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Born 1966 in Partick, Glasgow. I started learning Karate while in 6th year at school, so I must have been about 17 years old. My friend Martin Duncan 1st Kyu encouraged me to learn Karate so I joined a club at Essenside Sports Centre in Drumchapel. My first teacher, Sensei Billy Gallagher 1st Dan showed me the importance of training hard and striving to do your best. Billy is sadly missed. In June 1984 I travelled to Paris with Martin to train with Sensei Ryozo Tsukada who at this time was European Instructor for Kenshikan. Unfortunately we missed Sensei Tsukada but had a great few days training with his Japanese assistant, Shigeru Yaegashi. My thanks to Daniel Plault for getting in touch. Shortly after in 1984 we joined The World Kenshikan Kenpo Karate-do Association W.K.K.A. under the instruction of its founder, Soke Sensei Kenji Kusano. In 1987 I was asked by one of my Instructors to assist with a new club in the Jordanhill area of Glasgow. This was the start of my teaching career. Over the next 10 years I somehow managed to balance teaching, training while competing in Kata and Kumite competitions at a local and National level. I also spent a great deal of time learning the skills of being an official at Karate Competition.
In 1990 Soke Sensei awarded me the grade of 1st Dan. I was a Kumite Judge at the 1992 British Karate Championships held in Glasgow. In 1992 I was a member of Kata Team that won Silver Medal at the Scottish Karate Championships. In 1993 I took 2nd place in Scottish Karate Championships, Under 80Kg. In August of 1993 I travelled to Belgium to take part in the 30th W.K.K.A. Anniversary Championships. Scotland was host to Soke Sensei in 1998 when a very successful course was held at the fabulous Scotstoun Leisure Centre. It was at this time Soke Sensei gave me the Japanese name of Kengo (meaning big and strong). In late 1998 I travelled to Japan for the 35th W.K.K.A. Anniversary Championships. I was awarded 4th Dan and my Team from Scotland took 2nd place in the International Team Kumite. In December 1998 Kenshikan Scotland featured in the BBC Sports Programme Sportscene when we were interviewed by John Beattie.
In November 2003 I travelled to Japan for the 40th W.K.K.A. Anniversary Championships. I was awarded 5th Dan and took 3rd Place in the over 35 years Kata Competition with my Team member Gordon Watson also taking 3rd Place in the same event.
Donald "Kengo" Morrison
Source: website Kenshikan
Scotland
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Picture of So Honbu Dojo with Donald at the nametags of all the Kusano Ha instructors who has visited and trained at So Honbu. |
from left to right: Nick Hendry, Alan McLaughlin, Amanda Colquhoun, Gorden Watson, Donald "Kengo" Morrison, Nidaime sensei Masaru Kusano. |
(click on the picture to view it in real size)