CFTS KARATE

I started training Karate in 2000 at the Newton Ards Wado-Ryu club under Sensei Robert Hamilton. I reached the grade of 6th Kyu by the time I left home to attend the University of York in 2001. There I joined the university Karate club (with the blessing of Sensei Hamilton) which was a Shotokan club affiliated with the KUGB under the head coach Sensei Rob McCartney. University was a formative time for my Karate. The training was hard, but very enjoyable. I competed fairly reg

At 8 years old, I joined my dad, Roy Currie, in training with CFTS at the Brickhill club. Despite being reluctant to go along at first, I soon found that I really enjoyed doing karate, especially kata! Initially, I was training alongside both my parents and my sister, which motivated me to do my best and keep up with them. Soon, I found myself doing an extra night a week at the Kempston club with Renshi Kidby. Training with him was definitely a step up from what I was used

Dan Grade CV coming soon!

Congratulations go to Sensei Elliott Thomas who successfully graded to Nidan. It was a long, hard fought grading and Elliott emerged...

My karate journey began in 2013 when I was a second year University student looking to do an extracurricular activity instead of having...

Growing up in the 1970’s an average boy could not avoid seeing Bruce Lee films. After watching my first Bruce Lee movie at 9 years old, I asked my father to let me join a Karate club. (Karate, kung-fu… I did not know the difference, and minute details did not bother me at all). I promised not to misbehave at school if he lets me go to Karate classes! My father smiled and agreed. We visited a sports hall nearby and they had Karate classes! But… they were fully booked! Fortuna

At the age of 11, I started CFTS Federation karate. At the time I was nervous and unsure what it was going to be like, but it was recommended by a friend who had been attending these karate sessions at the time in Newton Longville. I found it was a close, welcoming community and I could tell that the Senseis had put a lot of effort into the sessions, so I tried my hardest to learn the basics, katas and sets to the best of my ability. When it came to gradings, especially my fi

I began my karate training aged twenty one, attending a local karate club with Chiltern Karate Association. I graded twice with them -...

I started my Karate Career in July 2010 under Renshi Andy Kidby within the CFTS association. I gained my 1st belt (blue 10th KYU) in Sept 2010. I then moved through the belts gaining my Shodan (Black Belt) in March 2018. And have now gained my Nidan in October 2025. Throughout my Karate career I have attended many competitions and courses/seminars and have thoroughly enjoyed taking part in all of them. They have allowed me to see different styles and experience other ways to

Read 'My Shodan Experience'! I first began training in Karate in the late 1970’s / early 1980’s at Dunstable Leisure Centre. As I was...

Read 'My Shodan Experience'! I began karate at the age of 8 years old. I was asked to join in a lesson that my mother and sister usually...