b. 1946, 1947: contracted polio

1970: took up Karate; first started at London Karate Kai doing Goju under Sensei Steve Morris, who had just returned from Japan. A short but hard introduction; I presumed Karate was not for me! Two friends of mine persuaded me to come along and try Shotokan karate, as a result of which:

1970: joined Sensei Enoeda's well known Blackfriars Club.

1972: attained the grade of 3rd kyu, all grades taken under Sensei Enoeda.

1973: stopped training. For the next 15 years kept trying to get back to karate.

Late 1980's decided to make a determined effort to get Shodan, having been a 3rd kyu Brown Belt for some 27 years must be some sort of record!
(Thanks are due to a number of fine senseis who taught me during this period).

1989: Sensei Enoeda re-graded me to 3rd kyu.

1989 & 1990: Graded 2nd kyu and 1st kyu by Sensei Enoeda

1991: Graded Shodan by Sensei Sherry, on week's course in Lancaster.

Up to this point I had already broken my weak left arm some 5 times (only ever once the result of Karate), and broke it again, badly, in 3 places. Through the effects of polio, I had been warned it might not mend. It did, but took almost a year.

Felt it unfair on others to risk training at a club, and decided to make a personal goal training alone that I would learn all 26 Shotokan kata. (Broke arm again: 2001!)

2003: Moved to Worcs. Looked up references to Karate clubs in the area, and came to watch a class at Pershore Leisure Centre. (I simply wanted to offer my support or services to a club).

Saw a typical lesson by Sensei Slater Williams of excellently taught, traditional Karate in a disciplined but highly motivational atmosphere. Sensei saw no reason why I could not train under him in a carefully supervised way. I have revised my personal goal and am just so happy to be training again and learning so much from the Academy's excellent Instructors.