Our chief instructor has been training in tradional Wado-Ryu since 1991 and currently holds the rank of Yodan (4th degree black belt). In 1998 Gawne Sensei founded the Wa-No-Michi Karate Academy and the Renbukan Dojo (Bewdley) in 2015. Wa-No-Michi is now being operated by DJ Jonker Sensei and Renbukan (Bewdley)by Crystal Parker Sensei.

Our Wado-Ryu lineage falls in line with Les Mansfield (Rokudan) and Gary Swift (Hachidan) of the British Wadokai and International Wado Federation.

In 2012 Gawne Sensei began studying the koryu art of Shindo Yoshin Ryu with the Dojo Cho of Toronto Kangetsu Dojo, Mark Ainslie Sensei. TSYR is the formative style which Wado-Ryu in part originated from. In 2016 permission was granted by the TSYR honbu for Renbukan to begin a licenced study group in this art.

Gawne Sensei is registered with the International Wado Federation, Karate Newfoundland and holds his National Coaching Certification in Karate-Do.