NEATH BUSHI-KAI KARATE CLUB
PROMOTING FITNESS, RESPECT, STRENGTH & MENTAL WELL-BEING.
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 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 is working 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.
Abbie Fluck 1st Dan
Abbie started training at the Neath Bushi Kai in 2012 at age 6 and achieved her 1st Dan in September of 2016. She enjoys entering competitions and has won several medals and trophies in both Kata and Kumite. In 2015 She was named Student of the year by the Neath Bushi Kai for all her hard work and determination in the Dojo.
Outside of the Dojo Abbie participates in cricket, Tennis and Athletics and also promotes health and fitness at her school where she was chosen to be the schools Young Sports Ambassador.
Ethan Fluck 1st Dan
Ethan first started at the Neath Bushi Kai club in 2013 at the age of 4. He has won several medals and trophies over the years in Kata and Kumite competitions. He attained his 1st Dan in 2019 aged 10.
Outside the Dojo, Ethan loves playing football for his local team and the school team. He is also a keen guitar and violin player.
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 studying Public Services at University Of South Wales 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.
Faye Phillips 1st Dan
Faye joined the Neath Club as a white belt back in 2013 at age 7. She is currently a pupil at Cefn Saeson studying for her GCSEs. In her spare time she is a member of the school’s football team and enjoys running.
Faye has competed in many Karate competitions over the years and has several medals for Kata and Kumite.
Faye achieved her 1st Dan in December of 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.