LINEAGE of SGKA
An interview with
Sensei Keith Pace
Sensei Keith Pace
Sensei Keith was a major influence in the creation of the Broseley Goju Kan dojo, now the Shropshire Goju Ryu Karate Academy, since it was through his teachings and friendship with Sensei Max that lead to the establishment of the dojo.
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Sensei Keith was, by reputation, an unassuming and yet formidable karate-ka having been trained by Gary Spiers, His martial arts background started with boxing and wrestling with elements of Judo and Shotokan before becoming a dedicated student of Sensei Gary in Goju Ryu.
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Sensei Keith formed his San Gan Kai school in Moreton, Wirral and honoured Sensei Max by bequeathing the mantel of Honbu Dojo on to him shortly before his passing.
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Sensei Keith's presence is felt constantly in the Academy and an annual award is presented in his honour to a student who has exemplified his spirit of relentless self improvement​.
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Click on the PDF link for the transcript of an interview with Sensei Keith where he talks about his his formative years and training with Sensei Gary. ​​​
Sensei Gary Spiers
Gary Spiers was one of the earliest exponents of practical applied Karate in the United Kingdom. He was a no-nonsense martial artist who used Karate as a tool to protect himself.​
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He moved to Australia in 1962 where first studied Okinawan karate. This inspired him to move to Japan in 1968 where he enrolled at the Goju-Ryu dojo of Gogen Yamaguchi. Being a big foreigner he would he would have to face the senior grades at the dojos who wanted to gain more experience fighting bigger opponents, this earned him the nick name Kuma-San (Mister Bear).
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After a spell training at the Jundokan in Okinawa, Sensei Gary returned to Japan to continue his Okinawan Goju-Ryu training at the Yoyogi dojo of Morio Higaonna in Tokyo.
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It was during this time that he met Sensei Terry O'Niell who invited him to come to Liverpool and he left Japan for England in 1971 where established himself as a respected instructor of practical karate, primarily for the security industry.
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In 1975 Sensei Gary returned to Japan to study with Gogen Yamaguchi at the Japan Karate-do college and itw as during this dime that Shihan Yamaguchi graded Sensei Gary to 4th and 5th dan.