During his tenure as an Instructor for Budokan South Africa he had to travel extensively throughout the country teaching at the many satellite Dojos.

There were many smaller clubs in the Durban area and these included schools such as Kearsney College, Saint Marys Girls College, George Campbell Boys College. He also taught Karate at the Durban South African Police Club.

In between these he had also to travel to many of the smaller country towns where there were members who wanted to learn. These included Bethlehem, Bloemfontein, Port Elizabeth , East London, Springs, Pietermaritzburg,  Eshowe and as far afield as Potgeitersrust in the far north of what is now Gauteng.

Sensei Wridgway also played a large part together with Doshu Salmon and Shihan Ray Ryan in the development of the Budokan teaching and Grading Manual which is still in use today.

In 1968 Doshu Salmon started the Mountain Leadership School in the Drakensburg Mountains of the Eastern Free State. Sensei Wridgway was also involved as a mentor and Teacher.

In 1971 he opened a Budokan Dojo in Uvongo where he was living at the time .

This small club was very successful and in fact is still running albiet under a different name and style.

In 1977/79 He also ran small classes in Pinetown and Hammersdale and Port Shepstone.

Sensei Wridgway also taught at non white Dojos which at that time was not allowed. Some of these still thrive today.

He has sat on many many grading panels, workshops and Gashkyus over the years and passed his knowledge and expertese of the Art to students throughout the country.

In his spare time he has also managed to run the grueling Comrades Marathon (twice) and the famous Two Oceans Marathon. He was also placed 4th in his age group (55/60) Midmar Mile.

Although Derrick (Dix) is now retired he is still very much involved with all matters Budokan on a Daily basis,

He and Doshu Richard Salmon are firm friends which has spanned some 56 years

In a break from Karate he proved his determination to excel in whatever he undertook and completed the very challenging International "Two Oceans Road Marathon" which runs between the Atlantic and Indian Oceans around Cape Town and then he went on to complete in "two" of the World Famous Mega "Comrades Marathon", said to be one of the toughest road races in the world, both proud achievements..,  

Today he is working alongside his friend of a lifetime, Kyoshi David Passmore in the development of BUDOKAN  in the world.

One of earliest and strongest Budokan supporters of well over 50 years, started his Karate career in 1964.

Under the guidance of Richard Salmon and Ray Ryan and with dedicated training he in a short time proved he was to become a major player in Budokan SA and as Salmon once commented, "He was one of the finest technicians I ever trained". In the contest arena he proved himself by representing his Province of Natal on many occasions and winning the Shukokai Senior  Kata Championship three years in a row. He eventually became a Senior Sensei within Budokan SA travelling and teaching full time in many of the dojo across the country.

Here is a run down of some of  his achievements.

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!965        Trained with Sensei Kimura and attended Gashkyu with Hanshi Chijro Tani

1965       SA Shukokai Championships Springs TVL

               Winner Brown Belt Kumite, Second Open Kumite.

               Graded to 1st Dan.

1966       Captain Natal Team Interprovincials  OFS Tvl Natal

               Winner Kata  Second Kumite

1966       Budokan Inter club Championships

               Winner Kata, Second Kumite

1966       SA Shukokai champs  Pretoria

               Winner Kata     Graded to 2nd Dan

1967       SA Shukokai Champs  Bethlehem OFS

                Winner Kata     Second Kumite

1967/68  Natal Karate Team Bloemfontein and Springs

!968         Budokan Inter Club Championships  Durban

                Winner Kata and Kumite

1969        Graded to 3rd Dan.

1969        Captain Natal Karate Team SA Games Bloemfontein

1969         Joined Budokan as full time Instructor.

1969         South African Air Force Golden Jubilee Champs   Bloemfontein

                 Winner Kata.

1971          Opened Budokan Dojo Uvongo Natal

1972          Natal Team SA Games Cape Town SA