History

Sensei Graham McCann (5th Dan), our Chief Instructor, opened the first of the Kugatsu Karate-Do's two dojo on the 6th September 1995.  Having taught karate for a number of years, and after being encouraged by his then instructor, Sensei Robert Lamb (Principal Instructor ~ Tosa-Kochi Karate-Do), Graham decided to open his own karate club.  After searching for a suitable location for the club, Graham decided to locate it in the hall used by the 157th (Glasgow) Scouts, in the Kelvindale area of Glasgow's west end.  The Kelvindale dojo remains the Kugatsu Karate-Do's main dojo, with five classes being taught each week.

The Kugatsu Karate-Do was originally known as Tosa-Kochi Karate-Do (Kelvindale), demonstrating the link between the club and our then association the Tosa-Kochi Karate-Do, Scotland.  Within a few months of the club opening, and at the request of Sensei Lamb who was concerned about the name of the club and the association being confused, Graham decided to change the name of the club.  After considering hundreds of potential names for the club, Graham settled for the Japanese word / phrase "Ku-gatsu", which roughly translated means "9th Month" or September, recognising the month in which the club first opened its doors.

Over the years, the Kugatsu Karate-Do has gone from strength to strength in terms of the number of students choosing to learn Shukokai Karate at the Kugatsu.  From the initial 25 students who turned up on the first night, the number of students grew to over 45 by the end of the first year, 75 by the end of the second, and almost 100 by the end of the third. 

In the summer of 1996 Graham, and the Kugatsu Karate-Do, left the Tosa-Kochi Karate-Do as he felt it was in the best interests of the club and its students.  Later that year, the Kugatsu Karate-Do joined the British All Styles Karate Association (B.A.S.K.A) under the instruction of Shihan Greg Wallace (8th Dan).  We have remained active members of B.A.S.K.A. ever since, participating in association courses and competitions on a regular basis.

On the 1st February 2000 Sensei Carol Clark, with the support of the Kugatsu Karate-Do, opened our  first "branch club" in Yoker Sports Centre, Glasgow.  The Yoker Dojo, under Carol's guidance, evolved into an integral part of the Kugatsu Karate-Do, and offered a weekly class for our junior members.  Unfortunately, after more than five years Carol reluctantly had to close her club due to securing a job promotion that resulted in her moving from Yoker Sports Centre.

Graham opened what was then our third dojo in St. Thomas Aquinas School, in the Jordanhill / Scotstoun area of Glasgow, on the 6th November 2000.  Due to the re-building program at St. Thomas Aquinas School, the Jordanhill / Scotstoun Dojo had to relocate to Scotstoun Leisure Centre where the clubs continues to teach regular classes to adults and children, alike.