Ishinryu Karate
Founded by Sensei Ticky Donovan (England, 1973)
Ishinryu Karate: “All of One Heart”
Ishinryu was founded in 1973 by the renowned Sensei Ticky Donovan OBE 10th Dan, blending the powerful techniques of Kyokushinkai, Wado-Ryu, and Shotokan. Sensei Donovan drew from his deep training under Japanese masters, developing his own dynamic system. Then, he opened his first dojo in Dagenham, London.
Ishinryu quickly gained a reputation for excellence, particularly in the competitive karate world. Sensei Donovan himself was a dominant figure, clinching multiple British, European, and World championships. However, his legacy was truly cemented through his unparalleled success as a coach. Under his guidance, Britain achieved five consecutive World men’s team titles and three World women’s team titles. This success established Britain as a karate powerhouse, and earned Sensei Donovan an OBE in 1991.
Ishinryu’s influence extends far beyond Britain. With numerous champions in Kumite and Kata at the British, European, and World levels, the Ishinryu family has expanded globally. Today, Ishinryu clubs thrive across England, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the USA, and Fiji, continuing to produce world-class competitors.
At its core, Ishinryu places equal emphasis on tradition and competition. Rigorous training in technique and fundamental karate principles are seen as the cornerstone of success. Sensei Ticky Donovan OBE, a 10th Dan, leads Ishinryu. He remains a respected name in global karate. The school combines discipline, heritage, and competitive excellence.
Sensei Tony Hails 8th Dan
Head of Style, Ishinryu in Australia
Sensei Tony Hails trained under the legendary Sensei Ticky Donovan OBE in London during the 1970’s. He achieved the rank of 2nd Dan. Sensei Tony represented England in competition. In 1980 he emigrated to Australia and soon after founded Ishinryu Karate Australia.
As a competitor, Sensei Tony represented Australia in four WKF World Championships, twice as team captain. At the 1986 World Championships in Sydney, he placed 4th in his division amongst the world’s top karate fighters. He demonstrated his enduring technical prowess, fitness and determination as a 38 year old team captain at his final World Championships, placing 10th,
In the 1980s, Sensei Tony was the standout fighter. The crowd would stop and watch when he was on the tatami. He captivated audiences with his unique flair. His athleticism was unmatched, and his technique was sharp. The pinnacle of his international career was in 1989. As captain of the Australian team at the Asian Pacific Karate Championships, he defeated his Japanese opponent 6-0. This victory allowed him to claim the individual title in his weight division. He then led the Australian Men’s Team to a historic victory over Japan. This was an unprecedented result in Australian karate history.
Nationally, Sensei Tony captained and coached the NSW team for many years, winning seven individual National Titles. He mentored numerous Ishinryu students, including three current Sensei, helping them represent NSW and Australia over three decades. His expertise extended to coaching the NSW and Australian teams, earning him a WKF coaching award. Since 2009, Sensei Tony has served as mentor coach to Karate Fiji. He has guided coaches toward WKF accreditation and led competitors to success at the Pacific Games and Oceania Championships.
In 2022, Sensei Tony began transitioning his NSW responsibilities to Sensei Alison Peachey, 7th Dan. He continues his role as Head of Style for Australia. Sensei Tony is also the highest-graded student of Sensei Ticky Donovan OBE, 10th Dan, worldwide.
As a coach Sensei Tony reached silver-level dojo coaching qualifications from Sport Australia/AIS.
Sensei Alison Peachey 7th Dan
Chief Instructor, Ishinryu NSW
Sensei Alison Peachey began her karate training with Ishinryu in 1989, earning her black belt in 1992. Soon after, she launched her competitive career, representing NSW at numerous National Championships. As part of the NSW Women’s Team, she won multiple gold, silver, and bronze medals. Individually, she achieved five consecutive bronze medals at the Australian Open Karate Championships. In 1999, she won a bronze medal representing Australia at the 1999 Oceania Championships.
Sensei Alison pursued accreditation as a referee whilst she was competing. She attained national accreditation in 2005. Through progressive championship experience and mentorship, Sensei Alison earned her World Karate Federation credential in 2018. She achieved this through constant examinations for upgrade. She has since upgraded to World Referee. In 2019 she officiated at her first World Championships (U21, Junior, and Cadet) in Santiago, Chile. She has since refereed at her second World Championships in Venice, 2024. She has refereed internationally at WKF Premier and Youth Leagues, at Continental Championships and Pacific Games. Refereeing for Australia has taken her to over 10 countries.
Sensei Alison is currently a member of Karate Australia’s Referee Commission and the Chair of the Karate NSW Referee Commission.
Sensei Alison, a 7th Dan, is the highest-graded woman in Ishinryu Karate. She is also the top-graded referee in Ishinryu Karate worldwide. In 2022, she was appointed Chief Instructor for Ishinryu NSW, marking another significant milestone in her distinguished martial arts career.
Sensei Alison also holds silver-level dojo coaching qualifications from Sport Australia/AIS.
