Rhys Collins was born in Swansea, Wales, in 1951. He is a senior practitioner of traditional karate and has maintained a long connection with Katsumi Tamaki Sensei and Shinjin-ryu Okinawa-te.
His early years in Wales were followed by study in Japan, where he attended Waseda University in Tokyo and studied Political Science and Economics. During this period he became immersed in Japanese language, culture, and martial training.
In 1969, while in Japan, he began training in Goju-ryu karate. During his time there, he also travelled to Osaka, where he encountered Tamaki Sensei. This meeting became an important connection in his later martial arts life and deepened his interest in Okinawan karate.
In 1979, Rhys returned to the United Kingdom and settled in Bracknell, Berkshire. He continued his karate training locally, but his earlier connection with Tamaki Sensei remained significant.
In 1981, Rhys reconnected with Tamaki Sensei after Tamaki had relocated to the United Kingdom. This renewed connection led to many years of continued study, instruction, and support within the developing Shinjin-ryu Okinawa-te tradition.
For more than four decades, Rhys Collins has remained closely associated with Tamaki Sensei and Shinjin-ryu. His long-term practice and commitment have earned him the rank of 9th Dan Hanshi.
His role is important not only as a practitioner, but also as someone who has helped support the organisation, preservation, and transmission of Shinjin-ryu Okinawa-te outside Japan.
Rhys Collins serves as the General Secretary of Shinjin-ryu Okinawa-te Kyokai.
