Garrath Green

My first taste of martial arts began by accepting an invitation from my university flat mates to see a Taekwondo (ITF) demonstration. After being suitably impressed by the board breaking, athletic feats and trying an enjoyable first session, we joined up. After a few months, my hall mates stopped attending but I had caught the bug. Training under the instruction of Mr. Iqbal and others, two to three times a week, became a part of my life. I made some great friends and met my wife to be at the club. After three years I had attained 3rd kup.

On completion of my studies, I set off abroad to teach English in a junior high and an elementary school in rural Japan (2006) as part of the JET Programme. Here I had the opportunity to try out new styles of martial arts such as Kenbo, which, even in Japan, is a little know dance style with sword and fan. During my second year, I trained under Mr Imai who taught myself and a few other fellow JET teachers a new style that was a blend of ‘Tai-ki’ (kung-fu), with soft, circular, open hand blocks, and karate (perhaps Kyokushinkai) that was direct in attack but closed in stance. At a budo day I was also able to try out Akido, as well as see other native martial arts, the most memorable being a formation fighting style with pikes used by Japanese women to defend the village while their husbands were away at war. I was also very pleased to be able to complete a ‘martial arts pilgrimage’ and trained briefly in a Taekwondo dojo in South Korea.

Upon returning to the UK, unsocial work hours meant that my martial arts training was put aside. Some four years later (2013), a change of career direction meant I could look at joining a club once again. It was whilst on trainee teacher placement at Cedars Primary School that I observed a highly engaging Karate teacher (Sensei Kidby), conducting an after-school club. Recognizing the kata’s similarity to what I had learnt in Taekwondo and, with a few minutes to spare, I asked if I could join in. At the end of class, he invited me to join the Newport Pagnell Dojo. Thus, I began my training.

After about four weeks in, I made the decision to commit to karate. Sensei Kidby and CFTS were the reasons for that. I liked that the club was welcoming, diverse, with a range of genders and ages, had a code of ethics and self-improvement, as well as having great instruction and a good variety of additional courses held throughout the year. I remember Sensei Kidby saying that - as an alternative - the ‘F’ in CFTS stood for ‘family’ and throughout the years I have the pleasure of training with many great students. As it goes, years passed, some faces stayed the same, some changed; my cup slowly filled and I was invited to grade for Shodan. Two weeks before grading Covid restrictions were looking likely to be introduced and the grading could not go ahead. After a temporary pause, dojo training resumed under Sensei Jan Wilson via Zoom calls - which was certainly one very unique instance of the precept ‘Karate is not just for the dojo.’ Over a year later (Nov, 2021), I got my chance to grade

again, and I was delighted to be awarded Shodan.

As I continue my Karate journey I hope to develop my knowledge, skill and technique, finding ‘myo’ (the subtle secrets) and ‘natural’ ways of working. Karate is a ‘whet stone’ to test myself against both mentally and physically. I wish to ensure my karate is effective even if it lacks beauty. I aim to ensure good physical fitness to ward off injury and possess good physical functionality to perform the manoeuvre. I will look to pass on my knowledge to newer members of the federation not just by words alone but by being a role-model for the kind of karate-ka I wish to see.

Karate is not only an important, potentially life-saving skill, but also a great way to build confidence, social etiquette, discipline and knowledge, as well as being a lot of fun!

See you in the dojo, Osu!