Who are we
Jacob Sibley (he/him)
Since 1992 Jacob's training has included traditional Japanese martial arts as well traditional and modern martial arts from Asia, Europe and Latin America. Jacob is the founder of Ikiyōyō-Ryu Bujutsu and teaches in Manchester. Jacob formed the first Manchester LGBTQIA+ Jujutsu club on Canal Street in 2011.
https://www.ikiyoyobujutsu.com/
Stephen Grayston Meijin (he/him)
Trained in Karate since 1964. Stephen has demonstrated a lifelong commitment to inclusion in the martial arts, teaching many thousands of students both in the UK and internationally.
• Founder of Shindō-Ryu Karate-Dō.
• President & Chairman: European Martial Arts Federation.
• Life President & Chairman Kodō Butoku Renmei
https://www.kodobutokurenmei.org/
Bob Remington (he/him) started training in Karate in 1971 and began teaching in 1974. He is the chief instructor at Chesapeake Schools of Shotokan Karatedo,Baltimore.
Bob has always been an out gay man in Karate since he started training in 1971.
Bob has a background in Special Education as well as teaching karate which augments his commitment to inclusion. Bob started training in Shotokan karate at Temple University in Philadelphia in 1971 under Teruyuki Okazaki. After graduation, he moved to Baltimore area where he received his Nidan from Sensei Romano in 1978.
Bob has Dan ranks from Sugiyama Sensei, Kisaka Sensei, and Okazaki Sensei.
Kavita Kapoor (she/her)
Kavita has been training in Shorinji Kempo since Jan 2004. She has gained a 3rd Dan (3rd-level black belt). Kavita has trained and taught around the world (Japan, Canada, Ireland India and Spain) but the primary location of her training has always been Imperial College Shorinji Kempo where she is an assistant instructor. In January 2019 she co-founded her own Constituted Community Sports Club (CCSC). The club prides itself on being the only completely female-founded, BAME-led and openly LGBTQ+ Shorinji Kempo Club. Camden Shorinji Kempo is part of British Shorinji Kempo Federation (BSKF).
Bob Timlin (he/him)
Bob started training in Karate in 1992, earning his first degree black belt in 1997, second degree in 2006 and third degree in 2021. Bob also trained in Tae Kwon do earning first degree black belt in 2010. Bob has also trained in Aikido and Jiu-jitsu.
Bob competed in the 2010 Cologne games taking second place in the martial arts division. Bob resides and teaches in the San Francsico Bay Area for almost 30 years and is on the board of TeamSF, a member of Village Dojo, IAGMLA and previously Triangle Martial Arts Association.