Adam Carter, has been studying, training and practicing karate for over 50 years, teaching since 1985. Currently ranked 8th Dan (Hachidan) Black Belt and with the teaching title of Hanshi, in Okinawan Karate.
Carter-sensei first began studying karate in 1974 while still at school in the UK, under Suzuki Tatsuo sensei of Wadō-ryū (和道流). Prior to this Carter-sensei did a small amount of boxing as a youth.
In late 1981 Carter-sensei moved over to Okinawa-te under Katsumi Tamaki Soke 10th dan. But after a move in location in February 1984, which meant a change in dojo, he began Sankukai karate at a local sports centre dojo.
The instructor was Roger Mills 8th dan Kyoshi (then 5th dan), who was a competitor and nationally qualified referee. His assistant instructors were Dave Ireland sensei (4th dan), and Bob Sergent sensei 7th dan (then 3rd dan). In 1985, Mills-sensei changed to Shito-Ryu karate, under Kusano Kenji Soke, and Tsukada Ryozo of Kusano-ha Shito-Ryu Kenpo Karate-do.
In the 1980's and 1990's, Carter-sensei competed in many karate tournaments throughout the UK and Europe, winning and placing highly in many of these events, as part the dojo team and individually.
Carter-sensei completely immersed himself in karate and sought out instructors and dojo from other styles of karate, including Goju Ryu, Shotokan and Kyokushin. Ronnie Colwell-sensei, one of the greats of the martial arts said; "It’s wonderful to see a person so deeply interested in Budo as you are.”
The karate he studied with Mills-sensei was sport-oriented, but he aspired to a more classical form of karate that was more pragmatic in nature. This led him to travel extensively across the UK, USA, Japan, and Okinawa, seeking practical concepts and training methods. In August 1997, after reassessing his goals and ambitions, he decided to leave this dojo to focus on developing his own.
In September 2000 Carter sensei was introduced to Mabuni Kenzo Soke, the son of the founder of Shito-Ryu karate Mabuni Kenwa (1889-1952), and became his official representative and senior instructor for the UK in Seito (pure/original) Shito-Ryu.
After Mabuni Kenzo Soke passed away in 2005, Carter-sensei continued to visit dojo, attend seminars and courses with many Okinawan and Japanese masters, both home and abroad, also training with many of the top Japanese and Okinawan karate instructors who visited the UK and Europe.
Carter-sensei's interests have always been in the application of the two-person drills within Okinawan kata. His research has taken him to many Japanese and Okinawan instructors who practice the "Koryu" (古流 old ways) systems of karate.
After being invited to teach in the US in 2014 and 2015, Carter-sensei decided to relocate from the UK to the Chicago suburbs in 2016 and teach there permanently at his own dojo.
In January 2020, Carter-sensei was awarded the grade of 8th dan (Hachidan), the highest teaching title of Hanshi in Okinawan Shuri-Te Karate, and presented with the traditional "Aka Obi" - (Red Belt) by a group of senior martial artists from the National Martial Arts Association.
Due to the challenges brought by the Covid-19 pandemic, he was forced to close his storefront dojo. Rather than stop teaching, he chose to continue training a dedicated group of students at his home dojo.
On a trip back to the UK in Spetember 2023, Carter-sensei had the opportunity to reunite with Katsumi Tamaki Soke 10th dan, an Okinawan who had relocated to the UK from Japan in 1981. Carter-sensei had maintained a continuous connection with Master Tamaki ever since attending his Bracknell-based dojo in the UK during the early 1980s.
It was during this particular visit that proved to be a significant moment for Carter-sensei. Tamaki Soke, along with senior instructor, Rhys Collins Hanshi, 9th dan, officially endorsed and ratified Carter-sensei's 8th dan rank, and title of Hanshi. An agreement was reached, and Tamaki Soke, along with Collins Hanshi, assumed the role of mentor and advisor to Carter-sensei and the Shuri Dojo, a privilege that filled Carter-sensei with genuine humility.
Passionate about the classical fighting arts, but preferring functionality and pragmatism, inspired by the likes of Ronnie Colwell, Patrick McCarthy, Iain Abernethy, Vince Morris and many more pragmatic karate teachers. (no direct lineage is implied)
Teaching karate since 1985, today Carter-sensei enjoys sharing his experience gained in over five decades, by passing on this knowledge and understanding to his students. He continues to teach and share his love for the Ryukyu arts and is actively teaching and training to this present day at the Shuri Dojo.
