Having been raised in a somewhat dysfunctional and abusive home, and having been given the name of his mothers husband who was not his natural father, Gus changed his name to that of the man he admired most and the man in who's honour we named our academy.
Gus attended his first martial arts class in 1969 and has been hooked on martial arts ever since. Having trained in many styles of martial arts including kung fu, boxing (both western and Thai), judo, attaining 1st Dan in jiu jitsu, he finally settled on Shotokan karate and has continued within this style ever since. Gus says "the first time I attended a Shotokan karate class I was blown away by the sheer grace and balance of movement and the unstoppable power of even the most basic techniques".
Beginning training with the Karate Union of Great Britain (KUGB) before moving with his instuctors club to United Kingdom Traditional Karate Federation (UKTKF). Gus began training with Sensei Mark Warren and John Errington (See links page to Ormskirk Karate Club) through whom he had the opportunity to train with many Japanese Sensei of the highest rank. Of later years he has taken the opportunity to train under Kancho Hirokazu Kanazawa and has used his teachings as the foundation for his own understanding of Shotokan Karate.
Teaching Karate is now a full time profession for Gus both within our own academy and as a sports coach for UCLAN University Preston, coupled with his teaching seminars for companies who employ staff to work in the community on the control of aggressive behaviour and self-defence. For more information about this please click here → MA
Working as a professional bodyguard for many years and additionally as a door supervisor has left Gus with a very real understanding of what works on the street. Consequently his karate classes and self-defence courses are grounded in the real world and taught with street violence in mind.
When Gus is not training or teaching he can normally be found engaged in the second passion of his life; riding his Harley Davidson motorcycle.
CMAA QUALIFIED INSTRUCTOR,
CMAA QUALIFIED SENIOR GRADING EXAMINER,
REFEREE LEVEL ONE FOR KATA AND KUMITE.
Gus Matsumura Sensei
Paul Edmondson - Club Captain
I am enjoying my own personal journey in martial arts and intend to carry on until I can no longer draw breath, the training, history and martial spirit of Shotokan Karate is very addictive to me.
My wife Lisa, son Jack and nephew Jason also train and it’s a great feeling encouraging them on their journey too.
I have pride in our Academy and my position of Club Captain, I enjoy the Black Belt Gradings and courses where our students steal the show with good etiquette, excellent technique and to show off the fearsome style of Shotokan.
Shotokan Karate has changed my life and has made me a better person, no ego just confidence, spirit and pride.
Paul is a qualified football coach and has taught junior football for many years. Since taking up Karate he has brought with him his many skills both in his own personal training and his teaching abilities. Through dedication and hard training he has overcome many obstacles on his journey to Black Belt Excellence. Pauls training regime would leave the average student exhausted. Within his training regime he has developed a high level of martial skills, his humility and generosity are an inspiration to all students and his fellow instructors. Paul is a well liked instructor with exceptional abilities in communicating with children and young people enabling them to achieve far beyond their expectation of themselves.
Paul says: Having made the decision five years ago to quit playing and coaching football (after 30 years plus), I decided to take up a hobby. I wanted something physically demanding which both myself and my wife could participate in.
I met Sensei Gus and was impressed by his dedication, knowledge and aura. I was invited to attend a class and was immediately impressed; the discipline, controlled aggression and spirit of both the students and the instructors had me hooked.
Early on in my training Sensei told me “if you want to be good, just do a lot of it”, no secret, just hard work. I took his advice quite literally and attend all the classes I can and all the courses available to me. It has paid off as I recently reached my Black Belt second Dan.
My training has been hindered by injury, however with understanding instructors, sensible training and perseverance I still train hard and often. I also passed my Level 1 Instructors Grade which means I can assist in classes and give something back to the Academy. It’s a fantastic feeling when a student achieves something to which you have had input.
Andy Gaskill - 2nd Dan
Andy is the oldest student currently training at the Matsumura academy apart from Gus sensei who is ancient. Andy joined us twelve years ago and has continued to train and improve. His commitment and dedication is an inspiration to us all, his personal training regime is constant and commited, his attitude to class training and ettiquette leaves you with the awareness that this karate-ka is the real deal.
As an instructor his classes are basic no nonsense karate, Andy has a very real sense of reality in his instruction enabling students to draw on their inner strengths to find the best in themselves.
Andy Says: "I have been studying and training in Shotokan Karate for 25 years. After leaving the Armed Forces I wanted to maintain my discipline and my fitness levels, Karate seemed the ideal way - I have not been disappointed. I still can't wait to get to the dojo to train.
I enjoy seeing the beginners progress through the grades to Black Belt, its a great feeling knowing that you have had an input into that progression.
We have a great academy, more like a big family with our inspiration coming from Gus (Mr Miyagi) Club Sensei and a good friend to us all."
Kirsty McCann 1st Dan Cadet Instructor
Kirsty began training at the Matsumura Academy at the age of five by the age of twelve she was a Black Belt 1st Dan and became a cadet instructor one year later having completed the CMAA Cadet Instructors Program.
Kirsty is now 16 years of age
Instructors
Black Belt students:
Shane Kinchlea 3nd Dan Shotokan Karate (UCLAN University Karate Club ex-President)
Andy Gaskill 2nd Dan
Paul Edmondson2nd Dan (Club Captain)
Ryan Lawrenson 2nd Dan
Tony Raddings 1st Dan
Jason Street 1st Dan
Lisa Marie Edmondson 1st Dan
Maureen Nicholson 1st Dan (child protection officer and head coach for the juniors)
Kirsty McCann 1st Dan
Christina Astle Alveres 1st Dan (UCLAN karate club president)
Shodan Ho (Junior Black Belts):
Andre Monk 1st Dan
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