1970s

WHERE IT ALL BEGAN

Lenbukai Karate Club was founded in Wishaw in 1976 by Sensei Andy Murdoch and quickly began establishing itself throughout Lanarkshire.

The early years laid the foundations for everything that followed. Students trained under highly respected karateka, including visits from Sensei Masao Kawasoe, while Lenbukai seniors also had opportunities to train with World Champion Gene Dunnett.

By the end of the decade, Lenbukai had grown well beyond its original club and had established a reputation for disciplined, high-quality karate.

1980s

GROWTH, MEDALS & INTERNATIONAL AMBITION

The 1980s were a major period of expansion. By 1983, Lenbukai had grown to around 12 clubs and more than 300 members, with an increasingly strong group of instructors and black belts.

Competitive success followed. At the 1983 Scottish Karate Board of Control Championships, Sandra Robertson, Mary McConnachie and Denise Greenwood won bronze in the Ladies Team event.

In 1985, Lenbukai hosted its first international challenge in Wishaw and recorded a memorable victory over Norway, while a Lenbukai team also travelled to Majorca to compete.

Students continued to train and grade under leading Shotokan instructors including Sensei Enoeda, Sensei Kase, Sensei Shirai, Sensei Tsuyama and Sensei Ohta.

By the middle of the decade, Lenbukai had produced more than 30 black belts — another major milestone in the club's development.

1990s

BUILDING THE LENBUKAI NAME

Lenbukai continued to grow throughout the 1990s, eventually reaching 14 clubs and more than 600 members across Lanarkshire.

The club maintained a strong competitive presence while continuing to train with respected karateka from around the world.

World Champion Pat McKay and European Champion Tommy Burns competed representing Lenbukai in Italy, demonstrating the calibre of karate associated with the club during this period.

Lenbukai also strengthened its international connections, including welcoming members of the Russian karate team to train with the club during their visit to Scotland.

By the end of the decade, Lenbukai had firmly established a name that extended far beyond its original home in Wishaw.

2000s

A NEW GENERATION — AND THE WORLD STAGE

The new millennium brought another successful chapter.

Lenbukai representatives attended the 2001 World Championships in Aberdeen, while in 2002 the club received recognition for its coaching standards and became an approved OCR qualifications centre.

In 2006, Lenbukai celebrated its 30th anniversary and entered a new era. After three decades leading the club, Sensei Andy Murdoch passed responsibility to his sons Andrew and David Murdoch.

Both brought extensive competitive experience. Andrew had achieved British Championship silver, while David had competed at prestigious international events in America.

The next generation was already emerging. Nikki Raeside and Kristen Martin qualified for the Junior World Cup in Taiwan, while Lenbukai competitors represented the club at the WKC Junior World Championships in Germany in 2006 and Slovenia in 2008.

2010s

A NEW HOME. THE SAME STANDARDS.

The decade began with Lenbukai competitors travelling to Italy for the 2010 WKC Junior World Championships, continuing the club's long tradition of international competition.

Later that year came one of the biggest changes in Lenbukai's modern history.

In October 2010, the club moved to Ravenscraig Regional Sports Facility in Motherwell, providing Lenbukai with a modern new home in the heart of Lanarkshire.

From Ravenscraig, another generation of students progressed through training, gradings and competition while experienced instructors continued passing on the standards and traditions established decades earlier.

The surroundings had changed.

The values had not.

2020s

THE NEXT GENERATION

Lenbukai continues to prove that its competitive tradition is very much alive.

Among the club's more recent achievements was an outstanding performance from Idris Ali, who won the WUKF Scottish Championship Under-16 Kata title on his competition debut, performing Empi and Kanku Sho on his way to becoming Scottish Champion.

His success represents exactly what Lenbukai has always aimed to achieve — taking the knowledge and standards developed over decades and passing them to a new generation of karateka.

Today, students continue to train, grade and compete from our home at Ravenscraig while remaining part of a history stretching back to 1976.

2026

50 YEARS OF LENBUKAI

In 2026, Lenbukai Karate Club celebrates 50 years of karate.

From a local club in Wishaw to hundreds of members across Lanarkshire; from Scottish medal success to international competition; from the club's first black belts to today's students at Ravenscraig — each generation has added another chapter to the Lenbukai story.

There have been championships, medals, gradings and countless hours spent on the dojo floor.

But Lenbukai's greatest achievement is the generations of people who have walked through its doors, trained together and carried its values forward.

50 years of karate.
50 years of people.
50 years of Lenbukai.

And we're not finished yet.