The Noughties
with Rita on Summer Course & course photo at Skegness 2000
This decade started as the last one left off, with Doug continuing to officiate at the European Senior Champs in Turkey and European Junior Champs in Cyprus and Germany, the World Senior Champs in Germany and World Junior Champs in Greece and France.
In 2001 Doug was Awarded his 7th Dan Black Belt by the WKF (formerly WUKO) for his international achievements in karate and the continuing work he does for Martial Arts.
This was featured in a Local TV profile & also Cover Photo & main feature of Traditional Karate Magazine 2001
2002 also saw the release of the highly acclaimed “Heroes & Legends of British Karate” video and DVD, the England National Coach, Ticky Donovan OBE wrote to Doug “You have made so much history with this tape that the younger generation can see for themselves, instead of only being told about it. You and your company have made such a big contribution to British Karate that will live on for a long time”
Doug Refereeing the World Female Team Kumite Final in Marseille 2003
Putting back into the Chojinkai organisation he has strived to continually develop over the decades, the recent years have seen him working with the senior club instructors to revise the Chojinkai Grading Syllabus, introducing new Ippon Gumite (pre-arranged sparring techniques). Supporting this required a rework of the successful “The Master Class Series” Wado Ryu training videos. They have been completely re-filmed into three volumes making them the most Comprehensive Instructional DVD Programmes available to date.
Doug was elected to EKGB Management Committee and the Board of Directors of EKGB Ltd, with specific responsibility for Refereeing in 2000 and later Regional Development. This is a role he continued in until 2005, when on the advice of Sport England a new GB for Karate in England was formed, in an attempt to unify all the karate organisations in England.
Self Defence Class 2004 with Mark Heaton 1st Dan.
In 2004 the Scottish Karate Governing Body Chairman asked him to advise their Refereeing Department on re-structuring, development & training, particularly their International candidates.
2004 also saw the re-structuring of VMA and the formation VMA Distribution: a sister company to VMA International, to market the VMA video programmes on DVD. After about a decade & with the increased popularity of You Tube & iPhones, it was no longer feasible to continue trading & the business closed.
International Refereeing continued at European and World events in Mexico, Spain and Cyprus.
Celebrating 30 years of Chojinkai with over 300 Instructor & Students training together @ Sands Centre, Carlisle in May 2004 & Local TV profile.
The role of the EKGB as the governing body was transferred to Karate England, a new unified GB for England and Doug was very much involved in setting this up in 2005, but did not stand for election to the new board. Unfortunately, Karate England went into liquidation after only 18 months. This was a very challenging time for karate in England however, Doug was to become a Founder Member of the new Governing Body in 2007, the English Karate Federation. The EKF has direct affiliation to the British Karate Federation and also full membership and the backing of the World Karate Federation.
With the formation of the EKF European Regional Championships in 2003, Doug served on the Referee Council and acted as a Tatami chief referee for the championships in Spain and subsequent events in Bratislava, Germany and France until his retirement from international refereeing in 2007. So after an international refereeing career spanning 21 years, visiting over 30 different countries and officiating at over 50 European (EKF) and World Championships (WKF), Doug “hung up his international whistle”. He was awarded a Gold Lapel Pin by the EKF/WKF recognizing over 20 years of International Officiating.
2007 Senior Grading Panel/Instructors – L to R, Gordon Harrison 4th Dan, Darren Longstaff 4th Dan, Ray Hind 5th Dan, Paul Jackson 6th Dan, Mark Holding 4th Dan, Doug, Steve Chaplow 4th Dan, Iain Abernethy 5th Dan.
2007 also saw the celebration of 40 years in Karate and Retirement as an International Referee spanning 21 years – this was marked with a Local TV profile & special articles in Martial Arts Illustrated and Combat Magazines.
Doug at 61
The Roundhouse Kick photo above was taken in November 2007, 40 years after the photo shown in the 60’s biography section.
With many fond memories of his time teaching weekday evenings and most weekends, he retired from teaching regularly at the clubs. The very competent and highly qualified Senior Instructors had now taken on this mantle, but continued teaching from time to time, conducting gradings as the Chief Instructor. His main organisational role then being that of President of the British Karate Do Chojinkai, running the Association together with his wife Rita, continuing in her role as the Secretary & Registrar.
2008 saw his appointment to the EKF Senior Grading Panel & then in June 2009 the Board of Governing Body for Karate in England approved his promotion to 8th Dan Black Belt. This was later endorsed by the WKF, thus acknowledging his 40 years plus training and teaching Karate and a very successful National and International Refereeing Career.
September 2009 also saw him retire from the English and British Refereeing Commission concluding a domestic refereeing career spanning over 30 years.
National Referee Retirement Presentation for ‘Outstanding achievements, in the development of Refereeing within British Karate’ by BKF President & SKGB Chairman, Terry Connell @ British Championships 2009.
The Glass Plaque is from the BKF & the Quaich is from the SKGB, ‘in recognition of support & friendship of many years’.