Carlisle's Chojinkai Karate Association celebrates 50th anniversary

On Thursday, October 17 1974 Doug James, a former steel worker from Middlesbrough set up the first Chojinkai Karate club at Harraby Community Centre, with an initial intake of around a dozen members. 

A session in Harraby in 1975 (Image: Supplied) Doug also started the Cumbria Open Karate Championships at the Market Hall, with this competition still going strong with the 48th installment set to place next year.

50 years later, what started as a club in Carlisle has grown into the Chojinkai Group which boasts around 400 members and operates eight successful clubs across the county in places such as Brampton, Wigton, Penrith, Warwick Bridge, Kendal, and into the North East. 

(Image: Supplied) Sensei James, as he is known, who started his Karate journey in 1967, is an internationally celebrated professional instructor and Karate referee who officiated at the highest level of the sport, the European and World Championships within the World Karate Federation, between 1986 and 2007. 

In January 2022, Doug was also awarded 9th Dan by the Board of the English Karate Federation as an acknowledgment of his 55 years of training in Karate. 

Doug refereeing in Madrid in 1986 (Image: Supplied) As Doug celebrates 50 years of Chojinkai Karate he explained his passion for the craft and memories he has made along the way.

He said: "50 years is a long time and I feel very fortunate to have been able to make a living from what I love for 48 of those years. 

"It has not always been easy but I have always been a positive person and determined to succeed in whatever I did. 

The Chojinkai Karate Association recently held its 49th annual Championships in Penrith (Image: Supplied) "My wife Rita has been a tremendous support over the years and our two sons Steven and Michael both started in karate as youngsters and have gone on to be successful with their own sport-related businesses and we’re both very proud of them. 

During the '80s, ’90s, and the noughties, I built up Chojinkai to around 1500 members and I taught many Senior Black Belts to 3rd/4th/5th/6th Dan from the Beginner stages.

Doug in 1978 (Image: Supplied) "Some have retired or stopped training and a few went on to start their own groups within Cumbria. 

"I am proud of the fact that they all achieved a very high standard and Chojinkai gave them a solid foundation for them to continue to be successful."

Chojinkai translates to 'super force group' and Doug detailed how the style of karate taught within the association is Wado Ryu, one of the four main styles, which has an 'emphasis on speed'. 

After 50 years of training and achievement, Doug explained how he hopes Chojinkai will continue to thrive in the region for many more years to come.

Doug in the 1960s (Image: Supplied) He said: "I am fortunate to have three top Senior Chojinkai instructors in Ray Hind 7th Dan, Mark Heaton, and Darren Longstaff both 6th Dans, who along with myself form our senior grading/technical panel to ensure we maintain our high technical standards throughout the clubs. 

"They are all personal students of mine and they will ensure Chojinkai Karate continues when I am no longer able to head it.  

"Although I am 78 years old I’m still teaching regularly and very much involved with the running of the group, so this I hope will be a long way off yet."

(Image: Supplied) To celebrate the momentous milestone, Doug, alongside longstanding members of the Chojinkai Karate Association already held a celebratory weekend in June and have more plans still to come, with Sensei James elaborating on these.

He said: "We have already had one celebration event on a social weekend in June in Dublin with 46 Instructors and senior students along with partners and my family.

"Next month we are holding a special training day, Gasshuku, at the University of Cumbria, Carlisle Campus, and are planning for around 200 instructors and members, all training together in one session.

"In December we are having an awards, 50th celebration, Christmas party in Carlisle and that will round off our half centenary year very nicely."