Born in Glasgow in 1954 and after having moved around the UK ended up in South Wales in 1969

Started my martial arts training in Kung Fu in 1972 with the then European Champion. I left Kung Fu three years later to concentrate on my education and work commitments

In 1980 I tried to rekindle my interest in Kung Fu but became disillusioned with all the hype of trying to be Bruce Lee.

I then turned my attention to other forms of Martial Arts – Taekwondo and Aikido. Spending about a year at each of them. But again they were not for me.

It was about this time (mid 1980’s) that a Shotokan Karate Club opened up in Caerleon, where I still live. Two brothers, Richard and Chris, ran the club with the visiting Sensei Masao Kawasoe who would grade the students every four or five months. It was with Sensei Kawasoe that I obtained, 1st Kyu in Shotokan Karate.

As with all top Sensei their time becomes very difficult to fit all commitments into their schedule, as a result Sensei Kawasoe had to withdraw from our club. The club then folded in 1998.

It might seem all doom and gloom but the light in the tunnel was finding the Welsh Shotokan Karate Union, run by Sensei Chico Mbakwe where I obtained my Shodan, Nidan and Sandan Dan Grades.

I now run a small club in Ponthir where I tell my students that Karate is not just about fighting and wining but about the mental disciplines and what you gain in training – strength of character and will power to face all life’s difficulties – so enjoy your Karate Training and have fun.