Tring Shotokan Karate Club was founded by Sensei Rosemary New, 5th Dan. Sensei Rosemary began her Shotokan karate training in her native Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) in 1970 and continued, upon her immigration to the UK, at the Marshall Street dojo of Sensei Keinosuke Enoeda, 9th Dan.
Sensei Enoeda was a student of Sensei Masatoshi Nakayama, the successor to Master Gichin Funakoshi, the founder of Shotokan karate. He was renowned for his fighting, winning the JKA All Japan Championship in 1963 and acquiring the nickname 'Tora' ('Tiger' in Japanese) from Sensei Nakayama. Sensei Enoeda became one of the JKA's most senior overseas representatives and was the Chief Instructor of the KUGB from 1968 to his death in 2003. As KUGB Chief Instructor, Sensei Enoeda trained many of the UK's most notable karateka to numerous competition successes nationally and internationally. Sensei Rosemary attained her 1st Dan under Sensei Enoeda in 1979 and was a member of his competition squad.
Returning to karate in 1991 after a break to get married, have a family and relocate to Tring, Sensei Rosemary joined her local club in nearby Berkhamsted which was affiliated to the TASK karate association led by Sensei John van Weenen MBE an 8th Dan also notable for his humanitarian work.
During 1994, as a senior Black Belt frequently asked to assist with teaching, Sensei Rosemary was encouraged to start her own TASK affiliated club and the Tring Shotokan Karate Club was born. Her inspiring teaching style and use of real-world self-defense techniques based on Kata Bunkai were an immediate hit. The club's affiliation moved in 2005 to the SKE association led by Sensei Rod Butler, 6th Dan, a long-standing student and assistant instructor to Sensei Enoeda at the famous Marshall Street dojo.
