Founder of the English Shotokan Academy
In February 1960, aged 12, Steve Cattle entered martial arts, taking up judo in his birthplace, York. Ten years later, he had gained 2nd Dan in that discipline. In 1962, he began training at the first karate club in York, under the tutelage of Gordon Thompson. Five years later, Steve was awarded his Shodan (1st Dan) by Sensei Keinosuke Enoeda and became a member of the British team in 1966 until he stopped competing in 1989. Sensei Kase awarded Steve his 6th Dan in 1994.
On the 21st February, 1995, Steve Cattle died suddenly, but his legacy continues in the association he founded, the English Shotokan Academy.
The senior E.S.A. instructors all trained with Steve and they continue to pass on his advanced teaching methods today, together with those of his teacher, Sensei Kase. Steve was a very well-known and highly respected karate-ka. Renowned for his phenomenal speed and superb fighting spirit, this former British Champion and member of the British Team for 25 years, won many major titles. Furthermore, his depth of study of Shotokan Karate Kata made him a bunkai (application) expert. As Steve put it, the movements in the Kata are “the heart and soul” of karate, something the E.S.A. contunues to emphasise.
