***Over 120 years Combined Martial Arts Experience & Excellence***
The club is run on a voluntary basis. We have male and female instructors whose ongoing training is through courses they attend.
Our Instructors carry professional indemnity insurance and CRB clearance.
Senior grades wishing to become involved can help out in the session under the instructor’s watchful eye but to become trained instructors they need to go through a similar course structure.
No-one is able to become a registered instructor until they attain senior black belt status or age 18+, as approved by the Chief Instructor.
Ryan Lambotte – Chief Instructor / Co Founder – Registered Instructor – 6th Dan
“About Ryan”
Ryan is the Chief Instructor, Chairman and co-founder of Jersey Wado Ryu and celebrated his 36th year as a black belt in March 2024. Ryan holds three Black Belts in traditional Karate and is a 6th Dan (Roku Dan) in Wado Ryu.
Ryan started is training at the tender age of five, 43 years ago, under the supervision of his father Ben and started his career with Ken Yu Kai Jersey under local instructors Sensei Doug Joseph (8th Dan) and Andy Bree (2nd Dan).
Ryan was graded to 1st Dan in March 1988 under Sensei Terry Pottage (9th Dan), which was 2 weeks after his 12th birthday and it was understood that Ryan was the youngest full black belt in Britain at the time.
Ryan trained with Ken Yu Kai for the majority of his youth. After being asked to join Sensei Liam Ahearne (5th Dan) to start a new club at age 17, Ryan was introduced to the infamous Peter Spanton (9th Dan) and that is where his Wado Ryu path began.
Ryan has the unusual privilege to have gained every belt under the Chief Instructor of the Association/Style he trained with.
Fast forward c.30+ years and Ryan is now a 6th Dan, under Sensei Alan Flook (9th Dan) and an Executive board member of the Western Karate Union (WKU).
Ryan is known for his deep knowledge, power and dedication to Karate in the Channel Islands. Ryan is often asked to be a guest instructor at other clubs both in the Channel Islands and abroad.
In 2017 Ryan was awarded the Sure Channel Islands “Humble Volunteer” Award having beaten (not literally!) 10,000 other nominations.
Ryan is extremely passionate about the empowerment and protection of women and has taught close protection courses for over 30 years with a focus on awareness and prevention as much as the physical element of self-defence.
Ryan has provided private one to one tutelage to women who have been the victim of sexual attacks or physical attacks and all without a cost to those involved, which he is extremely proud of.
Outside of Karate, Ryan is a father of three beautiful daughter and is a Head of Financial Intermediaries for Investec Private Bank in the Channel Islands, enjoys Golf at La Moye GC and shooting at the Jersey Pistol Club.
Ryan is a champion of Mental Health awareness and the promotion of speaking out, especially in men. A Qualified Mental Health First Aider and holds a Diploma in counselling and Psychotherapy.
In his 43rd year of Karate we look forward to Ryan continuing to lead Jersey Wado Ryu to greater heights.
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Steve Ahearne – Senior Instructor / Co Founder – Registered Instructor 5th Dan
“About Steve”
Steve is a senior instructor with JWR and is a 5th Dan (Godan). He is head of the technical committee and a co-founder of Jersey Wado Ryu. Steve suffers from severe arthritis which makes his lifetime of dedication to Karate and rank of 5th Dan all that more impressive.
Steve trained with Ken-Yu-Kai Jersey under instructors Doug Joseph (8th Dan), and Andy Bree (2nd Dan) before being diagnosed with his arthritis, at which point he stopped training. After a consultation with a specialist in Juvenile Arthritis Steve was given a series of exercises to improve mobility and build strength. Steve’s father, Liam Ahearne (5th Dan) was teaching juniors at Ken-Yu-Kai and introduced these exercises into the class warm up, bringing Steve back into the class. Over time Steve’s mobility and strength returned and he started to stay in the class and restart his karate journey.
Whilst still training with Ken-Yu-Kai, Steve attained his 3rd kyu brown belt under Sensei Terry Pottage (9th dan) then progressed to 1st kyu under Sensei Doug Joseph (8th dan).
After changing club, and style, Steve gained his 1st dan in Wado Ryu under Sensei Peter Spanton (9th dan) in October 2000.
Please note that Steve’s father, Sensei Liam Ahearne, was one of the greatest instructors to have ever taught in Jersey and JWR would not be in existence without him.
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Martin Rutter – Registered Instructor – 5th Dan
“About Martin”
Martin is a Senior Instructor with JWR and is a 5th Dan (Godan).
Martin started his training in the mid 70’s and has been immersed in traditional Japanese Karate at a senior level for close to 50 years. Martin successfully ran his own club, Okiishima, for many years until retiring briefly until he was persuaded to become a member of the senior management team for Jersey Wado Ryu.
Martin is considered an expert in hand-to-hand combat and has real life experience in the close protection world alongside local security work.
Martin is still lightning fast and enjoys passing his knowledge to new students eager to learn.
Outside of Karate Martin can be seen either diving (former instructor), skating or riding his electric inmotion V12 single wheel device at high speeds on various path ways around the Island, not to mention his collection of motorbikes!
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David Louis – Senior Official – 2nd Dan
“About David”
David is about as well known a Karateka as anyone in the Channel Islands.
The former President of the Jersey Martial Arts Foundation, David has been involved in Martial Arts Internationally for many years and is a retired former Director of a globally company.
David is proud to be a 2nd Dan with Jersey Wado Ryu and is often called upon to provide sound advice to up and coming and established Martial Arts clubs.
He is a valuable member of the senior team.
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Hans Over de Vest – Special Consultant – 5th Dan
“About Hans”
Sensei Hans Over de Vest is the chief instructor of The Wadokan Rozenburg, a Wado Ryu Karate School in Rozenburg, the Netherlands and “Special Consultant” to Jersey Wado Ryu.
Hans is a 5th Dan in Wado Ryu Karate with decades of experience and a close friend to the Jersey Wado Ryu karate School.
Always a special guest and provides fun and highly informative training sessions upon his visits.
To learn more about Han’s Karate School, please visit:
https://www.facebook.com/WadokanRozenburg
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Club Officials.
Ryan Lambotte (6th Dan)
Chairman / Chief Instructor / Safeguarding Officer
Steve Ahearne (5th Dan)
Club Treasury Officer / Health & Safety Officer
Martin Rutter (5th Dan)
Club Secretary
David Louis (2nd Dan)
Senior Official
John Gillies (1st Dan)
Sports Welfare Officer / Digital Media Ninja