The instructor is Kenny Pickup 4th Dan and he started training in the
YMCA after trying other styles in the late 70's. Around 1981 Kenny
started to learn the Wado Ryu style of Karate, took his first grading on
the 7th February 1982 and continued to train there until it closed in
1983. Kenny moved to Meadowbank for a short time until his job took
him south of the border which meant he was unable to train for a couple
of years. On returning to Edinburgh he found Colin Clapperton had
started a club in Comely Bank, then another in Davidsons Mains and
Kenny started training twice a week.
Alan Spence opened clubs in Anslie Park and Clermiston and Colin
opened another club in Sighthill. Now Kenny was training 5 times a
week! and continued at this pace until he graduated to 3rd Dan. In
between times there were numerous competitions and Dan grade
courses (all this while trying to find time for his wife and kids) and to top
it all, working shifts!
Now Kenny spends his time as an instructor deriving much pleasure
from training others in the sport from which he has gained so much.