I began my karate journey at the age of six (shortly after watching my first Bruce Lee film!) under the tutorship of the late Sensei Gurd Singh and Sensei John Hall at Acklam Sports centre.
From there I moved to the Higashi Karate Kai, still studying Wado Ryu at the Zanshin Karate club until I was 12 years old.
I then drifted in and out of several martial arts over the course of the next few years, trying different disciplines until finally returning to my first love - KARATE!
I trained under Sensei Enrico Capaldi (6th Dan) and Sensei Abdu Shaher (7th Dan) in Shukokai with the Sokudo Karate Association. I competed in local and national competitions for about five years, achieving 1st place
in the North East Open at Sunderland in November 1999.
I gained my Shodan in 2001 under Enrico Capaldi (6th Dan), Nigel Houston (5th Dan) and Dale Darby (2nd Dan). I was awarded Nidan in May 2003 by the same panel. After the birth of my son I took 21/2 years
away from karate until finally building up the motivation (and courage!) to "get back on the horse!"
I have been training at the Thornaby Harewood T.A.S.K. under Sensei Raistrick (4th Dan), and recently completed the BNMAA/MASTARR Instructors and Coaching course.
I have recently been appointed as a Senior Instructor within T.A.S.K. and co-instructed at the Harewood and Billingham Forum dojo, and in August 2007 I was appointed Child Protection Officer for Taisho-Do Karate.
In the future I hope to achieve my 3rd Dan, and maybe compete again in competition!!! |