Ronald Stewart Watt (born 16 April 1947), is a Scottish grandmaster of Shotokan karate.
A World Karate Confederation (WKC) director of Shotokan since 2003, World Karate Confederation Watt is the founding president and chief instructor for the National Karate Institute Scotland.
Biography Born and educated in Aberdeen,Ronnie Watt, 8th Dan : Director of Shotokan of the World Karate Confederation. Dr Clive Layton, 2009 Watt was training as an engineer until 1965 when a life-changing industrial accident forced a career rethink.
OddjobAberdeen Press and Journal; 8 Nov 2009 a character in the James Bond film Goldfinger provided his initial inspiration, since when Watt established "Shotokan Karate Club"www.shoto.uk before pursuing further studies in Japan, then becoming Scottish team captain (1975–78).www.karate.scot
Having introduced thousands of Scots to karate,Scottish Parliament Motion S3M-4499; 25 June 2009 since 2024 Watt is accorded the style of 10th Dan.
Karate rankings Watt has been bestowed karate Dan ranking as follows: 1st - 1969; 2nd - 1972; 3rd - 1976; 4th - 1981; 5th - 1986; 6th - 1994; 7th - 1997; 8th - 2005;8th Dan was awarded in April 2005. The examiners for this grading were Dr Fritz Wendland (founding President of the WKC), Marko Nicović (7th Dan Wado Ryu of the United Nations), Tomi Ochi (6th Dan Shotokan, Japan), Joe Mirza (8th Dan Shito Ryu, USA), Ladislav Klementis (8th Dan Gojo Ryu, Slovakia), Ilya Gouliev (7th Dan Shotokan, JKA Russia), Dave Friend (7th Dan Shotokan, South Africa) 9th - 2015;9th Dan awarded after evaluation November 2015 by Don Owens (9th Dan Shotokan, Canada), Charles Gidley (8th Dan Shotokan, England), Dr George Carruthers (8th Dan Shotokan, Scotland) and ratified by the Technical Committee of the International Shotokan-ryu Karate-do Shihankai 10th - 2024.www.aberdeenbusinessnews.co.uk
Order of the Scottish Samurai In 1994, the Order of the Scottish Samurai (OSS), an "awarding body recognising excellence, character and respect in alignment with the ancient spirit of budō", was established by Watt.
Honours and awards Throughout his career in karate, Watt has received various honours, including: Honours Officer of the Order of the British Empire (2011) "for services to karate" Member of the Order of St John (2020)The London Gazette; 13 February 2020 Order of the Rising Sun with Gold and Silver Rays (5th Cl. Japan) (2010); Distinctions Trnava Self-Governing Region (TSGR) Commemorative Medal (Slovakia) (2014)Scottish Parliament Motion S4M-11295; 27 October 2014, by Dr Tibor Mikuš. Knight of the Order of the Holy Trinity (Ethiopia) (2015)www.ethiopiancrown.org Comendador da Casa Real Portuguesa (2015);www.autarcasmonarquicos.com Awards Fellow of the International Shotokan-Ryu Karate-Do Shihankai (2006)www.shihankai.org European Martial Arts Hall of Fame (2015)European Martial Arts Hall of Fame Hon. MUniv, Aberdeen (2019)University of Aberdeen; 14 June 2019 10th Dan Meijin Ryu Karate-Do (2024).
Arms
References
External links Webpage NKI Scotland Webpage 2010 Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan: Spring Conferment of Decorations on Foreign Nationals Order of the Scottish Samurai