About Us | neathbushikai

Head Coaches

Sensei Mark Coleman 4th Dan

Mark first started training in Tumble Karate club at the age of 8 and graded up to Brown belt. After a few years break Mark started back at Swansea University Karate club with Shihan Ritchie Noblett 8th Dan as a white belt and achieved his Dan grade in September 2003, Mark was awarded his 4th Dan in November 2014.

Mark has a very traditional approach to training and has a deep interest in Karate history and the application of Kata. He has been appointed as the association Kata coach and trains students in competition Kata.

Mark is also First Aid qualified.

Sensei Joanne John 3rd Dan

Joanne started training at the Neath Bushi Kai with her son in 2012 and has trained constantly since then. She successfully achieved her 1st Dan on the 8th November 2014 and has won several medals in Kata and Kumite in the Welsh Karate League.

Joanne works as a teaching assistant and achieved her 3rd Dan in September of 2019.

Assistant Coaches

Jacob Davies 2nd Dan

Jacob started at the Neath Bushi Kai Club in January of 2007 (age 5) and achieved his 1st Dan on September 10th 2011 aged 10. Since then Jacob has continued to help with coaching the younger students at the club, He enjoys competing and has won several medals in both Kata and Kumite. He was Named Student of the Year in 2015 and achieved his 2nd Dan in 2017

Jacob works at JCP Solicitors and is currently working towards his 3rd Dan.

Francoise Robert 2nd Dan

Francoise was originally a 1st Dan in Judo but after moving to Wales from France nearly 20 years ago Francoise choose to take up Karate after finding it difficult to locate a Judo club near to her home. After she achieved her Karate 1st Dan grade she started training and teaching at the Neath Bushi Kai Club in 2012.

Francoise achieved her 2nd Dan in Dec 2019.

Siwan Williams 1st Dan

Siwan previously trained at Glynneath and then joined the Neath Bushi Kai as a yellow belt in 2010 where she has trained for the last 11 years. She likes sparing and taking part in competitions and has won several medals in Kumite.

She is currently working in Public Services and also plays rugby League for the Cardiff dragons as well as coaching the men’s Rugby league in university.

Siwan achieved her 1st Dan in Dec 2019.

Andrew Williams 1st Dan

Andrew first started training in martial arts nearly 40 years ago and represented Wales in Judo, after a break Andrew started training at the Neath Bushi Kai club along with his Grandchildren and son-in-law in March of 2017

He is a trained first aider

Andrew achieved his 1st Dan in April 2022.