Chief Instructor
Shihan Nick da Costa 7th dan, started Kyokushin Karate in 1978. Making rapid progress, within 6 months he won a national individual & team title for point-scoring and gained his England badge fighting in the all-styles karate championships of 1979 representing the British Karate Kyokushinkai. He progessed to full-contact and won the British Middleweight title on his second attempt also winning the wood-breaking competition at the same time. The same year, 1982 he also passed his black-belt. Over the next seven years he won 2 European championships, 2 European Cups, 2 More British & the first Kyokushin Commonwealth Championship. Retiring from competition in 1989 at the age of 28yrs, he then went on to coaching the National men & women's teams of Kyokushin. In 1987 he started Docklands Karate Club with his wife Maria and as a further commitment to karate, started Ilford (formerly Newbury Park) dojo in 1999. He takes great pride in seeing his students develop and is recognised within kyokushin as a world class instructor. Directly below is a short video of Shihan da Costa knocking out one of the top Japanese fighters Okomura in the 4th Word IKO tournament in Tokyo 1987. Further videos are available on youtube channel karatekyokushinuk
Instructor
Shihan Maria da Costa 6th dan, Started karate in 1981. During her fighting career, she won many international titles in Pointscoring and knockdown and was part of the British Karate Kyokushinkai's team that won the European team clicker championships in 1991. She helped shihan Nick da Costa found Docklands Karate Club whilst also training and competing at the dojo. Shihan Maria is a dedicated instructor who has been an inspiration to women karate exponents over the last 2 decades. During these successful years, she had 3 children who all now train in the club and who have won British and world titles. A video of her winning the Spanish Open is below! It was a long tough fight, so stay the distance.
Black-belts
Sensei Brian Padget 3rd dan. Started Karate in 1980 at Millwall dojo training alongside Shihan Nick da Costa. England International & British team Clicker Champion. Participated in karate demonstration at 2011 Junior World Championships.
Senpai Alex Constantinou 2nd dan. Started training circa 1980 at Bethnal Green.
Senpai Imran Ali 1st dan. One of the first Newbury Park Students and the first to gain his shodan at the club.
Senpai Alex Small 1st dan World Junior Girls Clicker Champion, England International and multiple Junior British Champion.
Senpai Jordan da Costa. World Junior individual Silver Medallist and Team Gold. 1st dan GB & England international & multiple junior national champion. 2012 national cadet Champion and runner up in mens.
Daniel Small. World Champion in Junior Individual & Team. GB & England international & former national junior champion. 2012 runner-up in national cadet semi-contact.
Senpai Neil Cattaneo. BKK England International, Club Advanced Clicker Champion, National Clicker Team Champion.
