We are extremely fortunate at the Herald Island dojo to be guided by the highest ranking and most senior JKS Instructor in New Zealand.  Sensei Cooper Drent has been training since 1970 and has done so with some of the best the world has to offer, namely Shihan Kanazawa, Shihan Asai, Shihan Abe, & Shihan Kagawa the current Chief Instructor of JKS worldwide.

Qualifications:

• Instructor Class B
• Examiner Class B
• Judge/Referee Class B

Sensei Ian started training in 1980 in England under ESKA (English Shotokan Karate Association).  In 1998 he attained the rank of Shodan with JKA New Zealand under the guidance of Sensei Cooper Drent.  A few years later Ian reconnected with Sensei Cooper under the JKS banner and achieved JKS Shodan in 2017, Nidan in 2019, Sandan in 2022 and Yondan in 2025 at the JKS International Seminar in Tokyo, Japan.  

Qualifications:

• Instructor Class C
• Examiner Class C
• Judge/Referee Class D

Sensei Mike started training under the KUGB (Karate Union of Great Britain) in 1976 and graded under such Shotokan Shihan legends as Enoeda, Tomita, Kawasoe & Ota.  As a 4th kyu Mike started his own Shotokan club in the UK, which still operates to this day.  In 1986 Mike passed his Shodan grading with the British Martial Arts Association, and subsequently cross-credited to JKS Nidan in 2019 & achieved Sandan in 2022.  

Qualifications:

• Instructor Class C
• Examiner Class C

Sensei Steve started karate in his late teenage years and has trained in both Chidokan and Shotokan styles.  Training under Sensei Cooper Drent since 2010, he gained his JKS Shodan in 2017, Nidan in 2019 & Sandan in 2022.  Steve enjoys training the younger generations and seeing them grow in confidence through Karate as part of general life balance. 

Qualifications:

• Instructor Class D
• Examiner Class D

Sensei Sandra began training with Sensei Cooper in 1993 at the Whenuapai dojo after first studying Shito-ryu karate while at school.  In 1997 Sandra graduated to Shodan with JKA New Zealand and went on to Nidan in 2002.  Since then she has taught Karate at Carmel College for 15 years and achieved the rank of JKS 3rd Dan in 2022.

Sensei Ian began training in 1974 in England under KUGB ( Karate Union of Great Britain). He had the privilege of gaining his yellow belt under Sensei Enoeda, a JKA legend at the time. He also trained under the International Shotokan Karate Federation for several years overseas. In NZ Ian achieved the rank of JKS Shodan in 2017, and Nidan in 2019.