Simon Tavendale sensei
Tavendale sensei began his martial arts journey in Judo, competing at a national level before travelling to Japan, where he trained for two years. A career-ending injury led him to broaden his studies into other martial arts, and in 2001 he began training in Karate, first in Shitō-ryū and later in traditional Shotokan Karate.
Several years of training in Japan significantly shaped Simon’s technical development and teaching philosophy. Throughout his career, he has trained with a number of renowned Japanese instructors, gaining direct exposure to traditional training methods, dojo culture, and exacting technical standards. These experiences have had a profound influence on both his personal practice and his approach to instruction.
Simon was awarded his 4th Dan black belt in 2022. From 2015, he trained under Edmond Otis Sensei, further refining his understanding of traditional Shotokan Karate. He now instructs at Shotokan Karate Hawkes Bay, where his teaching emphasises technical precision, strong fundamentals, traditional values, discipline, and respect.
“心に限界なし The mind has no limits”
Jacob Barker sensei
Barker sensei has trained in traditional Shotokan Karate since childhood and has trained at the Shotokan Karate Hawke’s Bay Dojo since its founding in 2008. He is a long-term student of Edmond Otis sensei, founder of the dojo, Chairman of the Shotokan International Alliance (SIA), and former Chairman and Chief Instructor of AJKA-I International, under whose guidance Barker sensei developed his technical foundation and approach to instruction. Otis sensei trained directly under Hidetaka Nishiyama sensei and Yutaka Yaguchi sensei of the Japan Karate Association, a lineage that has influenced the standards and methods maintained at the dojo.
Barker sensei attained his 3rd Dan (Degree) black belt in 2023 and holds a Diploma in Sport and Exercise Science from the Eastern Institute of Technology. His academic background supports a structured, physically sound approach to training and long-term development.
He has competed at both regional and national levels and continues to train and develop through International seminars, including the Shotokan International Alliance training in Japan (2024).
Outside of Karate, Barker sensei works in business development within the IT sector in Hawke’s Bay, contributing organisational and management experience to the ongoing operation of the dojo.
Following Otis sensei’s relocation overseas in October 2023, he continued the instruction of the Napier Karate dojo with the support of fellow instructors and senior students. He remains committed to maintaining the technical standards and training culture established by Otis sensei since the dojo’s inception, while continuing to develop students of all ages and abilities.
“Focus on your own training, not the person beside you. If you train harder than you did yesterday, you will always move forward.”
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.
Russell Price
“I have done many sports but I needed something else to challenge me so I joined karate. What I have got out of karate is confidence, coordination, balance, good posture and friendship.”
I began my karate journey at the age of 60, and it has been a fantastic experience that continues to enrich my life. I am fortunate to have 7 grandchildren, two of whom train at our Dojo too! Which is why I particularly enjoy teaching and working with the younger students. Learning never stops—no matter your age or rank.
Russell is a key part of the dojo and plays an important role in the children’s programme, helping create a positive, supportive, and disciplined learning environment.
My , saying is: ‘You’ll never know if you don’t give it a go.’”
Quinn Baylis
Quinn began training at Shotokan Karate Hawke’s Bay at the age of six.
He received his 1st Dan (degree) black belt in late 2022 and was recently awarded the Outstanding Dojo Service Award for his commitment to the club.
Quinn assists with the kids’ classes. Outside of the dojo, he is currently studying at high school and enjoys training at the gym to support his karate.
Edmond Otis sensei – Chief Instructor
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 was 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, Australia, 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. After 2023, Otis sensei moved with his family. He remains Chief Instructor of Shotokan Karate Hawkes Bay, providing guidance and returning to host special events and seminars as often as possible.
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.