Ken Hori Sensei, 6th Dan JKA
Kenjiro Hori sensei is the Chief Instructor and the founder of Cambridge Karate Dojo. Ken began training karate in 1987 with Cambridge University Karate Club under Eric Pich sensei, with regular visits by Keinosuke Enoeda sensei. From 2005 till 2019 Ken was a student of Yoshinobu Ohta sensei, 7th Dan and the Chief Instructor of JKA England, at Oasis Shotokan Karate Club in London.
Ken competed in both kumite (fighting) and kata (set forms) until 2015. His achievements include both individual and team medals at BUCS (British Universities and Colleges Sport) Championships (for which he was awarded the Cambridge Full Blue in 2001), KUGB Central Regions, KUGB National Students, KUGB Nationals, JKAE Nationals, Shotokan Cup and Four Nations Championships. In 2012, Ken was crowned as the Men’s Individual Kata champion at both JKAE Nationals and JKAE Four Nations Championships where he also won bronze in kumite. Ken was later appointed the JKAE national team Squad Coach until 2019.
Ken now referees at JKA competitions in England and Europe, and is found regularly translating for Japanese instructors at international courses both in England and Japan. Ken holds Instructor (A), Referee (B) and Examiner (B) JKA International Licences.
In 2023, Ken also became the Chief Instructor of Cambridge University Karate Club. In 2024, Ken graded to 6th Dan JKA at the JKA Spring International Gasshuku in Okinawa, Japan.
Through his regular training with JKA instructors at Head Quarters, Ken’s aim is to bring traditional JKA karate taught at the Honbu Dojo in Japan, which he visits annually, to students in Cambridge.
When he is not teaching or training karate, Ken can be found lecturing MSc courses in Economics and Finance at Birkbeck, University of London, where he is currently the Head of Education and Student Experience for the Faculty of Business and Law.
Sensei Ken in 47 Ronin (2013) with Keanu Reeves and Hiroyuki Sanada.
Joe Gaughan Sensei, 4th Dan JKA
After a life-long fascination with martial arts Joe started his karate journey in the east of Scotland around 1990 with Jim Wood sensei. He achieved his 1st and 2nd Dan under Keinosuke Enoeda sensei in 1995 and 1998. Joe moved to the US for several years and for a period practised kendo and crossfit! Following a return to the UK in 2015 Joe joined Ken Hori sensei at the Cambridge Karate Dojo where he has been practising regularly since, achieving his 3rd Dan under Ueki Shuseki Shihan at Brussels in November 2019 and his 4th Dan under Izumiya Sensei at Windsor in May 2024. Joe holds Instructor (D) JKA International Licence.
When not in the dojo, Joe’s day job is working for a multinational biotech firm where he leads the European team.
Other Senseis who assist with teaching are:
Bill Rogers sensei, 3rd Dan
Sorin Nicolajsen sensei, 5th Dan JKS
Simon Apen-Sadler sensei, 4th Dan, Instructor (C)
Tamara Kissling sensei, 4th Dan, Instructor (D)
Fatemeh Torabi sensei, 4th Dan, Instructor (D)
Julian Hall sensei, 3rd Dan, Instructor (D)
Juan Pablo Narváez-Gómez sensei, 3rd Dan, Instructor (D)
Tom Auld, 3rd Dan, Instructor (D)
Inan Ekici sensei, 2nd Dan
Karen Hills sensei, 2nd Dan, Instructor (D)
Chris Pratten sensei, 2nd Dan, Instructor (D)
Cambridge Karate Dojo 