Background
Watt was born on April 16, 1947 in Aberdeen.
Watt was born on April 16, 1947 in Aberdeen.
He started learning karate in 1965, following a serious industrial accident which very nearly left him disabled. His interest in karate was inspired by the character Oddjob in the James Bond film Gold Finger. In his 45-year career as a professional karate instructor, Watt has trained over 20,000 students.
This was in recognition of Mr Watt’s outstanding contribution to karate and his commitment to strengthening the relationship between Scotland and Japan.
Ronnie Watt is one of only a handful of Scots in history to be awarded this high honour. Watt was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire) in the 2011 New Year Honours for services to karate.
In 2015, Watt was made a Knight of the Order of the Holy Trinity. In 2015, Watt was made a Knight Commander Cavaleiro da Casa Real Portuguesa.
Watt has been awarded the following dan gradings: 1st - 1969.
2nd - 1972. 3rd - 1976. 4th - 1981. 5th - 1986. 6th - 1994.
7th - 1997.
8th dan was awarded in April 2005. The examiners for this grading were Doctor Fritz Wendland (founding President of the WKC), Marko Nicovic (7th Dan Wado Ryu of the United Nations), Tomi Ochi (6th Dan Shotokan, Japan) Joe Mirza (8th Dan Shito Ryu, United States of America), Ladislav Klementis (8th Dan Gojo Ryu, Okinawa, Slovakia), Ilya Gouliev (7th Dan Shotokan, JKA Russia), Dave Friend (7th Dan Shotokan, South Africa)
9th dan awarded after evaluation November 2015 by Don Owens (9th Dan Shotokan, Canada), Charles Gidley (8th Dan Shotokan, England), Doctor George Carruthers (8th Dan Shotokan, Scotland) and ratified by the Technical Committee of the International Shotokan-ryu Karate-do Shihankai (ISKS)
2003 WKC Director of Shotokan Karate
2005 8th Dan Kyoshi, International Shotokan-Ryu Karate-Do Shihankai
2006 Accepted Fellowship to International Shotokan-Ryu Karate-Do, Shihankai
2010 8th Dan Hanshi, International Shotokan-Ryu Karate-Do Shihankai
2015 Inducted into the European Martial Arts Hall of Fame
2015 9th Dan Hanshi, International Shotokan-Ryu Karate-Do Shihankai.