Budo Karate Club Glasgow
Authentic Shotokan Karate
Photo Archive
[This Archive page is designed to give a flavour of the Club’s history. However, there are many more photographs available, which can be accessed by clicking on the Facebook link below and going to the Photo section of the Club’s Facebook page.]
The first known picture of Gavienas Sensei, aged 17 – with apologies for the picture quality, but not for the execution of mawashi geri jodan!
Sensei Gordon : Karate Union of Scotland Championships : September 1981
Sensei Peter : Grading with Senseis Enoeda and Ohta : December 1982 
Sensei Gordon : Karate Union of Scotland Team Final 1983
January 1984 : Gordon ( standing 4th from right) at the Coatbridge course presented by Pat McKay (Twice World Lightweight Karate Champion), kneeling forefront right
Sensei Peter : Competition October 1984, with Referees Dusty Miller and the late Jim Kerr
Scottish Karate Association 1985 (Gordon 2nd from right, back row: Peter centre front)
Sensei Peter : Competition October 1987
Woodfarm Dojo Days – The 90s
Peter – “All I’m saying, Sensei, is that maybe 200 press-ups are enough”. Bert – “All I’m saying is shut up Sheridan, or we’ll be doing 400”.
It must be in the genes!!
- Centre four : Peter, Gordon, Natalie and Bert
Darnley Dojo Classes Over the Years – Are You Here?
Natalie : May 2004
Sensei : March 2009 Sisters and their winning ways
Natalie and Sensei Nobuaki Kanazawa
Natalie : Bronze in the Portuguese International Open 2011
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Master Hirokazu Kanazawa Course : November 5th 2011
Woodfarm School : April 17th 2012
Gordon with the 2012 London Olympic Torch and Sensei David Coulter ( twice World Team Champion, twice Individual European Lightweight Champion, four times Scottish Individual and seven times Scottish Team Champion)
Dan Grading April 27th 2012
Budo Karate Club’s 20th Anniversary Class : June 14th 2012
Scottish Karate Association Championships : November 4th 2012
Sheridan Sensei’s Course and Seminar, November 24th 2012 : “Muga Mushin, Zanchin and Kime” – The Fundamentals of Shotokan Karate
Clubmark Award Class : March 23rd 2013
2013 – A proud night for four Budo karateka receiving their Dan Grades. From fourth on the left – Terry Murray (3rd Dan), Lauren Harkins (4th Dan), David Finlay (2nd Dan) and Alan Major (1st dan).
Inaugural Bert Sutherland Etiquette Award to Alan Major : March 23rd 2013
April 14th 2013 : Another Course
September 2013 : Gordon training in London with Sensei Youshanlou
Sheridan Sensei’s Course and Seminar, November 9th 2013 : “Kihon No Juyo-Sei” – The Importance of Foundations
Dan Grading : May 2014
Dan Grading : March 2015
July 2015
Dan Grading : March 2016
Darnley Monday Class : July 25th 2016
Junior Grading : December 2016
Club Open Night : December 22nd 2016
Dan Grading : March 2017 – Three new 4th Dans
Alan – Gold in Veterans’ Competition : September 2017
The Club’s Officials : Just a few memories of the many weekends spent officiating across the country and abroad.
Basel Open : September 2nd 2018
North of England Open Championships : September 30th 2018
Going further afield!! Gavienas Sensei at the Polish Open, October 2018
Central England National Open : October 14th 2018
Nissan Open, Sunderland : October 22nd 2018
Class : October 2017
Class : December 2017
Annual Open Night : December 14th 2017
Friday 13th April 018 : Budo Girls
Friday Class : May 4th 2018
Another Wishaw Open : May 2018
Dan Grading : June 2018
Monday Class : October 15th 2018
Major Successes!!! Wishaw : October 2018
Budo in the Community : St Angela’s Primary – May 2019
Just remember…in the dojo, in every moment, there is only now and you. Your fellow karateka can be a mirror, but only you can reflect your spirit. Mokuso is the time to reflect.
