Ronnie Watt

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RonaldStewartWatt001.jpg
Watt in 2010
BornRonald Stewart Watt
(1947-04-16) 16 April 1947 (age 78)
Aberdeen, Scotland
Other namesRonnie Watt
ResidenceAberdeen, Scotland
Style Shotokan Karate
Rank10th Dan Meijin

Ronald Stewart Watt OBE (born 16 April 1947), is a Scottish grandmaster of Shotokan karate.

Contents

A World Karate Confederation (WKC) director of Shotokan since 2003, [1] Watt is the founding president and chief instructor for the National Karate Institute Scotland.

Biography

Born and educated in Aberdeen, [2] Watt was training as an engineer until 1965 when a life-changing industrial accident forced a career rethink. [2]

Oddjob [3] a character in the James Bond film Goldfinger provided his initial inspiration, since when Watt established "Shotokan Karate Club" [4] before pursuing further studies in Japan, then becoming Scottish team captain (1975–78). [5]

Having introduced thousands of Scots to karate, [6] since 2024 Watt is accorded the style of 10th Dan.

Karate rankings

Watt has been bestowed karate Dan ranking as follows:

Order of the Scottish Samurai

In 1994, the Order of the Scottish Samurai (OSS), an "awarding body recognising excellence, character and respect in alignment with the ancient spirit of budō ", was established by Watt. [10]

Honours and awards

Throughout his career in karate, Watt has received various honours, including:

Honours

Distinctions

Awards

Arms

Coat of arms of Ronald Stewart Watt
RonaldStewartWatt002.png
Adopted
Granted by the Lord Lyon, Edinburgh (2016)
Crest
A Tiger salient Proper
Escutcheon
Argent from a Mound Vert an Oak Tree Proper fructed Or and on a Chief enarched Gules a Wreath of Oak Leaves of the Third
Motto
(Above) Procede Cor Fortis (Latin)
Orders
Beneath the Shield the insignia suspended by their respective ribands of an OBE, MStJ and ORS
Medal, order (AM 2001.25.651-1).jpg Broeder van de Orde van Sint Jan Engeland en Gemenebest.jpg 04-Rad Vychazejiciho slunce se zlatymi a stribrnymi paprsky.jpg
Symbolism
On 25 May 2010 at Edinburgh, [20] Consul-General Masataka Tarahara, [21] on behalf of Emperor Akihito and the Japanese Government, invested Watt as an Officer of the Order of the Rising Sun (with Gold and Silver Rays), [13] in recognition of outstanding contributions to karate and his commitment to strengthening the relationship between Scotland and Japan. [22]

References

  1. ↑ World Karate Confederation
  2. 1 2 Ronnie Watt, 8th Dan : Director of Shotokan of the World Karate Confederation. Dr Clive Layton, 2009 ISBN   978-0-9562602-0-8
  3. ↑ Aberdeen Press and Journal; 8 Nov 2009
  4. ↑ www.shoto.uk
  5. ↑ www.karate.scot
  6. ↑ Scottish Parliament Motion S3M-4499; 25 June 2009
  7. ↑ 8th Dan was awarded in April 2005. The examiners for this grading were Dr Fritz Wendland (founding President of the WKC), Marko Nicović (7th Dan Wado Ryu of the United Nations), Tomi Ochi (6th Dan Shotokan, Japan), Joe Mirza (8th Dan Shito Ryu, USA), Ladislav Klementis (8th Dan Gojo Ryu, Slovakia), Ilya Gouliev (7th Dan Shotokan, JKA Russia), Dave Friend (7th Dan Shotokan, South Africa)
  8. ↑ 9th Dan awarded after evaluation November 2015 by Don Owens (9th Dan Shotokan, Canada), Charles Gidley (8th Dan Shotokan, England), Dr George Carruthers (8th Dan Shotokan, Scotland) and ratified by the Technical Committee of the International Shotokan-ryu Karate-do Shihankai
  9. ↑ www.aberdeenbusinessnews.co.uk
  10. ↑ "Ronnie Watt (9th Dan) OBE ORS". Samurai.scot. 23 November 2020. Retrieved 13 October 2024.
  11. ↑ "No. 59647". The London Gazette (Supplement). 31 December 2010. p. 13.
  12. ↑ The London Gazette; 13 February 2020
  13. 1 2 Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan: Spring 2010 Conferment of Decorations on Foreign Nationals
  14. ↑ Scottish Parliament Motion S4M-11295; 27 October 2014, by Dr Tibor Mikuš.
  15. ↑ www.ethiopiancrown.org
  16. ↑ www.autarcasmonarquicos.com
  17. ↑ www.shihankai.org
  18. ↑ European Martial Arts Hall of Fame
  19. ↑ University of Aberdeen; 14 June 2019
  20. ↑ The Scotsman; 2 May 2010
  21. ↑ www.mofa.go.jp
  22. ↑ Karate Scotland
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