Region Head Kumite Coach, Frank Pullano Sensei, 5th Dan. Frank has been a competitor of many tournaments and in both all styles and free-style Karate formats. He has worked alongside Paul Newby Sensei in coaching, and founded the British Sport Karate Federation. This interview reveals his story and his vision for karate in the years to come.
This is the second interview with Matt Price Sensei, we talk about the online world, and more about his experiences in competition, mindset for fighters and more
In this episode I interview Ashley Scott-Heald. Former EKF England Team fighter, KUGB National Team Fighter, and JKS England National Team Fighter. Ashley has won multiple titles in her time as a competitor including the BKF Open and International Women's Senior Kumite event, as well as representing the EKF National team against France. She is now a full-time coach at Leeds Karate Academy and Assistant JKS England coach.
In this episode we talk with Alan Campbell Sensei 7th Dan, head of JKS England and former competitor in both Kumite and Kata. Alan has been involved in Karate for over 40 years, trained with many fantastic Sensei and lived the way of the Karateka.
Meet Joe Long, a former British All Styles fighter and international medalist. Joe is one of the top promoters of British combat sports, promoting both Karate in the unique 3 on 3 tournaments, and more recently reviving the 10K Karate Clash, alongside MMA events, as well as part owning the UFC Gym franchise here in the UK. Don't miss this exciting episode.
Most know him as "Pan", he is one of the top fighters from Cyprus and has been living and training in the UK under the guidance of BKF Coach Paul Newby for a number of years now. Selected for the Olympic qualifiers and recently representing himself well as a contender for the 10K Karate Clash, Pan's story is one of dedication and self-belief...
Remi Jurgilaitis is a prolific fighter, exciting to watch and gaining in reputation across the UK. A Lithuanian Champion and international, he has made the Journey to train here in the UK and develop his game to the top level.
Great insight to the life of a full-time athlete in the UK, trying to make it to the top of his game, in the competitive world of WKF Karate.
Find out how Paul Newby became WKF World Kumite Champion and went on to be one of the top coaches in the world of competitive karate today.
Matt Price is one of the most respected and well known martial artists in the UK. Constantly requested on the seminar circuit for his in-depth knowledge and creative and fun teaching style, he is also a former ESKA European champion and all-styles fighter. Hear his incredible journey and what Karate holds for him now.