English Korean Karate Association otherwise referred to as The EKKA Karate Association or EKKA was established in 1973 under the leadership of President Mick Blackwell 8th Dan and Vice President Billy Brennan 8th Dan. Since then the EKKA has developed to become one of the most successful and respected Karate organisations in England.
The EKKA has produced several English and British champions and a host of international medal winners at European, Commonwealth and World championship level. The extent of the EKKA’s competitive successes not only embrace Karate Kumite and Kata competition but also full contact and semi contact kickboxing.
Students of EKKA Karate schools proudly wear ‘Blue’ suits for training rather than the more traditional ‘White’ suite as seen in most Karate schools. The reason for this will become clear once the origin of the EKKA is explained in a little more detail but to best do this, it is necessary to go back to the beginning.
When Chris Batte returned to America Mick and Billy formed the EKKA Karate Association and based the Karate style on the original teachings of Lee Won Kuk and Choi Hong Hi and reflecting their study of Chun Do Kwan and that of Gichin Funakoshi’s Shotokan Karate hence the inclusion of both Korean and Japanese terminology and the practice of both Korean Hyung’s and Shotokan Kata.
Since its inception, Mick Blackwell, Billy Brennan and the other senior EKKA instructors have developed Karate in the East of England from its beginning in the early 1970’s to become a top competitive Martial Arts group. With thousands of members and champions at all levels the EKKA Karate Association is now recognised as one of the most successful and highly regarded Karate organisations in the country.
And finally, the ‘blue suit’ as worn by EKKA Instructors and students reflects the link to Lee Won Kuk’s Chung Do Kwan (gymnasium of the blue wave) and Choi Hong Hi pen name “Chang Hon” which means, “blue cottage”.