Ash McKee was born in April 1969, and started his formal training under his father (Brian Wrightson Kancho) in 1976. Ash undertook his first formal grading as a young boy in March of 1978, Having his foot firmly upon the training ladder, Ash made a steady progression through the grading system, where he finally attained the grade of Shodan (Black-Belt) under the direct guidance of Robert Clark Soke of the WJJF (World Ju-Jitsu Federation). This started Ash on his long road through the Dan Grades. Through hard work and dedication Ash became one of the WJJF’s youngest ever Yondan grades (4th Dan) and in recognition of his natural combative ability, his attention to detail and his dedication to the art of Jujutsu Ash was invited to take his place on the WJJF Technical Board as an approved Technical Officer, again the youngest to have done so. Throughout this period Ash remained close to Robert Clark Soke and his father Brian Wrightson Kancho (Whom had earlier split away and joined the WKF (World Kobudo Federation) under Richard Morris Soke. Ash Sensei joined his father in further developing the already well established Hankyo Kempo style of Jujutsu; around this same time Ash and his Father Brian began to develop the concept of an elite Yudansha society within Hankyo, this would eventually become Junsei Ryu. For his teaching and developmental efforts Brian Wrightson Kancho awarded Ash the rank of Godan, and in July 2004 Rokudan having already awarded ash the teaching title Shihan in the previous year.