A true pioneer of Karate in the United Kingdom, Walter Seaton was one of the first instructors to teach Karate to women at his Middlesbrough dojo. Described by his students as an inspirational instructor, he was among the first Wado-ryu black belts in the UK. Below are some of the magazine covers featuring this iconic instructor.
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| March 1996 | November 2008 |
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1 comment
Reading about Walter Seaton’s early years reminds me of the first time I came in contact with him. This was at Ormesby in the Middlesbrough area where he lead a Karate demonstration at a Methodist Church during what was a youth club meeting. I recall this was around 1965 following which invitations to attend classes at The Budokan above the garage of a local funeral director in Boundary Road, Middlesbrough was taken up by myself and a small number of friends. The training was enjoyable and needless to say the group attended regularly for a couple of years as best I remember. We all became fairly competent which resulted in us all undertaking grading under the keen eye of Tatsuo Suzuki who visited on that date.
At that time Fred Kidd was very active in the club along with a very keen practitioner of the art who had achieved at least black belt 1st Dan status. This was a member of the family of a large local bakers named Sparks who had a factory in Stockton – whose first name I do not recall. One notable evening at The Budokan saw our training interrupted by a small party of guests who included the pop-star Adam Faith along with a photographer from the local Evening Gazette. No doubt the article that appeared following the photo-opportunity will record the date and details for posterity. These are just a few recollections from my youth some sixty years ago, reminded of by seeing Wally Seaton’s name appearing on “Finding Karate”.
I do not recall that there were any women members in training at this time.
James Oxley (04/06/25)