Shihan-Dai John Craig currently teaches Tenshinkan Karate at Lynch Centre Dojo in Dundee which he has been doing consistently now for nearly 20 years. John, Shihan-Dai joined Shihan Robert Kane in Tenshinkan Karate about 22 years ago and has been a very loyal and committed member throughout this time.

Sensei John sat his 1st, 2nd, and 3rd, Dan Examinations in the St Clements Dojo under Shihan Robert's supervision. He explains, "St Clements at this time was a very busy Club and training was really very hard keiko. Shihan Robert was at the time a lot younger, more aggressive and really put you through your paces. I progressed on to helping Shihan teach in various other Clubs, like Castle Huntly, Broughty Ferry , St Andrews and Auchterhouse. Often however Shihan would impress upon Instructors about the need to open up more Clubs and so in 1984 I hired a room in the Lynch Centre and did some door to door advertising which brought in some members. We started off upstairs in the old Library, which was tough going because of the carpeted floor. With 20 - 30 kids it was like a greenhouse in the summer and freezing in the winter. From there we progressed to the main halls.

Many members have passed through this club with some starting as children and going on to achieve Shodan. One of them of course is Sensei John's daughter Victoria who achieved her black belt at nine years of age. Sensei John's wife Karen also achieved black belt thus giving karate a high profile in the Craig family.

But his own Club in the Lynch Centre is not his only commitment to karate. For many years now he has been traveling back and forth to Stirling University on Friday evenings to assist Shihan Robert in this Dojo also.

Shihan-Dai John has also traveled abroad to promote and study Tenshinkan Karate. He has twice visited Denmark to train with instructors from around the world. His first visit was with a group from the U.K. with Kancho and Shihan Hans Haupt also in attendance. The second visit was to assist Shihan with instruction on a special weekend course.

Shihan-Dai John has also twice visited Japan. His first visit was in 1994 and this is how he remembers the experience.

"I thought very, very hard. But Japanese Tenshinkan members make you feel very welcome. Kancho's training is very hard, and you must learn fast, if you don't you are in trouble. But I really enjoyed it and at the time I said I wouldn't go back but then two years on I traveled back with Shihan Robert and Sensei Jim Barlow, and I loved it even more, although I felt once again that it was hard. The first time you go you don't know what to expect, but the second time you know what is coming and this made me very nervous. I'd now like to go back again when I'm 50, which is only a couple of years away".

Shihan-Dai John continues to train and teach in the Lynch centre every Monday and Wednesday evening and for him the continuing development of Tenshinkan Karate is foremost in his thinking. His twenty year commitment to Tenshinkan is testament to his fine dedication to the martial arts and many a karate student owe their skills to his teaching.