How long have you trained for? And what have you studied?
Well I started training when I was 6 years old at Northbourne Karate, where I trained until I was 13. After attaining the dizzying heights of 1st dan, I left. This is possibly my only regret in life, but I was a child of the MacDonalds generation, I wanted it all, and I wanted it now. In retrospect, I was young and arrogant.
Until just after I joined the Royal Navy, when I went to HMS Collingwood I suddenly found myself with a lot of spare time and nothing to fil;l it with, after going to the gym I saw that there were a few different martial arts available, I decided to do all of them. So for Tuedsday i done Judo followed by Jujitsu, and Wednesday I done Taekwondo, Thursday was Archery and I returned to Northbourne Karate on Fridays.
So for the duration of my training in the Navy, I also began my walk down other paths as well. Six months later I flew out to the United States to join my first ship. After returning to Portsmouth, the logistics of training two nights a week over the water was difficult to choreograph, so I returned to Wadoryu Karate every Friday I was home. With my 21st coming up I have practice Martial Arts for nearly 15 Years, and I look forward to the next 15 and many more after that.
Why did you start?
Originally I began because I found myself a regular target for school bullies, but rather than fly off the handle and retaliate I discovered that the self control and discipline I had learned from Chris and Ade was more than enough to cope with the situation. I felt that he didn't have to do anything, it was enough for to have the self confidence to know that if I ever really had to, I could!
Who or what has influenced your training?
I don't really consider any one person to have influenced my art, of course my various teachers have had a direct effect on how I train and fight, but I have never modeled my style after someone else, I just assimilate what I like and what I can use. So I guess everyone and no-one really.
What has been your proudest moment as a martial artist?
When i failed my Judo grading, well the lesson after I failed. I was upset at the time, as most would be after not getting a nice new card-boardy belt (if you know what I'm on about I know you can sympathize with me), I just lacked the right frame of mind, as in Judo to grade you compete in Judo Kumite. I I found this hard as there were no people as inexperienced as me. Two fights later I was on my back, again. It was not a bad loss, I knew I had the respect of the two guys I fought, and I sincerely miss training with them. But the first lesson back after the as we moved into the Kumitethe same two guys I had to spar against in the grading noticed a distinct change in my entire attitude and ability, that was probably my best moment in training so far; becoming a better martial artists through a failure, that is my proudest moment.
