"Kancho truly was a great man, loved and respected by many. I first trained under Kancho when I was as a small child. In truth I was utterly terrified of him; deep down to the core of my soul. He was a stern-faced drill sergeant, and he tolerated absolutely no horseplay from children in or around the Dojo (Just as it should be). But what scared me the most was the sheer power and ability of the man, I clearly remember him throwing men half his age and twice his size around like toys... And the sight of grown men being tossed aside by a smaller older man truly was awe-inspiring.
 
As I grew in both age and ability, my fear of this powerful man ebbed and was replaced by admiration and respect. The person I had once perceived as a strict and intolerant man; was in fact a gifted and traditional exponent of Ju-Jutsu who above all else sought to preserve the non sporting applications of what was rapidly becoming a bastardised art.
 
As I grew into adulthood, our conversations became more in-depth and we would talk at great length about Japanese history, theology and culture within the martial arts.
 
I will never have the words to truly describe how I feel about this great and gifted man. I just hope that wherever he is, he knows just how missed he really is"
 
Taran McCarnun
(Junsei Ryu Hoshin Jutsu Renmei)

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"Having visited this website (Memorial Page), I liked its simplicity. You must have loved him so much for what he meant to you. I like this relationship you share with him. It is honourable and I pay my respects to you and your Sensei.
 
Wish you the best".
 
Maxwell Jude Anthony
(World Shorinji Kempo Organisation)
(Branch Master, Chennai, India)

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"It was my sad duty to report to my students that yet another colleague and fellow Sensei had tragically died at sixty years of age. Brian Wrightson had been a friend and fellow Senior Instructor alongside myself in our days with the World Ju-Jitsu Federation, where we jointly sat on the Technical Officers Board. Brian Wrightson and his son Dr Ash McKee had attended numerous Ishin Ryu Ju-Jitsu dinners and events in the early to mid 90's and we had taught at each others courses many times. My prayers and best wishes go out his family, friends and students."
 
Kevin Pell (Soke)
(Ishin Ryu Ju-Jitsu Renmei)

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"Kancho was a truly great sensei, a man who taught me so much. I for one owe him a great deal for his inspiration and passion that he gave me for Ju-Jutsu. He will be missed by all; and never forgotten".
 
Lee Turner
(Junsei Ryu Hoshin Jutsu Renmei)

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"My first meeting with Brian Wrightson Kancho seemed to sum up the man. It was the first time I had entered the Shropshire Martial Arts Centre (the building where he was both proprietor and senior instructor) and the first person I met was Brian. My first impression was of an imposing, energetic, forceful but open and friendly man; an impression that only softened with time. He had an uncompromising attitude to people who weren't trying there best but was very kindly and forgiving to my own ill health.

A truly honourable man who is greatly missed."
 
Duncan Dalby
(Junsei Ryu Hoshin Jutsu Renmei)

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"Kancho was a truly brilliant man. As a child meeting him I thought he was the scariest man ever. As I grew older and got to know him and the other members of S.M.A.C (Shropshire Martial Arts Centre) I grew fond of them. Kancho was a hero in my eyes and I looked up to him, he's my idol and one day I wish to be as talented and dedicated as he was and still is. When I first heard he had a stroke everybody and I at S.M.A.C was heartbroken. To see this great man, this happy man unable to do what he loved most. It bought a tear to my eye every time.
 
One day he said he would overcome all of his illness and get back on his feet and then he would be back on the mat a usual. This is what made him more of a hero to me. He had the determination! At that moment I could not help but to cry. A short while later I new something was going to happen but not what. I went to my jujitsu club only to find out he had died early hours that morning. Since then most of Shropshire Martial Arts have fallen apart. He was like the glue that held us together. I disdain going to any of the Shrewsbury clubs now, knowing that he is not there making jokes and smiling. He lit the place wear ever he went.
 
What an honour it was to work under his direction. A man I will never forget so kind, brave, committed and loving.
My heart goes out to the Family.
 
Kancho is always sorely missed. I often hear my sensei's Mark and Alph Busby reminiscing about the great times and the memories they shared with him. Miss you always Kancho. It was an honour to work with him, such a greatly missed and admirable man."
 

YV Furber
(Hankyo Kempo Ju Jitsu)
(Whitchurch, Shropshire, England)

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"When I first met Brian Wrightson (Kancho) I have to be honest and say I had no idea how to take the man. He was franticly running about the martial art centre he ran in Shrewsbury, and was generally in a rather bad mood. Once he had stopped whatever it was he was doing at the time he came over and asked me "What can I do you for?". When I told him I had just moved to the area and was looking to re-start my Wado-Ryu training, he tutted and said to me "Bloody Karate-ka get everywhere" and then he walked off. Rather shocked I was about to leave when he called over to me, "Here is the number of the only decent Wado-Ryu instructor in the area" then with a wink he passed me a piece of paper with a name and a number on it. He then told me to say Hi to the instructor when I finally met him. I have now been training with my new Sensei for a little over four years now and am more than happy. Although I can't say I really knew Brian, he did change my life for the better.
 
Thanks again... Bloody Jujitsu-ka"
 
Anon
(Wado Ryu Student)

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"Kancho was a great man and a great Sensei who was looked up to by so many. I was lucky enough to have trained under him for a number of years in which I learnt a great deal. He always pushed us in our training and brought out the best in his students. It is only now that I realise just how lucky i was to train under this great man. His teachings changed my life in so many ways and may his memory go on forever." 
 
Peter Richardson
(Hankyo Kempo Ju Jitsu)
(Whitchurch, Shropshire, England)

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"To me Kancho was not just my teacher, but also a great friend who I always talked to about my training as well as any other problems I had at the time. He gave me confidence in others and myself; but for me he was the greatest human being I have ever met and still to this day I miss him more than anyone. But Kancho would want each of his students to carry on in his name. For this reason I will push myself hard, keep my confidence high and focus on what he would have wanted me to achieve.
 

God bless you Kancho, your name will never be forgotten." 
 
Jamie Bunting
(Hankyo Kempo Ju Jitsu Renmei)
(Junsei Ryu Hoshin Jutsu Renmei)

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"I first met Kancho at S.M.A.C. were I was learning Tai Chi. He struck me as a no nonsense what you see is what you get sort of man, which of course is exactly what he was. I watched him in the Dojo from the gallery running through various Kenjutsu techniques and I was fascinated by his power, grace and skill. So much so, that I asked if he would teach me. It is my great honour that he agreed and so I began my training with Kancho. Not long after he persuaded me and my son to join his Jujitsu class, which we loved. We became friends and played golf together a few times; he was a pretty mean golfer too! I remember Brian with great affection and respect he was a truly great man who I sadly miss".

Dave Collins
(Former Hankyo Kempo Student)

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"When I saw his name appear through a search, I was glad to see the picture.  When I then saw the Memorial, I sat back and could not believe that this defined gentleman and a real master of his talent was gone.  It's unbelievable.  The best Dojo I have ever trained in, times for fun and laughs outside of the Dojo and serious training inside as it should be.  I am sorry to hear of his loss and sorry to his family, including his family of Students. He treated us with respect and trained us hard.  He had our minds focus not just on training, but on our life.

Kencho, you will be sadly missed".

Jeff
(Hankyo Kempo Ju Jitsu)
(Whitchurch, Shropshire, England 1998-2000)
(Residing in Ireland)

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