Kelly Horsfall

Kelly Horsfall

Interim Head National Kata Coach/ Northern Region Kata Coach
EKF Coach

Sensei Kelly Horsfall has been training in Shito-ryu style Karate for 16 years. She began training as a member of the Ken Yu Kai Karate Association with Chief Instructor Sensei Terry Pottage (9th Dan), and achieved her black belt at the age of 11. Currently based at Sale Dojo, under instruction from Yanagi Kai Karate Association Chief Instructor, Sensei Ian Swain (7th Dan), Kelly holds the rank of 3rd Dan black belt, and is due to grade for 4th Dan later this year.

Kelly is the Yanagi Kai Kata Squad Coach; since her appointment as Kata Coach, the association has grown from strength to strength, progressing up the medal table to becoming the highest ranked club in England (EKF National Championships 2019). Many students have been selected to represent England, on Youth and Junior Kata Squads, competing at the highest level, including the World and European Championships. As a coach, she appreciates the value of Kihon training and aims to teach a good balance between Traditional and Sport Karate. She is experienced in coaching Team Kata and teaching Bunkai, and has had great success in this category.

Alongside coaching, Kelly is a member of the Yanagi Kai Squad, with experience competing nationally and internationally, as a successful competitor in Kata and Kumite. She has achieved numerous English, British and international titles in both disciplines. Kelly started training with the England National Squad, at the age of 12. In 2011, she was selected for the first time, to represent the Junior Kata Squad at the World Championships. Since then, she has represented England in Team Kata at multiple World and European Championships, at Junior and Senior level. Kelly is currently a senior member of the EKF National Kata Squad. The knowledge she has gained from the opportunity to train with, and represent England, will help to inform her coaching and training of the Northern Regional Kata Squad.

In 2019, Kelly graduated from the Manchester Metropolitan University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Fashion Design and Technology. During her time at university, as an MMU Sport Scholar, she achieved numerous medals at the British University Championships, in both Kata and Kumite.