The Team

Founder & Chief Instructor: Chris Denwood

Chris has over twenty years experience in martial arts and functional fitness training. Currently ranked 4th Dan by the English Karate Federation, he is a senior instructor with the British Karate-Do Chojinkai, a nationally qualified fitness coach and extreme kettlebell instructor, also specialising in linking functional supplementary training to the direct pragmatic application of traditional karate kata (forms). Chris is also a columnist for Combat and Traditional Karate magazines and regularly teaches seminars and workshops around the country covering his own unique approach to training.

For more information about Chris, you can visit his personal website at: www.chrisdenwood.com

Senior Fitness Trainer & Nutritional Advisor: Jenny Ling

Jenny has been actively involved in the health and fitness industry since 2003. She is a nationally qualified personal trainer, dedicated in numerous areas such as weight management, exercise to music, Pilates and resistance training. Jenny also has extensive experience in lifestyle management and motivation through her work with specialist groups such as children and senior citizens.

Senior Student: Peter Sempie

Peter has been a close student of Chris since he began practicing karate in 1995 from the age of eight and thus, had a major influence in the conception and early development of the E.S.K.K® . He also works as an experienced door supervisor and thus has gained a wealth of experience in the pragmatic application of the self-protection aspects within the group.

Senior Student & Kettlebell Instructor: Jonathan Roll

Jonathan has been with the E.S.K.K® since its infancy in 2005 and is currently working towards instructor level in karate through his participation as an assistant in the junior section of the group. He is also a qualified kettlebell instructor and leads weekly workouts at the E.S.K.K® Workington branch. 

Kettlebell Instructor: Roy Lewis

Roy has been a member of the E.S.K.K® since January 2007 and has had some prior experience in Thai boxing and freestyle karate. He is also one of the group’s kettlebell instructors, teaching weekly workouts alongside Chris at the Whitehaven branch.

Senior Student: Stuart Graham

Stuart is one of the youngest senior members of the E.S.K.K® and has been with the group since March 2008. He is also a senior student of the chojinkai organisation and has been practicing martial arts since the age of eight. Stuart currently assists in the junior section of the karate group.  

Website & Regular Events Administrator: Mark Stevens

Mark has been studying karate with Chojinkai since April 2006 and became a member of the E.S.K.K® in January 2007, actively supporting both the martial and fitness aspects of the group. In January 2009 he took over the role of website and regular events administrator, providing additional support in the organisation of Chris’s externally hosted seminars and workshops.

The Koen-Kai (Support Group) 英 悟 空 手 道 援 会

To help support the general day to day running of the group, the E.S.K.K® is privileged to benefit from an enthusiastic support group made up of a selection of key members. They meet regularly, where issues or new ideas for development are discussed and considered for inclusion. The current membership of the koen-kai is as follows: