Alan started training in 1978 at Inverness Karate Club, which had a reputation of being one of the toughest in the country. Under the guidance of senior sensei in Scotland, and frequent visits by Kato sensei, Alan gained shodan in 1984. Continued intensive training was rewarded with nidan (’89), sandan (’94), yondan (’98) and godan (’03).

From the beginning Alan had been a member of Kodokai under the direction of Kato sensei. This later became JKA (GB), opening the students up to the international JKA karate scene. Having already won JKA national titles in both kata and kumite, Alan was selected to compete in many international championships, winning team kumite at the European championships in 1995 and representing both Scotland and Britain in three world championships (Dubai ’90, South Africa ’93, Moscow ’96).

In early 1997, disillusioned with the direction which the JKA (GB) was taking, Alan left the group. Already a professional karate instructor, his numerous clubs, known collectively as Seibukan Karate Clubs, became Seibukan Shotokan Karate Association. For 6 years Alan worked hard to form a strong association boasting a fully sponsored squad which travelled to Las Vegas in 2002 to compete in the Funakoshi World Open Championships. Their hard work and the excellence of Alan’s instruction were confirmed by the 8 gold, 6 silver and 6 bronze medal tally.

In 2003, realising the advantages and opportunities of being with the JKS, Alan and the SSKA joined the JKS (GB & Ireland).

Alan now holds the position of chairman within the JKS (GB & Ireland) and teaches full time in the UK and Europe.

Scott has been practising martial arts since the age of 5, however, he started his karate career proper in 1986 under the instruction of Howard Milson, a senior member of Kodakai and one of the very few 5th dans in the UK at the time. Scott trained hard with Howard and Kato sensei and gained shodan in 1992.

After travelling to Japan with Kato sensei in 1993, Scott started university in Staffordshire and trained on a daily basis with him. During this time he assisted Kato sensei teaching around the UK and Europe. Scott also competed regularly; winning, both in kata and kumite, the National Championships five times, European Championships three times, and the 1996 World Championships in Moscow.

Building on this success, Scott travelled once more to Japan in 1997 and started to train full time at the JKA (Asai fraction) Hombu dojo. Under constant pressure from the instruction of Asai, Abe, Yahara, Kagawa, Isaka, Yamaguchi etc, Scott went from strength to strength and in 1998 was asked to enter the instructor’s course. Unfortunately, an injured knee prevented this, so after considerable rehabilitation, Scott entered the course in 2000 and, along with Inada, became the first instructor’s course class of the newly formed Japan Karate Shotokai.

Two intensive years later, Scott graduated from the course and became the fifth non-Japanese person ever to do so (JKA/JKS). Feeling it was time to move on and encouraged by the hombu dojo to develop JKS karate, Scott moved to Ireland where he is now a full time instructor teaching throughout Ireland, UK and the rest of Europe.

He is Technical Director of the JKS (GB & Ireland).