Vernon Bell
The art of Karate was introduced to the United Kingdom in 1956 when 3rd Dan Judo and Jujutsu instructor Vernon Bell (founder of the British Ju Jitsu Federation) began teaching classes at his parents' home in Essex. That same year Bell launched the original British Ju Jitsu Federation.
To celebrate the 50th anniversary of British Karate and the British Jujutsu Federation in 2006, the United Kingdom Budo Federation held a special masters course over two days which featured masters from the Dai Nippon Butokukai, Kokusai Budoin and the Seibukan - three of Japan's most venerated organisations. Among those teaching on the course were the sponsor of the course, Terry Wingrove Hanshi and Alan Ruddock Shihan who were two of Vernon Bell's original students 50 years ago.
Now, in 2013 we are bringing another celebration of this great era - the founding era of British Karate from 1956-1966.
This time we have produced an unprecedented history of this time 1956-1966 including over 12 photographs never published before, offering the Karate scholar a unique glimpse into a legendary era.
The article has been written by Simon Keegan (5th Dan), director of the United Kingdom Budo Federation and the British Jujutsu Federation and includes brilliant photographs generously submitted by one of the pioneers of that era, Michael Manning who studied Judo, Jujutsu and Karate under Vernon Bell and was the first British student to ever be graded to 1st Kyu. It also includes a tongue-in-cheek poem written by Mr Manning about his time with the legendary Bell.
View the article here: www.bushinkai.org.uk/page45.htm