Chief Instructor

Kingsley began his martial arts journey in Shotokan karate in the early 1970s under Sensei Jim Wilson. Over the following decades he studied various forms of Japanese, Chinese, and Western martial arts under some of the world's foremost masters.

His teachers include Prof Wally Jay, Don Warrener, Don Jacobs (Purple Dragon), E.S. Koh (Tai Chi), Kienosuke Enoeda, Ilija Jorga, and many others. He began his Goju-Ryu training with Shihan Leo Lipinski in the late 1980s and was a founding member of the Great Britain Goju-Ryu Karate-Do Seiwakai group.

He was a member of the first British Goju-Ryu team to compete at the Japanese Karate Federation Goju-Ryu Championships in Takamatsu, Japan. At the Pan American Karate Championships in Trinidad, he won Gold in Kata and Silver in Kumite.

Whilst in Trinidad, he lived and trained with Master Don Jacobs (Purple Dragon), learning the art of Don Jitsu Ryu. He was awarded the grade of Tashi by the World Kobudo Federation for his skill, knowledge, and proficiency.

A qualified Sports and Remedial Therapist and Personal Trainer, Shihan Johnson brings a holistic understanding of the body to every class at Phoenix Karate School.