NAKMAS Acts on Instructor Criminal Charge

April 17, 2008 - Press Dispensary - Following a criminal charge against Derek James, a senior instructor at the Freestyle Shotokan Karate Association in Bedford, the karate accrediting body NAKMAS (the National Association of Karate and Martial Art Schools - http://www.nakmas.org.uk ) has revoked his licence. Mr James (43), of Rowallen Drive, Bedford, has no ongoing connection with either the club or NAKMAS.

NAKMAS has appointed Gary Smith, a high ranking 6th Dan Black Belt, as the club’s senior instructor. Mr Smith holds a Level III Senior Coaching Award to NVQ standards, has undertaken an Enhanced Disclosure via the Criminal Records Bureau and is cleared for working with children and vulnerable adults. He also heads the SEPOY Karate Group based in Cambridgeshire.

Joe Ellis, on behalf of NAKMAS, said: “The NAKMAS national governing body wants to ensure that the members of the club continue to benefit from a secure and bona-fide infrastructure. Gary Smith is well known to us and is well respected within NAKMAS. We support the club and its grass roots role in catering for all members of the local community, we’ll ensure that it continues to grow and we’ll make the necessary resources available to support this.”

Grades awarded by Mr James to his students will be honoured. NAKMAS will work with Gary Smith to ensure that grades are nationally recognised and certificated.

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The National Association of Karate and Martial Art Schools (NAKMAS) is a non-funded national governing body and is a member of CCPR (the Central Council of Physical Recreation). With its Head Office based in Kent, NAKMAS governs all forms of traditional and modern martial arts and has over 65,000 members within the UK.

NAKMAS is an approved insurance provider via Lloyds and holds a National and International Quality Standard Certificate via the BSI (British Standards Institute).

Coaching awards to the standard of the NVQ (National Vocational Qualification) and UKCC (United Kingdom Coaching Certificate) are available within NAKMAS. It has an active NSPCC approved Welfare Policy, and has launched a UK-wide anti-bullying initiative called the ‘NAKMAS Safe Kids Campaign’. It also has Registered Body status via the CRB (Criminal Records Bureau) and Disclosure Scotland to check against the criminal records register.

The Freestyle Shotokan Karate Association is now based at Goldington Green Lower School, Bedford, Bedfordshire, UK.

For further information, please contact:
Joe Ellis, chair and acting lead child protection officer, NAKMAS National Governing Body
Tel: 01227 370055 / 07976 736404
Fax: 01227 370056
Email:
Site: www.nakmas.org.uk