On this day….(May 13)

On this day, 13 May 1933, Charles Naylor, a former Vice-Chairman of the Karate Union of Great Britain (KUGB), was born in Hubli, South West India.

Naylor left school aged 14 and for a time worked as a cabin boy. He eventually arrived in Liverpool, England in 1948, aged 15. After achieving a Higher National Certificate (HNC) in electrical engineering and completing two years of National Service in the RAF, he eventually joined English Electric in 1960.

Naylor began his karate training in 1961 aged 28. He had been introduced to karate by his work colleague Fred Gille. Gille was the first British Karate Federation (BKF) member from Liverpool. He was trained by Vernon Bell and opened the first karate club in Liverpool, around 1959/1960.

As a BKF member Naylor trained under Gille, Bell and Tetsuji Murakami by attending various courses. Following the BKF’s affiliation to the Japan Karate Association (JKA), Keinosuke Enoeda became the resident instructor of the Liverpool Dojo in 1965.

In 1966 the Liverpool Dojo ceased its affiliation with the BKF, becoming a founding member of the KUGB. The Chief Instructor of the KUGB was Hirokazu Kanazawa, with Enoeda acting as his deputy.

By 1966 Naylor had achieved the rank of 1st Kyu and was running a dojo in Rainford, Merseyside, eventually moving to St. Helens.

Charles Naylor received his 1st Dan from Hirokazu Kanazawa on 28 August 1966.

Naylor’s wife, Dot, was among the first group of woman to begin training at the Liverpool Dojo, eventually reaching the rank of 3rd Dan.

Charles Naylor became the Assistant General Secretary of the KUGB in 1967. He would eventually become the Vice-Chairman of the KUGB, eventually holding the rank of 7th Dan.

Charles Naylor died on 14 March 2007.