Club Grading : Thursday 6th June 2019.
June 6th 2019 – This is what the Budo Club under Gavienas Sensei is all about. An emotional night: The Bert Sutherland Etiquette Award being presented to Lauren.
18th August 2019 : The commitment continues…. and the Club benefits.
August/September 2019 : Gavienas Sensei invited to officiate at the Basel Open in Switzerland
December 19th 2019 : Gavienas Sensei and Major Sensei officiating at the Scotland v Ireland Challenge match.
For some, the training never stops….. as December 2019 becomes January 2020!!
February 2020 : Another wonderful milestone for Gavienas Sensei, as he is awarded his European Judge B (Kata) qualification at the Junior European Championships in Budapest.
February 14th 2020 – Valentine’s Day or not, training goes on!!
February 15th 2020 – Gavienas Sensei, European Judge, in Sheffield
Gavienas Sensei officiating at the Four Nations Championships, Leicester, April 9th 2022.
Club Grading : Thursday 6th June 2019.
Gavienas Sensei officiating at the Four Nations Championships, Leicester, April 9th 2022
demanding honour, which entailed 56 hours of tatami time over the course of the five competition days.
Celebration of the 30th Anniversary of the Budo Club under the guidance and leadership of Sensei Gordon Gavienas, 7th Dan in Shotokan Karate. As editor of the website, I, Sheridan Sensei, accept all responsibility for applauding our Sensei in way he would never do himself. It is indeed an honour for the club to be led by a Scottish, British and European qualified judging official, one of only six Scottish judges to be chosen to attend the 2022 Commonwealth Karate Championships. Gavienas Sensei’s achievements are well documented on the site’s Instructors and Photos pages…have a look. The following photographs give a flavour of the three training elements of Kihon (Basics), Kata (Forms) and Kumite (Freestyle Fighting)
Gavienas Sensei also took the opportunity to honour Austin Major with the Bert Sutherland Etiquette Award.
Austin is only the third recipient of the award since its inception 11 years ago to mark the passing of Bert Sutherland, the dear friend and fellow karateka of both Gavienas Sensei and Sheridan Sensei. It was Sheridan Sensei’s privilege to make the award to Austin, who has made significant progress as both a young man and karateka since he was awarded his Junior Shodan in 2019….and he is a lot taller!!
Now Then
The evening also offered an opportunity to meet some old friends and former karateka.
October 8th and 9th 2022 : Gavienas Sensei and Major Sensei officiating at the Irish Elite National Open Championships in Dublin.
Thursday October 20th 2022 : You don’t have to be crazy to train this hard, but it helps if you have company!!
January 22nd 2023 : Gavienas Sensei officiating at the British Karate Federation Grand Slam event in Cumbria
Friday March 17th 2023 – A memorable evening for the Budo Club at the S.K.A Dan Grading
Gavienas Sensei 8th Dan (Hachidan)
Gavienas Sensei with Alan Major (3rd Dan – Sandan), Daisy Major (2nd Dan – Nidan) and Austin Major (1st Dan – Shodan).
Gavienas Sensei with Andrew Kennedy (4th Dan – Yondan)
Gavienas Sensei with Sagnik Patra (1st Dan – Shodan)
Budo success
23rd March 2023 : If it’s Thursday, it must be training
30th March 2023 – Sagnik joins the faithful few for another Thursday session
April 1st and 2nd 2023. Gavienas Sensei and Major Sensei officiating at the British Universities Championships in Hull. Tatami time of 17 + hours weekend experience with European (of whom Gavienas Sensei is a member) and World officials.
April 8th and 9th 2023 : Gavienas Sensei and Major Sensei officiating at the British Karate Federation Championships in the Ravenscraig Sports Centre, assisted by Austin Major and Andrew Kennedy on Table Officials duty. The weekend was all the more memorable for Sensei Alan, who successfully completed both the theory and practical examinations required to progress to British Karate Federation Referee and Judge Level A
Table official – Andrew
Table official – Austin
Saturday, August 12th 2023, Manchester. Gavienas Sensei participating in the Referees Course under the direction of Javier Escalante, World and European Chief Referee.
