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About Roger Vickerman Renshi
Roger began his martial arts journey in 1969 in West Bromwich, West Midlands, UK. Training in those early days – during the height of the Kung Fu boom – was very different from today, with little emphasis on the technical or structural elements that define Wado Ryu.
By the age of 16 he had achieved 1st Kyu, but frustrated by the limitations of the training available to him, he sought out other dojos and styles to deepen his understanding. This search led to a chance encounter in Wolverhampton with Josh Johnston, a respected fighter and Karateka. Recognising Roger’s hunger for development, Josh introduced him to Takamiwaza Sensei (Toru), a meeting that would profoundly change Roger’s path.
Training under Toru opened an entirely new world: technical, structured, practical, and guided. At 17, Roger became a regular at the world-famous Temple Karate Dojo in Digbeth, Birmingham, where he earned his 1st Dan under a panel of the leading exponents of UK Wado Ryu in the 1970s. Inspired by the legends he trained alongside, and with Toru’s blessing, he soon opened his own club as part of the renowned Tera Karate Kai organisation.
Roger continued to train under Toru throughout the 1970s and 1980s. In the early 1990s another major shift occurred when Toru merged his organisation to form the Wado Ryu Karate Do Academy under Shiomitsu Hanshi 9th Dan. This brought Roger into close and regular contact with Shiomitsu Sensei, whose influence would become a defining element of Roger’s later development.
In 1993 Roger was selected as part of the team travelling to the World Championships in Tokyo, accompanied by Takamiwaza Sensei and Shiomitsu Sensei. During this visit he trained at the Honbu with Ohtsuka II Soke, competed internationally, and reached the semi-finals, narrowly losing to the Nichi Dai team captain, who went on to become the champion.
In 1996, the passing of Takamiwaza Sensei at just 56 marked a profound loss. By then a 5th Dan, Roger was deeply affected but remained determined to continue his progression. Through the Wado Ryu Karate-do Academy he continued his journey under Shiomitsu Hanshi, whose teaching refined Roger’s understanding of body movement, timing, and relaxed power, building on Toru’s foundation and taking his Karate to a deeper level.
In 2006 Roger was awarded 6th Dan by Shiomitsu Sensei, alongside his long-time friend and training partner Len Jay Renshi. This recognised their dedication, technical excellence, and long-term contribution to Wado Ryu Karate in the UK.
In 2019, celebrating his 50th consecutive year of training, Roger was awarded the title Renshi by both the Wado Academy and the Renmei in Japan (under Ohtsuka III Soke). In 2025 he was promoted to 7th Dan by Ohtsuka III Soke at the Wado Academy Winter Course. Fewer than 100 people worldwide in the Renmei hold the title Renshi, and fewer still have reached the level of 7th Dan—placing Roger among a very small group of senior Wado Ryu practitioners internationally.
Today, after more than 56 years of continuous training, Roger remains as dedicated as ever to sharing authentic Wado Ryu Karate. He is part of a team running a successful YouTube channel that offers in-depth technical content on Kata, Kumite, Kihon, and all aspects of Wado Ryu. He teaches open courses attended by practitioners from across the world and from many different styles and organisations, and he continues to run his club in the West Midlands, which trains three times a week.
For those interested in training with Roger, please visit our events page for upcoming courses, or contact us about our advanced Saturday morning sessions.