1960 - 2021

DERRICK WRIDGWAY
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.
!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