Looking good from all angles.
Gavienas Sensei with Robert McQueen, Stuart Robertson and Javier Escalante
Still smiling after a very busy course which covered refereeing aspects of kumite, kata, para kata, and practical competition kumite.
Sensei officiating at the British Karate Championships in Sheffield. 18 Hours of Tatami time over Saturday 2nd and Sunday 3rd September 2023
And again…
The culmination of two further days of contribution and learning.
Thursday September 28th : All tired, but some with more hair than others!!
October 8th 2023 : Another day of officiating for Senseis Gavienas and Major at the Shukokai Karate Club Championships in Cambuslang. Sensei Sheridan privileged to be invited to support.
Some of the action
October 14th and 15th, 2023 : Sensies Gavienas and Major officiating, by invitation, at the Irish International Open Championships in Dublin in the company of some of the world’s top officials.
With (centre) Rab McQueen, Scotland Chief Referee.
With (left) Jimmy Harte, one of Ireland’s national referees.
November 18th 2023 : Gavienas Sensei and Major Sensei officiating at the Central England International Open
February 11th 2024 : Gavienas Sensei and Sheridan Sensei officiating at the Scottish Universities Championships in Clydebank Leisure Centre
Sunday February 18th, 2024. Gordon, Alan, Peter and Andrew at the Scottish National Kata Championships in Ravenscraig, Motherwell
February 24th and 25th 2024 : Gavienas Sensei and Major Sensei officiating at the British Universities Championships in Sheffield. Another 16 hours of tatami time.
Sunday, March 17th 2024. Another weekend, another contribution from Gavienas Sensei and Major Sensei – officiating at the Cumbria Open Children’s Championships in Penrith
Sunday, March 24th 2004 – Gavienas Sensei and Major Sensei officiating at the North East Open which was held at Durham College, Peterlee. This tournament is fast becoming recognised as one of the most prestigious in Britain, which makes the invitation to officiate extended to Gavienas Sensei and Major Sensei all the more noteworthy, on top of which Gavienas Sensei undertook the additional duties of Tatami Manager and member of the Appeals Jury.
Saturday 27th & Sunday 28th April 2024 : Gavienas Sensei and Major Sensei officiating at the British Karate Federation National Championships in Durham College, contributing 20 hours of Tatami time over two days in another tiring but enjoyable weekend.
May 2024 : Gavienas Sensei officiating as one of only four Scottish officials at the 59th Senior European Championships in Zadar, Croatia. This entailed five long days on the tatami, working with a range of top European and World officials. Hopefully, the attached photographs give some impression of the scale and prestige of this event.
Gordon Gavienas, Stuart Robertson, Rab McQueen and Billy Haggarty
An impressive venue!
From another angle.
Gavienas Sensei on the Tatami
And again.
Friday May 31st, 2024 : Some memories of the grading examination conducted by Gavienas Sensei. Well done to everyone for their effort and attainment. As Sensei said, there are three things you have to do if you want to advance….train, train and train.
Trying hard
Harder
Harder still
Well done everyone
Class lined out for the parents. Rei
Friday, May 31st, 2024. It was with great pleasure that Gavienas Sensei bestowed the Bert Sutherland Etiquette Award on Andrew Kennedy. Andrew is only the fourth recipient of the award, which holds great significance for both Gavienas Sensei and Sheridan Sensei, signifying their lasting affection and respect for a dear friend. Sensei Peter would like to thank Gavienas Sensei for, once again, according him the honour of presenting the award. Well done Andrew.
Something to which all students can aspire!
Well done, Andrew
Congratulations from Gavienas Sensei
As Major Sensei (the first recipient of the Award) looks on.
The evening had additional poignancy, since Bert’s daughter Karen (whose own daughter Olivia is now a young karateka at the Club held in such affection by her grandad) was present to witness the award and congratulate Andrew.
