Peat Sensei began his martial arts training 24 years ago (October 1985) in Tottenham, North London, when he studied Traditional Karate initially under two main instructors these being:

Aubrey Hoyte Sifu / Sensei (5th°) a teacher of Tai Chi Chaun & Karate. He trained with Hoyte Sensei as his principal teacher for 7 - 8 years until Sensei Hoyte’s departure to the USA, it was during this period that he developed a solid foundation for his martial arts and through his teachers he encountered many skilful instructors one of which was Shihan (Kyoshi) Yamanaka.

During the next years leading up to his Shodan (beginning – black belt) his training was principally conducted by his father Calvert Peat Sensei who in the mid 1970’s trained in Wu Shu Kwan Kung Fu before changing to Karate in the early 1980’s Peat Sensei’s karate was refined through intense training during this time spent with his father and brothers and prepared him for future dan ranks. Between 1993-5 Peat Sensei trained with Sensei Rona Creany (4th°, Goju-Ryu) with other influences from Kru/Sensei Cliff Bura (Muay Tai/Karate) & Llewelyn Sensei (Karate).

After obtaining his Shodan under Shihan Yamanaka (Kyoshi 8th Dan Goju-Ryu, 9th Degree Shaolin) student of Ei'ichi Miyazato, he became active in Karate and crossed style martial arts tournaments around the UK, winning several tournaments. During this period he also extended his early studies for a short period of half a year to Mauy Tai and Kick Boxing under Mark Christian. This appealed to him for a short period but he soon sought to get further into the traditional side of the martial arts and began studying in greater depth Okinawa karate & pressure points, along side biomechanics and the study of human movement.

After training with the KUGB at Brunel University for approximately 2-3 months the opportunity was extended by the club president at the time to take over the dojo. Following discussions with Saiko Shihan Yamanaka, his father and Shihan Mitchell (UK President) he was officially appointed as the instructor at Brunel University.

The following year Peat Sensei was promoted in rank after an intense grading by Yamanaka Sensei (Kyoshi) as well as other masters that sat on the examining board, after the grading he was extended the opportunity by Yamanaka Sensei to fully embrace and become a student of the Okinawa Goju-Ryu system of karate, that year Peat Sensei journeyed with his brother Nicholas to Hombu for just under 2 months to specifically train in the Okinawa Goju-Ryu system as a direct student of Yamanaka Sensei. This invitation to the Okinawan system also led to an interest into Okinawa Kobudo (Weapons) in which he would later develop through study, seminars, classes and trips abroad to teachers such as Hanshi Bruce Heilman (9th°Kobudo) and Shihan Mike Sywyk (6th°).

The following years Peat Sensei journeyed every summer vacation to YKKF Hombu Dojo to train with his teacher Yamanaka Sensei (Kyoshi). Whilst staying he would mainly study in Okinawa Goju-Ryu, Shaolin Chaun Fa Kung Fu (Ng Ying Kune) and Yamanaka Ha Shindo Ryu Ju-Jitsu. He also had the honour to learn from Yamanaka Sensei in his personal time great teachings on philosophy, healing methods and other principles that are not normally taught on the dojo floor (ishin denshin). He is privileged and still continues to seek guidance from this great martial art master and regularly travels thousands of miles to train with him and his top students at his dojo and home.

The following years he developed the dojo in between his studies, striving for excellence that had been set by his teachers before him. Teaching on fundamental principles of Budo (Martial Ways), philosophy in addition to biomechanics and human kinetics, the quality of instruction and the spirit he possessed was soon to bring the dojo success amongst the other more popular and well established martial art clubs at the university at the time. His ideas followed on from his teacher, Yamanaka sensei who's philosophy was to create a safer world through the power of knowledge. Peat sensei wanted to create leaders and not students. The training was intense, spending time with the most dedicated students at the early hours of the morning for stamina training and kata practice. This was in addition to the normalevening sessions held during the week.

