Club instructor Ben Pollock began training in 1986 under the instruction of Peter McCullagh 5th Dan and Chris Bowman 5th Dan.

Whilst at university, he trained directly under Kuniaki Sakagami 7th Dan, head of the Aiwakai karate association, a group registered with JKF Wadokai. In 1991, whilst still a member of the Sakagami dojo, he won the Aiwakai National Championships in the kata event and reached the final in the team kumite event supporting the Leeds Aiwakai team.

Subsequently he has trained in Sweden and Ireland with Shingo Ohgami 8th Dan and has so far made six trips to train at the top dojo in Japan with leading instructors Dr Katsumi Hakoishi 8th Dan, Toru Arakawa 9th Dan and Koichi Shimura 7th Dan.

Over the years 2000 - 2003 he published the magazine "Wado Journal" which achieved an international circulation and has since become a collectors item.

In line with good coaching practice, he has attended numerous Sports Coach UK coach training sessions, undertaken St Johns Ambulance first aid training and holds Enhanced CRB disclosure.