[1] Following its introduction by Vernon Bell, karate was popularised in the UK by various instructors, Japanese and otherwise.
[3][4] The Japan Karate Association sent several professional instructors to Britain to spread their Shotokan style of karate, starting with Taiji Kase, Hirokazu Kanazawa, Keinosuke Enoeda and Hiroshi Shirai in 1965.
[5] Other karate styles were also established in the UK, including Wado-ryu via Tatsuo Suzuki, and Kyokushin via Steve Arneil.
[9][10][11] In the 21st century, the UK has produced four WKF senior world champions: Leon Walters, Rory Daniels, Paul Newby, and Jordan Thomas.
Karate is one of the most popular martial arts in the United Kingdom today.