Edmond Otis sensei
Edmond Otis sensei, a New Zealand resident from 2008 and citizen from 2015, has practiced karate since childhood and is internationally known as a competitor, instructor, coach, and judge. He is Chairman of the Shotokan International Alliance, has coached numerous competitors to USA national and international championships, and has personally developed many high-ranking instructors.
Otis sensei is a Senior Lecturer on the Faculty of Health and Sport Science, at EIT, in Hawke’s Bay, and has consulted with Health Hawke’s Bay to develop the “Let’s Make Me Resilient” program that has been presented in schools throughout the bay. Before he and his family moved to NZ, he was a Senior Lecturer in Humanities and Physical Education, and Director of Martial Arts at the University of California, Riverside, where he was twice recipient of the University Distinguished Award. NOTE: PLEASE SEE A FEW ARTICLES BELOW…
An 8th Dan (degree) black belt, Otis sensei travels extensively throughout North America, Europe, and New Zealand, conducting seminars for instructors and students that focus on karate as a rigorous and demanding physical art, an effective and decisive means of self-defense, an exciting competitive sport, and, for some, a philosophy of life.
Otis sensei’s training began, at the age of 12, under the direct guidance of the Japan Karate Association’s (JKA) legendary, Hidetaka Nishiyama sensei and Yutaka Yaguchi sensei. At 18 he became a full time student of Ray Dalke sensei (Nishiyama’s senior US student, and one of the first 3 non-Japanese to achieve official JKA instructor status). Otis sensei was the senior member and captain of the national championship “Riverside Dojo” team coached jointly by Dalke sensei and, JKA kumite icon, Frank Smith sensei, for 12 years. He was Chairman and Chief Instructor of AJKA-I International from 1999 – 2019.
Otis sensei takes great joy in teaching Karate in Napier to students of all ages and levels of ability, and is excited about the prospect and challenge of personally developing the Napier Karate program for kids and adults in Hawke’s Bay.
Otis sensei is featured in the international instructional series, “Essential Shotokan”, and is co-author of the best selling “The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Karate”.
In addition to his lifelong involvement in martial arts Otis Sensei is also a licensed psychotherapist, speaker, and consultant. He coaches a select group of private clients, businesses, professional athletes, teams and organisations to successfully apply cutting-edge research and classic martial arts strategies to a broad range of life’s professional, personal, and interpersonal challenges. For more information about these services please visit: www.edmondotis.co.nz and www.aact-now.org, or www.nz.linkedin.com/in/edmondotis.
To contact Otis sensei directly about Shotokan in Hawke’s Bay or to arrange a seminar, please write – eotis@shotokankaratehawkesbay.co.nz.
Links to a few articles and more information:
Why We Train – Part 1 | Why We Train – Part 2 | Why We Train – Part 3 | Book review KARATE: The Japanese Way | Interview from TheShotokanWay.com | Interview from Masters Magazine.
Geoff Wise
Geoff started his Karate training in a related style called Seido Karate in 1992 in Mount Cook village in the heart of the Southern Alps. Over the next 8 years he continued to train in both Mount Cook and then in Christchurch where in 2000 he attained the rank of Shodan in that style. Geoff had a break from training for 10 years.
Geoff returned to training in 2010 about a month before everyone’s world in Christchurch was turned upside down by a series of earthquakes which broke the city. However the Karate club kept going and was a rock of relative normalcy and training through the earthquakes and helping a friend get ready for her Shodan helped prepare Geoff for his Nidan grading with Seido.
After a moved to Napier in 2012 Geoff has started training in Shotokan and has now earned a Nidan in this style as well. Geoff enjoys working with both the adult and youth programs at Shotokan Karate Hawke’s Bay.
Blair Stitson
Blair began practicing shotokan karate in 2012 and is currently a 2nd degree blackbelt. He has two children (Lexie aged 10 and Jack aged 9) who train at the Napier dojo.
Blair started training his son Jack at the age of five, in the first “Tiger Cub” class, and is responsible for implementing our current “Tiger cubs” program for 4–6 year-olds wanting to learn karate.
Karate is a big part of his life and enjoys both practicing and teaching Shotokan especially to the younger members of the club.
Gabriel Otis
Gabriel began practicing shotokan karate in 2005, at the age of 6, and is currently a 2nd degree blackbelt. He has competed internationally and trained with numerous senior level instructors at dojo’s and training events throughout Europe and the US.
Karate was a big part of Gabriel’s life, growing up he loves living, training and teaching in Hawke’s Bay.
A graduate of Victoria University in Political Science & International Relations, Gabriel currently lives in Wellington, and works as an analyst at New Zealand Ministry of Defence. He trains in Napier and teaches when her returns home and for special events.
Honor Campbell
“I started karate at age five, in a much smaller kids’ class than we have now, and worked my way into the adult class a few years later.
After five years of training in 2017, at age 11, I examined for and received my black belt. After three more years of training, I earned my second-degree black belt in 2020.
Following that exam, I have begun to help teach the kids. This has certainly built my confidence and being more involved in helping others has become one of my favourite parts about karate. I have loved growing up in the dojo and plan to continue training as long as I can.”
Russell Price
“I have done many sports but I needed something else to challenge me so I joined karate. What I have get out of karate is confidence, coordination, balance, good posture and friendship.
I am fortunate to have 6 grandchildren and that’s why I enjoy teaching the young kids. I never stop learning.
My favourite saying: you’ll never know if you don’t give it a go.”
Roberta Otis – General Manager
Roberta began her martial arts training in 1982 as a student at the London University, King’s College, Budokan Club. After returning to the US, she joined the Shotokan Karate Club at the University of California Riverside. Roberta assisted in the founding and development of the Carlsbad Karate Club and is now an assistant instructor and the general manager of Shotokan Karate Napier in Hawke’s Bay.
A 1st degree blackbelt, Roberta especially enjoys teaching the children’s classes. Since moving to New Zealand, she has been very impressed by the huge parental and community support given to young athletes.
In addition to her long association with the martial arts, Roberta has a PhD in psychology, and has worked in the US as a university researcher and lecturer, and a project manager in New Zealand at EIT and Health Hawke’s Bay. She is currently Director of Research and Development for AACT-Now.org and a Pilates Instructor at Fusion Physio in Napier.
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