Sunday, June 9th 2024. Once again, Gavienas Sensei and Major Sensei officiating at what appears to have been a rather challenging 47th Cumbria Open Championships in Penrith. Gavienas Sensei is on record for congratulating Major Sensei for handling some difficult situations regarding recent rule changes. Well done Alan. Here they are with World Referee Doug James who runs the Cumbria event.
Sunday June 16th : Sensei and Andrew officiating at the SKF Grassroots Competition in Bonnyrigg. Well done to Andrew expanding his knowledge and experience with a full day on the Tatami.
Thursday June 20th : Sometimes there are only two…but it makes no difference to the spirit in the Budo dojo!!
Sunday, June 30th 2024 : Gavienas Sensei officiating at the Scottish International Open Grand Prix held in Wishaw Sports Centre
A memorable day for young Dylan McNulty, who earned a bronze medal in his very first competition…and an International one at that!
Dylan with Moni, his very proud Mum, and Major Sensei, under whose guidance and instruction Dylan has made such progress
Teacher and student : Well done to both.
Saturday 10th August 2024 : Gavienas Sensei officiating at a Challenge International match between Scotland and Ireland. The venue was the Throsk Community Centre – a unit used specifically by Karate Scotland as their official training centre for Kumite and Kata courses, and such events as today’s challenge match.
Sunday, August 18th 2024 : Yet another day officiating. Gavienas Sensei with fellow officials on Tatami 1 at the North East Open Karate Championships held at Durham College, Peterlee.
Saturday, August 31st and Sunday, September 1st 2024. Gavienas Sensei officiating at the British Karate Federation Open International event in Sheffield. Another 20 hours on the Tatami over two days, contributing to an enjoyable event in the company of other European and World level officials.
Saturday, September 7th and Sunday, September 8th 2024 saw Gavienas Sensei and Major Sensei officiating at the English Karate Federation International Open in Crystal Palace, London. The event was attended by competitors and officials from around the World, including Italy, Poland, Lithuania, Malta, Australia, Ireland, Wales and Rumania.
Looking good after another two days officiating!
The contingent from Scotland
Sunday September 15th, 2024. Meadowbank Karate Championships. Well done to Jacob, Antony, Dylan, Liam and swar for their efforts in today’s competition. For Jacob, Antony, Liam and swar, this was their first experience of competition karate. Wonderful to see them all gaining experience, confidence and self-belief, guided by the principles of Gavienas Sensei’s Budo Dojo. Special thanks, on Gavienas Sensei’s behalf, to Major Sensei, for his unstinting support, direction and patience in teaching the next generation of young Budo karateka.
Well done, Antony
Well done, Jacob
Well done, Liam and Dylan
Well done, swar
Monday, September 16th. Back in the Budo dojo. As Gavienas Sensei said…”The Future”. Follow the Way of Karate, boys. Well done, again.
Sunday, October 6th 2024. Gavienas Sensei and Major Sensei officiating at the S.K.F. Championships in Newbattle High School, Midlothian. Also, a great experience for Patrick, who assisted as a table official, learning what is required at such events.
Saturday, November 2nd, 2024. Gavienas Sensei and Major Sensei, invited by the S.K.F. to officiate at the Wado-Kai European Cup in the Oriam Stadium in Edinburgh, where they were joined by Andrew Kennedy on table duties. Another great experience for our Chief Instructor and Instructor to contribute to a prestigious event.
Gavienas Sensei’s tatami team
Sunday, November 10th, 2024. Another weekend, another contribution to competition karate from Gavienas Sensei and Major Sensei. This time, they officiated at the North East Open Championships run by the English Karate Federation, joining a range of officials from Association to World standing. In addition, the event was attended by one of the members of the European Commission. As members of the Budo club, we are privileged to benefit from the experience and expertise that the commitment of Gavienas Sensei and Major Sensei brings to our own Dojo. Domo arigato gozaimasu, Sensei.
