Chris Thompson began studying karate in 1969 and remembers the date well as during his first class Neil Armstrong was orbiting and about to land on the moon.

During his early years he trained with many of the first Japanese Wado Ryu instructors to come to England and Europe. Instructors such as Suzuki, Fuji, Maeda and later Kiturma, Kobayashi and Shinohara all played a part in his early karate training.

A successful competitor in kata and kumite it wasn't long before Chris Thompson was teaching and in 1978 formed the Washinkai Karate Organisation.

Throughout the 1980s, Chris Thompson was the Southern representative of the British Karate Association (BKA) helping to maintain the high standard from Associations applying for membership of that organisation.

Now Chris is elected Chairman and Chief Instructor of the Washinkai in the UK, an organisation that has had and continues to have many competition successes in Kata and Kumite, both nationally and internationally.

1982 - Katana Demonstration

Born out of his experiences home and abroad, training with other Japanese instructors from the four major schools of karate, Shotokan, Goju Kai, Shito Ryu and Wado Ryu, the Washinkai style is an eclectic style with firm Wado roots.

A successful author and star of the video series "Essentials of Karate" Chris Thompson holds the rank of 8th Dan and held the post of Technical Director for English Karate for many years.