About Red Sun Karate
Welcome to Red Sun Karate Manchester, where tradition meets technique and power in the pursuit of perfecting character and fostering a strong mind within a healthy body.
Aligned with the esteemed World Traditional Karate Organisation (WTKO) under the guidance of Chief Instructor Sensei Richard Amos, Red Sun Karate proudly operates under the leadership of our own Chief Instructor, Colin Needham, a 6th Dan and Technical Director for WTKO England.
As a Community Amateur Sports Club, our sole mission revolves around promoting and teaching Shotokan Karate to everyone in our local community. Our roots run deep, tracing back through our instructors to some of the most revered figures in the Shotokan Karate world, maintaining a direct lineage of expertise.
To see a copy of our Club Constitution please click here.
Chief Instructor Sensei Colin Needham, with a training history dating back to 1981, embodies our commitment to excellence. Our focus extends beyond physical training; we believe in enhancing health and fitness as long-term goals. Training with us is akin to having a personal trainer: guiding, setting new goals, and ensuring each session remains stimulating, challenging, and enjoyable.
At Red Sun Karate, balance is key. Our club isn't just about rigorous training—we're a friendly community engaged in various social activities. From exhilarating training weekends like the Summer & Winter Gasshukus and exchange trips to the Czech Republic to family camping outings and charity fundraisers, we blend training with fun. BBQs, parties, and a vibrant social calendar further enrich our members' experiences.
Your journey to improved health, strength, flexibility, and confidence starts here. Join our sessions, make new friends, and relish the fulfilling experience of karate training. Come to our dojo and begin living your best life—one filled with vitality, camaraderie, and personal growth. We eagerly await your presence!
The History of Karate
Explore the Legacy: Discover the Rich History of Karate.
Click below to find out more about the history of karate and the dojo kun.
Master Funakoshi Gichin laid out the Twenty Precepts of Karate. These twenty principles are based heavily on Bushido and Zen and here lies the fundamental philosophy of Karate.
1. karate begins with rei and ends with rei (Rei means courtesy or respect, and is represented in karate by bowing)
2. There is no first attack in karate.
3. Karate supports righteousness.
4. First understand yourself, then understand others.
5. The art of developing the mind is more important than the art of applying technique.
6. The mind needs to be freed.
7. Trouble is born of negligence.
8. Do not think karate belongs only in the dojo.
9. Karate training requires a lifetime.
10. Transform everything into karate; therein lies its exquisiteness.
11. Genuine karate is like hot water; it cools down if you do not keep on heating it.
12. Do not think of winning; you must think of not losing.
13. Transform yourself according to the opponent.
14. The outcome of the fight depends on one’s control.
15. Imagine one’s arms and legs as swords.
16. Once you leave the shelter of home, there are a million enemies.
17. Postures are for the beginner; later they are natural positions.
18. Do the kata correctly; the real fight is a different matter.
19. Do not forget control of the dynamics of power, the elasticity of the body and the speed of the technique.
20. Always be good at the application of everything that you have learned.
The Twenty Precepts of Karate…
About WTKO — World Traditional Karate Organisation
Established in 2000 by John Mullin and Richard Amos, the WTKO emerged as a platform for their collective wisdom and extensive karate background. With nearly 70 years of combined experience in the evolution of karate across the USA and the UK, Mullin and Amos drew from their encounters with esteemed Japanese sensei, recognising the nuances lost in conventional teachings. The WTKO proudly upholds Shotokan principles, showcasing its interpretation through enlightening seminars and leading by demonstrative practice. Embracing organic growth, the WTKO's ethos resonates globally, fostering a presence across 5 continents. Today, WTKO instructors are sought after worldwide, a testament to the sincerity and impact of their purpose within the karate community.
Why the WTKO?
Since its inception, the WTKO has strived to amalgamate the finest insights from its esteemed technical committee. Few organisations rival the cumulative expertise of the WTKO, coupled with an unwavering zeal to impart this knowledge within its community. Senior members of the WTKO Executive Committee traverse Europe and the Americas, conducting seminars that ignite the pursuit of our shared objectives: refinement and excellence. Our methodology intertwines rigorous technical training with a steadfast commitment to Budo principles. This entails nurturing a holistic character by fostering perseverance in physical training and nurturing self-awareness to cultivate moral strength.
What is the WTKO History and its Lineage?
John Mullin and Richard Amos embarked on their journey in Shotokan Karate-do in 1962 and 1974, respectively, fuelled by a shared quest for an authentic karate experience epitomised by instructors within the Japan Karate Association (JKA). Mullin delved into mentorship under Mori sensei in New York City, while Amos earned his sandan by 1984 under Enoeda sensei in London, and the pioneering Karate Union of Great Britain (KUGB). As Mullin remained in New York, Amos ventured to Japan in 1989, dedicating himself to daily training at the JKA Headquarters, ultimately becoming an official instructor in Tokyo, establishing his own dojo. Reuniting in New York in 2000 amidst the JKA's political divisions, Amos and Mullin, recognising their shared vision, forged the WTKO. As the organisation grew, the Executive Committee expanded to include Scott Middleton as International Director. Middleton, a Canadian, brings his expertise as a seasoned competitor and dedicated participant in numerous ISKF seminars, advocating unwaveringly for excellence within the dojo.