Sunday, November 24th 2024. The Grand Prix event at Ravenscraig, Motherwell, saw Rayheel, Sajeel, Dylan and Anthony competing and performing well, accompanied by Gavienas Sensei and Major Sensei officiating, and Andrew and Patrick on table official duties. All four boys did well, evidence that they are listening to Sensei and improving both mentally and technically. Particular congratulations to Sajeel for winning his bronze medal. Great memories for the boys and the Club, under Gavienas Sensei’s direction.
Just out of significant interest, Sheridan Sensei would like to draw your attention to the toes on each boy’s standing foot. Bent down, gripping the mat, You cannot execute yoko geri without this grounding technique. Confirmation, as always, of the attention to detail in Major Sensei’s instruction.
Well done, Sajeel.
Sunday, January 12th, 2025 – Gavienas Sensei officiating at the British Karate Federation Elite Championships in Durham College, in preparation for forthcoming European Examinations
Monday, January 27th 2025. The end of another Senior Class session. Patrick, Andrew, Sensei Alan, Sensei Peter, Sensei Gordon and Robert. The faces speak for themselves!
Sunday, February 2nd, 2025 : Gavienas Sensei, Major Sensei and Andrew Kennedy officiating at the Scottish Universities Karate Championships held in Glasgow University. By all accounts, a good day.
Gavienas Sensei and Major Sensei with some of the other participating officials.
February 7th – 9th 2025 : Gavienas Sensei officiating at the European Karate Federation Cadet, Junior and Under 21 Championships which were held in Bielsko-Biala in Southern Poland.
An impressive venue
February 15th & 16th 2025 : Gavienas Sensei officiating at the British Universities Championships, held in the Ponds Forge Sports Centre in Sheffield.
Friday, March 7th, 2025 : Another successful grading night for our young Karateka.
March 9th 2025 – Gavienas Sensei and Major Sensei officiating, once again, at the Cumbria Open Championships
Friday 14th – Sunday 16th March 2025. Having attended, and presented at, a course designed to improve the next generation of Kumite and Kata referees and judges on Friday, March 14th, Gavienas Sensei rounded out his weekend on Sunday, officiating at the Scottish Karate Federation Championships in the Newbattle Community Campus, Mayfield, Dalkeith. This photograph depicts Gavienas Sensei’s warm congratulations to fellow official Charlie Lyndsay, for whom this meeting marked his retirement after 40 years of officiating.
Saturday 19th & Sunday 20th April 2025 – Gavienas Sensei and Major Sensei officiating at the British Karate Federation Championships in the Oriam Sport Complex, Herriot Watt University, Edinburgh. 18 hours on the mats over the two days, in the company of World officials, from whom both Senseis received positive feedback. Of particular note, was Major Sensei undertaking the role of Tatami Manager, in addition to his other refereeing duties.
The venue for the B.K.F Championships
Thursday, April 24th, 2025. Sheridan Sensei and Major Sensei – having trained in Gavienas Sensei’s absence – send him best wishes for a speedy recovery from his hip replacement, and a rapid return to the Budo dojo!
Sunday May 11th 2025 – Major Sensei, representing Scottish Karate, officiating at the prestigious North East Open Championships, held in the Walker Activity Dome , Newcastle.
Tuesday, May 20th, 2025. Budo Karate Club contributing taster sessions to St Angela’s Primary Open Evening. The classes were well received, with Sensei Major and Sensei Sheridan leading several groups in Warm Up, Blocking, Punching and Kicking techniques under the guidance of Gavienas Sensei.
And the next group.
An enjoyable evening for all.
Sunday, June 8th, 2025 : Major Sensei officiating at the Cumbria Open. As Gavienas Sensei highlighted on the Club Whatsapp page, another instance of Sensei Alan contributing to yet another event, gathering more experience, and bringing it back for the benefit of Scottish Karate, the Scottish Karate Association, and the Budo Club. If one adds to that all the courses attended, examinations undertaken, dedication to coaching and training, one can only acknowledge Alan’s commitment, as so accurately described by Gavienas Sensei, as “terrific”.
