Sensei Eugene Codrington 8th Dan

Eugene Codrington was born in Hope Bay, Portland, Jamaica in 1953. Having settled in the UK at an early age, Eugene showed an exceptional aptitude for sport and physical activity and was a keen competitor in many sports as a young man. He began his Karate training at the legendary Temple Dojo in Birmingham under the tutelage of Takamizawa Sensei (Toru) in 1971. After 2½ years of diligent training Eugene was award his 1st Dan black belt. Already a keen competition fighter Eugene began to win competitions all over the country and in 1974, Eugene won his first of five European championships, then 11 years later, in April 1985; he was collecting his fifth British Championship trophy. He was World Champion as a member of the British Team who beat the Japanese for the first time ever in 1975, and a finalist in the world individual Championships two years later in Tokyo

In 1988 Eugene opened the Codrington Budokan on Hollyhead way, where it would stay until moving to its current location on Sutton Street. The Budokan was the first dedicated full time multi-martial arts dojo in Birmingham and under Eugene's guidance and instruction has produced many successful fighters and martial artists.