Meet the fabulous people who run the club
Sensei Kavita (she/her) started training in Shorinji Kempo in Jan 2004. She has trained around the world (Japan, Canada, Singapore, Cyprus, and Spain), and has taught in many countries (Germany, Finland, Ireland, India) and has dedicated twenty years to Imperial College Shorinji Kempo where she is an assistant instructor.
In Dec 2022 she gained a 4th Dan (4th-level black belt). She is DBS checked, completed the Child Protection in Sport and Active Leisure and First Aid certified. In 2023 she was honored with a Outstanding Sporting Achievement for an Individual Award .
Kavita co-founded the Camden club and is our official Branch Master.
Sensei Ofelia (she/her/they) started training at SOAS in 2015.
She was awarded her black belt in 2019 just after co-founding the Camden club and gained her 2nd Dan (second-level black belt) in December 2022.
In 2020 she was Diversity Representative for Out For Sport, leading the BLM campaign. In the 2021 Out For Sport Awards, she was nominated for the Club Spirit Award.
In a huge achievement she was elected as Provisional Branch Master of the SOAS club at the 2022 BSKF AGM and served for two years. We are delighted that she remains a key part of our instructing team here at Camden.
CJ (She/They) was voted in as our Club Captain in Jan 2023 and again in Jan 2024. CJ has also taken over from Alex Ostendorf (she/her) as our Health and Safety Officer.
In 2023 CJ entered Pride Boxing and was short listed for Out For Sports Club Spirit Award. The award recognises the hero within our club who makes it all happen and embodies everything the club stands for each and every day. That is 100% CJ.
In 2022 Iris Kohler (she/her) took up the post as our Social Media Manager. She keeps our Facebook and Instagram updated with some incredible videos.
Iris is based in Germany and travels across Europe to meet us at different seminars.
Rosanna Wan (She/Her) is our current Merchandising person. Alex Ostendorf (she/her) is our current BSKF Rep. In 2024 Leonie Zeuner (She/They) was voted in as Treasurer and grant writer, with Robin Warren (They/Them) creating our photography and videos. Rose (she/her) took up the LGBTQIA lead for 2024.
In 2022 we welcomed Sharon Vickery (she/her) as our VA (virtual assistant), who works on all things related to club admin.
Join the Committe
The club volunteer committee is elected at our Annual General Meeting. Everyone is welcome, everyone is welcome to stand for election but once you get to blue belt is becomes compulsory to commit a few hours a month.
Please note we pay contractors to help us with copy editing, project management, first aid courses, video editing, and photography. If you align with our values and could offer a service contact us at camden@bskf.org.
Thank you
Over the years we have drawn on many other volunteers.
Dan (he/him) has been part of the club since day one. His bravery and coming out journey was instrumental in ensuring that our club is openly queer. In the early days and through lock down he held our community together through social events, birthday and pride parties. He became our founding Club Captain and, until recently, taught our online classes. We are forever grateful for the support he has given the club over the years and will miss him immensely.
We are really grateful Aidan Deiter (he/him) volunteered as our online MC in lock down. And kudos to Helen Males (she/her) brings all the brilliant dressing-up costumes and make-up for our Halloween specials. As well as being our first student to grade.
Many thanks also goes to the talented Sneha Alexander (she/her), who was our Founding Treasurer and Club Secretary in 2019. We are immensely grateful for all the work she has done for the club. Sneha and Gunjan have also led the way in helping us writing grants to get funding.
Thank you to everyone who works to make this club so much fun.