Friday, June 20th, 2025. A memorable night for both Ryan Carrigan and Patrick Carragher, both of whom were successful in their Shodan grading and now enjoy Yudansha membership in the Budo Club. Congratulations from everyone in the Budo family.
Well done, Ryan
Well done, Patrick
Sunday, June 22nd 2025. Gavienas Sensei, post hip operation, returns to officiating at the Scottish International Open Championships, Ravenscraig Sports Centre, Motherwell. Andrew also attended on table duties.
Gavienas Sensei and the other officials.
Thursday, July 3rd, 2025. The smile says it all – a delighted Gavienas Sensei returns to training following his hip replacement. Well supported by Patrick!
Sunday, August 3rd 2025 : Gavienas Sensei and Major Sensei officiating at the North East Open Championships in the Beacon of Light Centre, Sunderland.
Saturday 30th and Sunday 31st August, 2025. Gavienas Sensei and Major Sensei officiated at the British National Championships held at the Ponds Forge Event Centre in Sheffield. More experience in the company of World and European officials (of which Gavienas Sensei is a member of the latter). Unfortunately, Major Sensei missed the photo call!! Sorry, Alan!
Saturday & Sunday 20th & 21st September 2025. Gavienas Sensei officiating at the English International Open at Crystal Palace Sports Pavilion in London. A prestigious event attended by World and European officials and competitors from, among other places, Ireland, France, Wales, Germany and America. All of which further broadened Gavienas Sensei’s experience and understanding of officiating at this level and in this company. In addition to his duties on the tatami, Gavienas Sensei was named as one of the six members of the Appeals Jury. Gavienas Sensei would never say it himself, but as the website administrator, I will…. aren’t we, as the Budo family, fortunate to have this level of expertise present in our Dojo.
Tatami Information
All the Officials
Even Sensei has to relax sometime!!!
Saturday 11th and Sunday12th October, 2025. Gavienas Sensei officiating at the Irish International Open in the Blanchtown National Sports Stadium in Dublin. In the company of 15 World Level, 14 European Level, and 13 National Level officials, Gavienas Sensei both contributed to and learned from this important event.
Tatami Group
The Scottish contingent : Left to right- Billy Haggarty, Stuart Robertson, Robert McQueen and Gordon Gavienas.
Sunday, November 9th, 2025. Another year on, and once again Gavienas Sensei and Major Sensei contributed to, and gained experience from, officiating at the North East Open Championships, held at the Beacon of Light Recreation Centre in Sunderland. Both smiling, so it must have been enjoyable!
Saturday. November 15th, 2025. Well done to the young Budo karateka who entered the Scottish National Championship event in the Ravenscraig Sports Centre. Great experience and opportunities to learn and progress.
Sensei Alan with Dylan, Liam, Jacob and Antony
Jacob and Swar
Antony, Jacob and Dylan – looking good in their Club hoodies!!
Sensei Alan with officiating colleagues on Tatami Three.
Tatami 2 – Gavienas Sensei officiating, and gaining yet more experience and knowledge from the presence of Peter Bibby, England Chief Referee and European Referee Commission member. As the editor of the Budo website, I want to put on record that the Club is indeed fortunate to have Sensei’s level of commitment and direction to bring out the very best in all of us.
Monday, November 17th, 2025. Two photographs for the archive, proof positive that there is no age limit in following the Way of Karate.
Ages six to seventy five! Wonderful!
Friday, December 5th 2025. Another opportunity for our young karateka, under the instruction of Major Sensei, to progress in their karate journey. Well done to everyone who met Gavienas Sensei’s high standards, and reached the next milestone on their, hopefully, lifelong commitment to the way of karate.
Sunday, December 7th 2025. A good day for our young karateka who entered the S.K.F. Open Kumite Championships in the Meadowbank Stadium in Edinburgh. Everyone gained valuable experience and Gavienas Sensei would like to congratulate them and thank their parents for their support.
A memory for Raheel, pictured on the right end of the line up.
Well done to Harseerat, pictured on the podium with her bronze medal award.
Budo Karate Club Glasgow 