“England’s Go To Guy For Competition in Karate”
Ticky Donovan 1947 -
“England’s Go To Guy For Competition
in Karate”
David 'Ticky' Donovan (born 1947) is a renowned British karate competitor and coach. He was coach and manager of both the British and English national karate teams, from 1977 until he retired from that role in 2008.
During his tenure as coach, Britain won numerous European and World championship team gold medals. It was for his
Achievement’s as a coach that he was awarded the O.B.E. in 1991. Donovan currently holds a 9th Danblack belt. He is based in Loughton, Essex, and continues to teach, train, and coach.
Ticky Donovan attended his first Karate lesson at age 18, at Tatsuo Suzuki’s Clapham Common Club. Having previously trained in boxing, he initially found karate to be slow. However, he changed his mind after seeing a dynamic demonstration from Tatsuo Suzuki (Wado Ryu). He stayed with Suzuki for over 3 years. His teachers also included Hirokazu Kanazawa and Keinsouke Enoeda (Shotokan), and Mas Oyama with whom he earned a 2nd dan in Kyokushinkai, a stand-up, full-contact, hard training and disciplined karate style founded by Oyama in 1964. Donovan remained in contact with Oyama until his death in 1994.
The Kyokushinkai years were good ones for Donovan, but unfortunately splits came, and he decided it was time to leave and open his own dojo. This was the beginning of the now famous Ishinryu style. At first Donovan simply used Ishinryu as a club name. However, inspired by Shigeru Kimura, a famous Shukokai instructor, Ishinryu was incorporated as a style which integrated Wado-ryu, Shotokan, and Kyokushinkai. The first Ishinryu club opened in 1973 in Dagenham, followed by Basildon, East Ham, and Stratford. Ishinryu means ‘All of one Heart’. There are 14 Ishinryu clubs in the UK, and 3 international clubs: Australia, New Zealand, and Canada. The style has had significant competition success over the years. Ishinryu places great emphasis on traditional karate with basic training and the correct understanding of technique recognized as the foundation for good Karate. (Donovan’s style of Ishinryu should not be confused with Isshin-ryu, an Okinawan style in karate founded by Tatsuo Shimabuku.)
Ishinryu continues to be led by Sensei Donovan, currently a 9th Dan. He plays an active role in running the Ishinryu style, including training and dan grading, and regularly keeps in touch with his member clubs, including the youth and cadet wings. Since 1976 he has hosted a well attended annual Open Summer Course in the 1st week of June at Claxton in Essex. The event is a firm fixture on the UK karate calendar. He also continues his active affiliation with the England Karate Federation (EKF), and the World Karate Federation (WKF), sitting on the Board of Directors, the Planning Committee, Regional championships, and Advisor to major events, including open national training, involvement with the International Paralympic Committee, and efforts to bring karate into the 2020 Olympics. .
Donovan receives many tributes. On 28 March 2009, Karate England held a testimonial evening in his honour, with many senior karateka present, including former friends and students Steve Arneil, Dave Hazard, Tyrone Whyte, and Aiden Trimble. Donovan maintains his connections with international martial artists, travelling to events outside of England, and often acting as host in his home country welcoming masters to his dojos as a visiting instructor or seminarian. His affiliation with EKF and WKF has led to detailed archives of critical records, documents and media. The old adage rings true--if you want something done and done well, seek out an involved, passionate, and visionary team player. Donovan has these traits and more, and is the go-to guy in English and World Karate.