Twin Peaks a Black Belt and the Chair for the Master of Shotokan
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The Shotokan Karate Lodge No 9752 is a Special Interest Martial Arts Lodge, founded just over twenty years ago by Shotokan Karate enthusiasts to combine their shared passions of Martial Arts and Freemasonry.
Martial Arts and Freemasonry both make use of symbolism, ritual and structured practice to convey deeper meanings and lessons in personal development, discipline, respect, integrity, service to others, balance, lifelong learning and humility.
Most of the members today are current or former practitioners of one of more Martial Arts, but not just Shotokan Karate. Two of our Past Masters are both 7th Dan Shotokan Karate instructors, but many other Members and our regular Visitors have tried their hand at various other Martial Arts including Judo, Tai Chi, Kendo, Boxing, Ju Jitsu, Iaido, Taekwondo and Kung Fu. However, there is no strict rule, and we welcome visits from all Brethren.
Shotokan Karate Lodge makes an effort to include Martial Arts references in all our Meetings and Festive Boards – our customised gavels are particularly popular! We are a relaxed Lodge and pride ourselves on being friendly and welcoming; we have plenty of fun, and our Guests always enjoy their visits.
The latest news in the Shotokan Lodge is that Stuart Dubois, the current Worshipful Master of the Lodge, has achieved a similar “top of one mountain, now able to see the whole view” leadership position by attaining his Shodan (First Degree) Black Belt in Shotokan Karate.
Stuart first started training in Shotokan Karate 33 years ago at university, but after moving around and training sporadically, has only recently settled at Kamaete Schools of Traditional Shotokan Karate, which runs classes across Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire. Stuart successfully achieved his black belt after a gruelling 3.5 hour grading on Sunday 6th April, and a week later he conducted an Initiation Ceremony in the Shotokan Karate Lodge.
This article is part of the Arena Magazine Issue 58 – Summer 2025 edition.
Arena Magazine is the official online magazine of the London Freemasons – Metropolitan Grand Lodge and Metropolitan Grand Chapter of London.
Read more articles in Arena Issue 58 here.
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