ONE of the highest honours ever awarded from the Japan Karate Association (JKA) has been achieved by a West Fife “pioneer” in the sport.

Jim Wood MBE, a former Dunfermline man and founder member of JKA Scotland, has been awarded the title of shihan – which is translated as master instructor – by JKA headquarters in Tokyo.

In addition to his new title, Jim, who spent 25 years teaching at Carnegie Leisure Centre before building the first custom JKA Dojo in Dunfermline, has also been promoted as a member to the prestigious ‘Shihan Kai’ in Japan.

Gordon Williamson, a 5th Dan JKA at Carnegie Dojo, studied under Jim for 35 years and said: “Very few westerners worldwide have achieved this JKA award and, to honour this amazing achievement, Jim was presented with a Japanese traditional karate master silk robe from the legendary karate master Takenori Imura Shihan, 8th Dan JKA general manager of the technical division.

“Jim has an unbroken lineage and training since 1970 to the JKA HQ, which is the world’s largest and most prestigious Shotokan Karate organisation.

“With 50 years of study, Jim holds the rank of 7th Dan JKA, taking all his higher grading examinations, both practical and theory, at the JKA HQ in Japan.

“Jim says he is very humbled and privileged to accept this prestigious honour and shares it with his many loyal students worldwide.”

Over his long career in karate, Jim has qualified to hold the highest accreditation examinations ever awarded by the JKA, including 7th Dan JKA; A Class instructor; A Class World Cup referee/judge and senior match court chief status; A class examiner; having special rights to grade up to 3rd Dan JKA; and being given a special referee examiner licence to grade to all D class accreditations, instructor, judge and examiner.

He moved to Western Australia in 2001, where he built his own custom-made Dojo, and is now the president and chief instructor of JKA Karate-Do Australia, which is one of the largest JKA associations in Australia and has clubs and members in every state.