Tommy Morris holds the rank of 8th
Dan awarded by the World Karate Federation and is one of
the world's foremost professional coaches. He is the Chairman
of the Sports Commission and Referee Council of the World
Karate Federation (and the European Karate Federation) which
has 170 countries in membership. For twenty-five years he
ran a full-time karate club and health club in Glasgow with
a number of satellite dojos throughout Scotland. Since 1965
he has trained over 70,000 people in his system. His name
appeared in the Guinness Book of Records. He was the first
Scottish National Coach, and for many years Kobe Osaka students
were the mainstay of the Scottish and British teams. Kobe
Osaka students have won numerous Scottish, British, European,
and World titles. Danny Bryceland, Myles and Iain Burke,
Robin MacFarlane, David Coulter and Pat MacKay being some
of the best known of the many top notch competitors who
went through the Kobe Osaka dojos. The latest in a long
line of successes is his son Steven. In thirty-five major
tournaments, Steven has taken thirty-one kata medals, including
5 European Championships medals, and a World Cup Bronze.
He also placed 5th twice in the World Championships. He
has won the British Championships, an unprecedented 11 times
in succession.
Although Tommy Morris
has achieved major successes in the training of champions,
he is also well known as an instructor of effective and
practical self-defence measures, both armed and unarmed,
and has specialised in "Counter Measures", which taught
police, military personnel, business executives, and ordinary
people how to defend themselves against all kinds of attack.
He still teaches tactical firearms use for people at risk
and Special Forces personnel.
He founded Kobe Osaka
International in 1991 and which now has associated partners
in 30 countries world-wide.
History
1954 started training in Ju-Jitsu and Judo.
1955-1957 worked as a copy boy for the Glasgow Evening Citizen.
1957-1967 worked as a photo-process engraver with the Evening
Citizen and Scottish Daily Express.
1957-1963 joined the Royal Marines Reserve and qualified
as a Commando, Parachutist, and Assault Engineer.
1961 started learning karate from books. 1963 founded the
Kobe Osaka Karate Club.
1963-1964 served in the 15th Scottish Parachute Regiment
(TA).
1964 first karate instruction in Paris with Henri D. Plee
and first karate licence with the League Isle de France,
French Karate Federation.
1965 obtained the first Black Belt ever awarded in Scotland
for karate and founded the Scottish Karate-do Association.
1965-1970 competed for Scotland and Britain in karate.
1966 opened Scotland's first full-time dojo at 27 Union
Street in Glasgow.
1967 Gave up his job with the Scottish Daily Express and
went to train in Japan, returned as a 3rd Dan and started
teaching and training as a full-time instructor.
1967 qualified as a National Referee.
1970 joined the Renfrew & Bute Police Special Constabulary
and retired in 1985, with the Long Service Medal.
1970 qualified as a European International Referee.
1975 qualified as WUKO World Referee.
1976 member of EKU Referee Committee.
1977 member of WUKO Referee Council.
1977-1979 represented Britain in two World Practical Pistol
Championships and competed in matches in the U.S.A., Australia,
South Africa, Zimbabwe, and UK.
1984 till the present, Chairman of EKU Referee Committee.
1986 till the present, Chairman of WUKO/WKF Referee Council.
1991 founded Kobe Osaka International.
1998 Appointed Chairman of the EKF Sports Commission.
1999 Appointed Chairman of the WKF Sports Commission.
