CFTS KARATE

My karate training began when I was 6 years old in June 2010. My mother had told me about a karate club that was held after school once a week at my old school in Newport Pagnell. I was intrigued and decided to try it out. After my first session led by Renshi Kidby I instinctively knew that I wanted to make karate a hobby. I really enjoyed all aspects of karate but I especially loved kata. Initially, I found it hard to balance karate with my other hobbies like music and other

I would imagine that my introduction to Karate may be fairly typical for a parent of two young children with loads of energy. Both my children joined their school’s martial arts club, which for them meant a wing chun style based self defense club. My daughter loved it from a very young age of 6 or so and my son a few years younger joined as soon as he was allowed. Both would attend as often as they could and both progressed well even taking part in the big martial arts show S

I have been always fascinated by martial arts, both the mental and physical aspects of it. Finally in 2011 I had the chance to start training Shotokan karate in Munich. The first time when I watched black belts train in the dojo, I admired their strength, agility, and elegance. I loved the physically demanding training and I always pushed myself to my limits. When I moved to Oxford in 2012 I was disappointed about the standard of the karate clubs and I found myself not enjoyi

Read 'My Shodan Experience!' I believe that it was about 18 or 19 years ago when I first stepped into a karate dojo which was run by now a good friend of mine whose passion and dedication for karate was and is still today absolutely admirable. After I started my university I have move to a different city and started again to practice into a small university dojo with another bunch of good friends. A long break followed and in 2009 I have discovered Sensei McClagish's club aft

My interest in martial arts began like many other people after watching the 1970’s TV series Kung Fu which along with the Bruce Lee films of the time brought martial arts to the attention of the wider public. My own martial arts journey began in 1981 when I took up Tae Kwon Do under the instruction of Nigel Howlett where I gained yellow belt. A short stint at Judo followed but I never graded. After a break of 27 years, I was watching my daughter training at Clapham one evenin

I started Karate at the age of seven as the rest of my family were already doing karate. Therefore I wanted to know what Karate was like and so, I went along to one class and thoroughly enjoyed it. Since that first lesson Karate has always been my main interest although I have tried my hand at various other sports as I was growing up. These sports include gymnastics but did not enjoy it. Also, I ran for my Middle School in the National School Cross-Country competition two yea

I commenced karate late in life and I was/am a true mature student! In January 2000 I went to the beginner’s course at Kempston under the instruction of Sensei Kidby. The feeling of trepidation that I felt when entering the dojo for the first time will stay with me forever – as will the feeling of elation when I graded to Shodan in October 2006 at the ripe old age of 55! I continue to train at Clapham Club under Sensei McClagish, 5th Dan, and while I have no desire to run my

I have always had an interest in Martial Arts; however gaining access and information on styles was limited. Judo is where I began before I realised it was not for me. At University I was introduced to Karate which I found more appealing. I also became aware of the need to check carefully the credentials of any club and its affiliation. When I relocated to Bedford in 1983, a colleague at work, then secretary for TASK, introduced me to Shotokan. I trained up until 1987 at brow

My karate journey began in April 2005. My mum was 1st Kyu at the time and I had seen how she had been completely absorbed into Karate and had achieved a great deal, not only in Karate terms, but personally as well. I was looking for a new challenge and as anyone who knows her will agree, when my mum starts talking Karate it’s easier just to go along and try it out! I had met Sensei McClagish before I started Karate and I already had a respect for his professionalism, calm

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Initially I took my son Josh to karate at Margaret Beaufort School and used to stay and watch the lessons. People of various ages were learning, including some 'mums' and I thought it looked interesting, so I asked if I could join the sessions. I had been looking for a sport or hobby to do, but nothing had really appealed to me until now. So I started training in the autumn of 2000 with Sensei Andrew Parker at Riseley, which was with TASK at that time. The club joined CFTS in

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I began training with CFTS when I was 6 years old, I started in Bushfield middle school in Milton Keynes. My instructor was and still is Sensei Kidby. I passed my black belt in September 2007. This was a brilliant day for me. It meant the world to me and my family, as I had worked so hard for it. I have always trained under Sensei Kidby and also have helped him with his club in Bushfield middle school, where I started to train, on a Tuesday. I still try to train two times a w

I started Karate at the age of 16 on a 6 weeks beginner's course, which initially I found very difficult. It was in Newport Pagnell club in TASK under the Instruction of Sensei Kidby at the Ousedale School. Since then I have trained in most clubs in the area. I was presented with the trophy from Newport three times for training hard at karate and attempting to overcome my epilepsy and the drugs I was on at the time which were giving me added difficulties. I have always enjoye

I began training in January 1985 with the Shotokan Karate Association under Sensei Roy Bantan and chief instructor Sensei Mick Randall. I trained regularly and in 1990 was awarded my shodan black belt. During my years as a kyu grade and dan grade I have attended numerous courses with different associations and a range of senior karateka, all of which have been very beneficial. One of the most enjoyable was a week long kata course with the KUGB when I was a green belt. I joine