🎙️ UK Karate Podcast – Season 2 Episode 11: Hayden Meredith Interview | Shotokan & Kase Ha Journey
In this episode of the UK Karate Podcast, we sit down with Sensei Hayden Meredith, a dedicated karateka whose martial arts journey began back in 2012 at just 12 years old. From his early days training in Shotokan Karate mixed with freestyle kickboxing influences, to earning his 1st Dan black belt at 16, Hayden shares the ups and downs of his journey through multiple martial arts styles — judo, boxing, kung fu, and kickboxing — before finding his home in Kase Ha Shotokan.
💬 Hayden talks openly about the challenges of switching clubs, the politics of martial arts associations, and how finding supportive instructors shaped his development. Now a Sandan (3rd Dan), Hayden runs his own successful club (founded in 2019), teaches across the UK, and hosts his popular Sunday Budo Sessions — online and in-person seminars that bring karateka from different styles together.
👊 Topics in this episode include:
Hayden’s early training and competition success in kata and kumite
Transition from freestyle karate to traditional Shotokan
Discovering the Kase Ha Shotokan approach
Building a karate club during COVID
Teaching across styles and collaborating with Kizuna Scotland
Dealing with online criticism (“that wouldn’t work on the street!”)
Real-life experience applying karate in self-defence situations
How kata Jitte made a difference in a real altercation
🔥 Whether you’re a karate student, instructor, or lifelong martial artist, you’ll find inspiration in Hayden’s story of resilience, community, and passion for continuous learning.
📺 Subscribe for more in-depth interviews with instructors, competitors, and martial artists shaping the future of UK Karate.
📍 Follow Hayden Meredith:
YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@SeishinKarateHM329/playlists
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/hayden.meredith.311
Budo Mindset Magazine:
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61571906330644
Boken Sha Gi's:
https://boken-sha.com/
🎧 Listen to more episodes of the UK Karate Podcast here: https://www.youtube.com/@UKKaratePodcast
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