I was saddened to hear that a friend and senior member of the Shotokan of England Karate Union (SEKU) Sensei Malcolm Bradley (5th dan) passed away suddenly a few days ago. I have known of him for most of my association with SEKU which to date will be 30 years this year 2022. I first properly met him on the annual Isle of Wight week long course SEKU used to hold every spring bank holiday in 1994. I only trained at his dojo proper once when accompanying Sensei Dewey on a visit to the IOW and Malcolm, I considered him a friend ever since.
Malc being an ex-Boxer decided at the age of 26 that he wanted to take up another sport. So he decided to take up Martial Arts and joined Newport Isle Of Wight Karate Club in 1976 The instructor at that time was Sensei Steve Allen who was a 2nd Dan. Malc trained twice a week for three months and took his first Grading in August 1996. The club at that time was member of the K.U.G.B whose chief instructor was Sensei Keinosuke Enoeda.
Malc had trained under Sensei Enoeda and always came away from these sessions full of enthusiasm. The Grading’s were taken by another K.U.G.B instructor Sensei Tomita, and again he came away full of inspiration and eager to keep training. In 1978 Sensei Allen emigrated and Malc started to teach at the club at this time he was a 3rd kyu Brown Belt. In October 1978 he graded for his 1st Kyu again under Sensei Tomita. Malc carried on instructing at the club and in March 1983 he graded for his 1st Dan (Black Belt) under Sensei Dewey who had the previous year formed a new organisation The South Of England Karate Union (S.E.K.U) Malc graded for his 2nd Dan in June 1985, his 3rd Dan in July 1988, 4th Dan in September 2008 and 5th Dan in June 2016.
Over the years there have been many members from the club who have been successful in their various Black Belt Grading’s with the help of Sensei Malc Bradley’s tuition. Malc has trained with many different instructors Sensei’s Mick Dewey, Mervyn O`Donnell, Dave Hazard, Brian Smith, Sensei’s Enoeda,Tomita, Kawasoe, and Sensei Mike Lambert from Goju-ryu.