At the end of 2000 Peat Sensei began training with Simon Hodgson Sensei from Essex in Dai Yama Ju-Jitsu an eclectic street effective ju-jitsu system for almost 2 years. At the end of 2001 Peat Sensei decided to further his knowledge of
ju-jitsu and pressure point fighting by becoming a direct student of Professor Leon Jay (son of Grandmaster Wally Jay) of Small circle Ju-Jitsu. He trained with Jay Sensei for a period of just a little over a year at the Komaru Ryu Dojo along with student Andy Greenhill. In 2002 to further compliment his training in Goju-Ryu and Ju-Jitsu he trained for a little under a year in the more internal art of Qi Gong at the Broadgate Club based in London. October of the same year saw Sensei Peat journey once again to Hombu where through various seminars he was honoured to have attended classes taught by Sigung Chong Oi Mun of Shaolin Chaun Fa Kung Fu and Yoshio Hichiya Sensei (10° Dan) and Nanko Minei Sensei (9th°) of Okinawa Goju-Ryu.

2003 saw Peat Sensei depart for the United States of America for just under 7 months to pursue further academic studies. Whilst living in the USA he supplemented his Go-Ju Ryu by attending other martial art schools. He trained in Wing Chun under Sigung Karl Godwin based in Sanford, Florida and also trained in Aikido and a hybrid version of Taekwondo derived from the traditional school of Moo Duk Kwan at the Butokukan at the University of Central Florida with Stanley Wroblewski Sensei (Aikido/Taekwondo). Peat Sensei returned to England in May 2004 and continued to train in Okinawa Goju-Ryu at his dojo. August that year he journeyed once again to Hombu Dojo to train with Yamanaka Sensei. on this trip he was also fortunate enough to train have the opportunity to train with two very skilful teachers and direct students of Yamanaka Sensei these being; Shihan Mike and Sensei Laura Sywyk in Ottawa Canada on his visit he trained in Okinawa Kobudo and Okinawa Goju-Ryu.

Later the same year he journeyed once again to Honbu dojo to specifically train in Yamanaka Ha Shindo Ryu Ju-Jitsu with Saiko Shihan Yamanaka and Shihan F. Darren Smith he stayed from the beginning of December to January 2005 and then returned to England. 2007 saw Peat sensei travelled to Cervignano (Italy) for Okinawa Goju-Ryu Karate Sensei Keiko with Giovanni Di Meglio Shihan - 7th Dan Kyoshi. Peat Sensei through Yamanaka Sensei has had the opportunity to train with some of the worlds greatest masters from Okinawa, USA, Canada, France, Japan, Italy, Belgium, Portugal to name but a few. He is forever grateful to the teachers that have influenced him over the years and continues to be in their debt. He continues to learn by visiting Yamanaka sensei, attending numerous seminars both here and internationally, combat courses, martial art classes and is a student of Kobudo and Ju-Jitsu.

Despite acheivements made he regards himself as a continual student, seeking to improve skill and ability through intense training. Much of the success and experience he has acheived is due to the amount of dedicated and honest students that he has. They all seek to strive in bettering themselves and have become great role models of what true martial artists should be like. One of his major aims is to make a difference in society, seeking to encourage and develop youngsters into achieving and bettering themselves within society. Outside of martial arts Nat Sensei holds an FdSc in Engineering, a BENG (Hons) in Mechanical with Aeronautical Engineering an MSc in Advanced Systems Engineering he is a ICAO (FAA) Licensed Pilot and is currently working towards obtaining his JAR Airline Transport Pilot Licence. He is also a part-time musician, an active member in community and charity work with Cancer Research UK, Action Aid and is the founder of The Safety Box youth programs.

“ Remember, by moving forward you can only get better.” – Peat Sensei.

One saying that he will never forget as he heard many years ago:

“ Before your hand goes out, pull your anger back, before your anger goes out pull your hand back” – Yamanaka Sensei.

Peat Sensei is also available for private lessons and motivational talks with youth groups.

For more information email: sensei@brunelkarate.com