Sensei Bateman's History in Martial Arts.
He has competed for UKASKO’s international English Kata squad, and became UKASKO’s Chief Referee, after qualifying as an English Karate Governing Body (now Karate England) Kumite and Kata Referee. He is also one of UKASKO Dan grading officers. It was in January 2008 that UKASKO awarded Sensei Bateman a 5th Dan Black Belt in Karate.
He has now recently associated his Kobudo School to the Kodokan in Japan, under the guidance of Sensei Sanguinetti 6th Dan. Now he and his students are learning Matayoshi Kobudo as recognised by the Kodokan in Okinawa. It was during 2008 Gasshuku that Sensei Sanguinetti awarded him a Shodan in the system.
Sensei Bateman now instructs regular classes in Anshin Ryu & Kamishin Ryu Karate; Matayoshi Kobujutsu. He also teaches Hanbo & Shuchu techniques (walking stick & small hand stick), and monthly classes in Iaido/Bokken (sword drawing & wooden sword).
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[toggle title=”Article from the Darlington Advertiser – September 23, 1993″]T
hree members of a Darlington karate family have been picked to represent their country. Fred Bateman, 36, his wife Chris 34, and son Stuart, 14, have all been chosen to represent England in a forthcoming competition. The family, all black belts make up half the team for the contest against Scotland, Ireland and Wales. Selection for the team took four months, attending different training sessions as the squad was whittled down from more than 50 to a team of six. Fred said: "It was totally amazing to have three of us in the team. I originally went there hoping for my son to get in the team, not realising that either my wife or myself had a hope. We are all over the moon. It is an honour to represent your country in a competition." [/toggle]
[toggle title=”Article from the Herald & Post – October 30, 1998″]Fred Bateman of Kazoku Karate, Darlington, and his instructor, Sensei O'Connor, will this weekend be demonstrating some of the new skills they recently learned from Japan.
They are performing at an open course tomorrow at St Anne's Church Hall, Welbeck Avenue from 10 am to 2 pm.
They have just returned from a training trip to Japan where they were instructed by Kaicho Takashi Kinjo 9th Dan. Although Kinjo taught many foreigners, they were the first English students, said Mr Bateman. "During our stay we were graded and I achieved 2nd Dan any my instructor 3rd Dan in the Okinawan system" he added.[/toggle]
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