It is Shoto’s very great honour to announce the promotion of Hanshi John Blain to 9th Dan. A truly rare moment, with this grade so infrequently awarded.
Hanshi John Blain began karate training in 1971 at a small club in Hertfordshire. Shortly after its closure, he saw an advert in a newsagent’s window for a club in Winchmore Hill. He applied and received a letter back from Sensei Adamou inviting him to join.
In the early 1970s the Winchmore Hill students training under Hanshi Mick Randall MBE 10th Dan consisted of many Karateka who were to go on to form their own associations: Nick & Chris Adamou, Paul Perry, Eddie Witcher, Will Mannion, Roger Hall, and John van Weenan, among others.
Gradings were held by the Japanese Masters and his first grading was under Hirokazu Kanazawa (JKA) in 1973 and subsequent gradings were under either Hanshi Hirokazu Kanazawa 10th Dan or Shiro Asano.
Hanshi John Blain was awarded his Shodan in May 1978 by Hanshi Hirokazu Kanazawa 10th Dan (SKI) and was graded 8th Dan by Hanshi Mick Randall MBE 10th Dan in March 2015.
He is now Chief Instructor and Head of Association for SHOTO and Chair of the Council of Members.
All at SHOTO offer our sincere and heartfelt congratulations on this remarkable achievement.
Oss!
