The Club’s History
The original St Albans Bushido Shotokan club was founded by Sensei Dickenson under the Bukonkai Karate International association, operating from Verulam Boys School in the early 1990s. The dojo followed the teachings of the late Colin Williams Sensei.
In 1997, the club was taken over by current Chief Instructor Kevin Archibald. Due to his age and commitments at the time, it was scaled back to an independent children’s class running from Sandringham School for its first couple of years.
By 1999, the club had outgrown its drama studio venue and relocated to Sandridge Primary School. With that move came affiliation to the JKA UK (Asai faction) as a full, all-ages club. Under the JKA (the truest lineage of Japanese Shotokan Karate) we followed a clear traditional syllabus, trained alongside some exceptional names from the UK, US, Europe, South Africa and directly from the JKA Headquarters in Japan. We also competed against formidable JKA trained opponents at many tournaments.
After several years, it was felt the club needed to take its own path. Bushido became independent again, this time with a significantly larger dojo. Over the following years the club continued to grow, at its peak offering training across multiple St Albans locations as well as clubs in Bricketwood and Hatfield.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, training continued online and (when permitted) outdoors in local parks. When indoor training resumed, the decision was made to consolidate and regrow from a single location. Wheatfields Junior School became our home.
We have now been providing karate in the Marshalswick area for over 30 years. We do so as a not-for-profit organisation, committed to keeping martial arts accessible and affordable for everyone.
Our Style and Approach
Karate is for everyone. At Bushido, we’ve helped members with neurodivergent conditions and chronic illnesses train consistently and progress as long-standing members of the club. Accessibility isn’t an afterthought, it’s built into how we teach.
Our style draws on over 40 years of study and practice across multiple martial arts and systems. We use a Shotokan framework as our foundation, but our technical approach leans toward the older, more pragmatic Okinawan roots of the art.
Every drill and exercise exists for a reason. A session might be focused on improving flexibility, developing strategic awareness, refining body control, or achieving better flow between techniques. Nothing is filler. You’ll always know what you’re working toward and why.
We train as preparation for a potential conflict, developing the body and mind for the demands that conflict would place on them. Think of it like a competitive rower training on a Concept2 ergometer: the machine will never float, but it builds exactly what’s needed for when you’re on the water.
Because of this, your training is shaped by your goals:
We’re not rigid in our technical expectations within the club, or for belt progression. Everyone arrives with different capabilities and different reasons for training. Our job is to meet you where you are and take you further.
- Fitness-focused? Expect to be drilled hard for weight-loss. Expect calisthenic style strength training. Expect yogic practices for flexibility.
- Self-defence minded? We’ll push your mental resilience as much as your technique.
- Competition-bound? You’ll be prepared to WKF technical standards and through our alliance with Jordan Thomas, former European and World Karate Champion, you’ll have access to WKF tournament licensing and world-class coaching.
Our approach to grading is unique. We don’t hold formal examinations, and therefore do not charge for belt promotions. The reality is that belt standards vary enormously across the karate world (age, physical limitations, and injury all mean that a universal benchmark is largely a fiction). What actually matters is experience and effort.
At Bushido, promotion is based on hours trained, followed by a straightforward demonstration of key techniques, current kata, and kumite that are assessed within normal sessions, not a formal exam. If a member has shown consistent effort and can demonstrate their knowledge, they earn their next belt. Assessments happen monthly, keeping the dojo properly aligned so everyone trains safely with the right partners.
Our Chief Instructor
Kevin Archibald began training in karate at the age of 5 under Seishinkai Shotokan International, moving to Bukonkai Karate International at 10 to train under Sensei Dickenson. He achieved Shodan under Colin Williams Sensei in 1993, continuing to train with the Bukonkai England squad throughout his membership.
When the club affiliated to the JKA, Kevin’s grade was ratified and he became a regular within the JKA UK competition team, contributing to the preparation of several individuals for the JKA World Championships on two occasions.
From the age of 18, Kevin began cross-training across a wide range of martial arts disciplines, alongside a deep study of the history and evolution of fighting systems. Particular focus was given to traditional Jiu Jitsu, Wing Chun and Arnis, as well as weapons training covering nunchaku, sai, bo and tonfa — studied under instructors who carried genuine traditional knowledge of their arts.
Over the years Kevin has trained police officers, Royal Marines applicants, stunt performers, bodyguards and security professionals. He holds a Krav Maga instructor qualification recognised by the ICCS in Israel — the organisation responsible for training the IDF’s Anti-Terrorism unit. He has also trained extensively in Ashtanga Yoga and Pilates, working towards instructor level in both.
Kevin continues to develop and promote Yanagi-Do Karate — his own evolved karate style — alongside Yogata, a slower, more accommodating form of karate practice designed specifically for those over 50 or returning from illness or injury.
Beyond martial arts, Kevin is a qualified professional coach operating through Lobster Life Coaching, specialising in neurodivergent and neuro-adjacent individuals, providing executive and life coaching. This background in professional coaching directly informs how he structures teaching and development within the dojo.
In recent years Kevin has also offered guidance and consultancy to other martial arts organisations, helping them operate more effectively where internal expertise has been lacking.
Martial arts has been the thread running through Kevin’s entire life. That legacy is now shared with his wife and two children, who are all active members of Bushido.
