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Chief Instructor & Welsh Coach

Sensei Kevin O'Neill

(4th Dan)

Kevin O'Neill started Karate in 1975 with initially the Merthyr WADO RYU Club.

But 12 months later left with his initial instructor, Lyn Powell, 4th Dan and became one of the founder members of Merthyr Shotokan Karate Club. Kevin had been an accomplished sportsman representing both Merthyr and County at soccer and rugby and had also boxed up to the age of 15.

In 1977 whilst still a brown belt, Kevin joined South Wales Police and was posted on foot patrol duties initially at Merthyr town centre, but within two years became a Community Constable within the Dowlais area. During his initial training period in the police service, he trained sporadically and it was not until 1982 that he passed his 1^st Dan examination under Sensei Enoeda at Crystal Palace, London.

During the 80's Kevin competed predominantly on the All Styles Competitive Circuit, representing the newly formed Dowlais Shotokan Karate Club.

During the 80's Kevin competed predominantly on the All Styles Competitive Circuit, representing the newly formed Dowlais Shotokan Karate Club. He gained a reputation as a strong fighter although on occasions struggled with controlling his _contact and as such his successes were restricted to team events. Despite this, he did gain a third place in the senior men's event and also was a part of the Merthyr team that won the All Wales Team Event in 1988. It was during the 80's that he initially taught Tony Kiff, a young white belt at Dowlais, who also was a police officer in Bargoed.

In 1986 Kevin was selected to represent Wales in the European Championships at Sunderland, England and it was in this year that he stopped playing both rugby and soccer and concentrated on karate

In 1987, 1988 and 1989 he lost in the finals of the Welsh Championships whilst in 1988 he joined his former student, Tony Kiff who was now a 2" Dan black belt and assisted him in coaching at the Bargoed Shotokan Karate Club based at Heol Ddu School, Bargoed. This was to be start of an incredible decade for both Tony and Kevin and the Baroged Club. Kevin won his Welsh title beating Richard Poole of the Welsh Championships at the first championships held and organised by him at Rhydycar, Merthyr Tydfil. For the next ten years Kevin became a dominant competitor regularly placing in both the Welsh individual events as well as being seeded as a British fighter. In fact, Kevin participated in a dozen Welsh finals - winning three, coming second in five and finishing third in four. In the British Championships he twice finished second and third on two occasions as well as winning the British Inter-Regional title and finishing fourth in the European Individual Championships in Finland in 1991.

Kevin's solitary international medal was won at the end of his career in 1999 where he then, as Welsh team captain took his team to third place in the European Championships in Cadiz, Spain.

During this period both he and Tony had been highly successful in developing young dynamic students, who outshone their instructors, winning World and European titles as well as many-national and Welsh events.

The year following his retirement, Kevin was asked by the then coach Jeff Wilding 5^lDan to become his assistant and look to restructure the national coaching setup and initiate regional schools of excellence for students aged between 10 and 14.

Sadly, Tony Kiff died in 2001 but the legacy lives on through both Kevin and his students. Both Tony and Kevin had been serving Police Officers and had fought for the Welsh Police Karate Team as well as the Wales KUGB for over 10 years competing all over the UK, America and Europe. Tony's experience, his talent, his humor and his enthusiasm for martial arts are sorely missed to this day and he was held in high esteem by all who knew him.

Over the next years both the squad and Bargoed SKC thrived producing European and British junior medalists in the form of John Cook, Kai Stroud and Calum O'Neill as well as consistent senior British and Welsh medalists with Alyn Weyman, Matthew Hook and Andrew Phillips. The club consistently performed to a high standard in all national events, and dominated the Welsh region winning the most successful club a total of 12 times in its 20 year history and consecutively for the last 5 years.

In May 2008 the Welsh Coach, Geoff Wilding, died and was buried near his home of Chester on the 11 June 2008. Kevin spoke at his funeral and gave a eulogy relating to his memories of Geoff and the time they had spent together travelling the world coaching the Welsh KUGB Team. Kevin was subsequently appointed as the Welsh National Coach by Sensei Andy Sherry , 8^th Dan and now leads a coaching structure supported by Richard Poole, 6^th Dan and lan Harman, Alyn Weyman, Graham -Jennings, Simon. Who organise the school of excellence sessions.

Kevin has now built links with other organisations and both his son and most successful student, Alyn Weyman 6 times Welsh Champion, are involved in the MMA world competing at Jujitsu and full contact events.

Sensei O'Neill says’

I believe in strong traditional Karate built on a foundation of high levels of fitness, strong discipline and good behaviour. I am inclusive and welcome all to participate recognising their different needs and abilities. We compete regularly but we welcome the hobby Kareteka in the same way we do the international competitor.

'The only fight you will ever need 2 win is at the bus stop or the taxi queue , I teach people to avoid those areas BUT if circumstances find us in that conflict area what I teach must be relevant to dealing with that threat, Karate is about self defence.'

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