Chief Instructor

The Chief Instructor Sensei Andy Irvine has trained in martial arts since he was 8 years old, many years of which where under the instruction of the late Master John Horan (7th Dan in Shukokai Karate), who did not give away black belts easily, and after whom the club is named. Sensei Andy Irvine holds a 5th Dan Black Belt in Shukokai Karate and 2nd Dan Black Belt in Shotokan Karate (when he was tested in Scotland by a senior instructor of the RAF Martial Arts Federation).

After Master John Horan passed away. Sensei Irvine was asked to consider opening a class on the Grange Park Estate in Blackpool. He agreed and opened the first class in 2005 when he was 22 years old. From then on The Horan Shukokai Centre has gone from strength to strength opening more classes and gaining more members until, with the support of its members, it became one of the largest Karate clubs in the North West of England.