Karate begins
Shorin Ryu gave structure, discipline and strong fundamentals.
About the founder
Still a student after more than forty years
Richard Haye’s journey has moved across arts, countries and generations of teachers—and repeatedly returned him to the value of curiosity, humility and beginning again.
Photo: Kjell Martin Wiestad
The path
From structure to organised chaos
Richard began Karate in Kristiansand in 1984 and earned his first black belt in 1992. Karate gave him structure, discipline and a foundation for lifelong training.
In 1995, a camp in Mandal with Johan Skålberg and Jeff Espinous changed the direction of his martial arts life. Jeff connected weapons, empty-hand movement and striking in a way that revealed an adaptable system rather than a collection of techniques. Richard founded Kristiansand Kampsport Club in 1997 as a place to explore these ideas alongside Karate.
Filipino martial arts
Johan Skålberg and Jeff Espinous opened a new direction.
The club
Kristiansand Kampsport Club became a home for learning across styles.
Teachers and mentors
Learn deeply. Then take responsibility for your own path.
Jeff Espinous was Richard’s direct teacher for twenty years, as well as a friend and mentor. Richard became Richard S. Bustillo’s student in 2003. Bustillo—one of Bruce Lee’s original students—encouraged him to let go of the ego that can come with experience and to remain willing to begin again.
Johan Skålberg, co-founder of Kali Sikaran International, was a formative instructor at the beginning of Richard’s FMA journey. Cacoy Cañete and Vicharn Krumkratok added further perspectives on close-range fighting and Muay Thai Boran.
Starting over
The white belt at forty
After occasional BJJ training from the early 2000s, Richard began formal Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu training in 2010 under Marcelo Yogui.
In 2018, Kristiansand Kampsport Senter joined Roy Dean Academy. Richard earned his brown belt in 2019 and, in 2024, became Roy Dean’s first Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt in Europe.
A circle closed
Founder & Punong Guro · 8th Dan
On 1 November 2025, Jeff Espinous recognised Richard as Founder and Punong Guro of Kali Self Defence and promoted him to 8th Dan. The recognition had been set in motion by Fred Evrard before his death in 2024 and carried forward by Jeff Espinous and Joe Habis.
Jeff died on 2 February 2026. The promotion therefore remains inseparable from gratitude for Jeff and the teachers who shaped Richard’s work without asking it to become a copy of their own.
- 8th Dan KSD · 2025
- 6th Dan Karate · 2016
- BJJ black belt · 2024
- 6th Dan Cacoy Doce Pares · 2016
- 5th Dan IMB Kickboxing
The journey continues
Belts and titles are markers—not destinations
For the complete personal story, seminars and professional work, visit Richard’s official website.